Hallelujah! She did it! After much "nesting," digging, fussing and NO SLEEP for a night and a day, we decided it was time and headed off to the vet for a C-Section Tuesday afternoon. Not exactly my method of choice but since this was her first litter and I knew there were SO MANY in there, I just didn't want to take any chances - plus she was getting really HUGE and I was concerned she might get "stuck." After eight beautiful puppies arrived, we got to come home later that afternoon and it really didn't take much time for Veda to get used to having eight squirmy screaming wiggleworms who wanted to NURSE!

Week One

We survived the first week. Veda feels MUCH better and is actually getting some play time in between feeding the ravenous hoards. But the trick is to throw the toy towards the whelping box so she can run by, check in on the kids, grab the toy, bring it back, then chase it back towards the pen again, check in on the kids, grab the toy, bring it back, well, you get the picture. She is a GREAT mom and the puppies are filling out. She also got her girlish figure back and is much happier now that she is not waddling.

Week Two

We are now enjoying these pups very much. Sadly, we lost two the first week - they just were not thriving. The rest are doing very well, fat and sassy; three boys and three girls. Ears and eyes will be fully open very soon. They squeak and crawl and sleep and eat. Veda has become the BEST mom and it shows in their generous weight gain daily.

Check out our first video of this litter: http://animoto.com/play/ICaMHQRQ0VesDf5FKoCUNg
(MUCH appreciation and thanks go to kemosabe for all his hard work putting this together!)

Week Three

WOW! These guys have grown! Their ears and eyes are now open and they are tottering around, sometimes barking at each other, then they crash and snooze. They eat, and Eat and EAT! Poor Veda is getting tired! She's in great shape though, and her babies are getting really adorable! She now feels comfortable going outside to play a little, but after a few games of fetch she's ready to go back in to check on her kids and provide yet another meal...

Week three video! http://animoto.com/play/NEInALdY0jz7e1RGuidK2A
(Once again, many thanks go to kemosabe for all his hard work putting this together!)

Week Four

They grow and grow and grow.... Tottering has advanced to pouncing and they are playing, grrrring, and yipping. They eat like they are starving and attack poor Veda every time she pokes her head into the whelping pen. They have been introduced to food in a bowl and have started eating on their own. I hope to have them weaned very soon and out in a larger pen which will help with cleanup patrol, and give them more room to roam. They are VERY cute and now have teeth... (the duck, well, it thinks it's a puppy too....)

Week four video! http://animoto.com/play/PuBDq2xwN9My0yrK1knvwQ
(Once again, many thanks go to kemosabe for all his hard work putting this together!)

Week Five

Boy Howdy! Five weeks already! All of these guys are too cute for words. They are romping around, pouncing on each other, grrrring, yipping, and then they crash and nap... They love to play with us and are fearless. Since Veda is a "crooner" we named a few after some famous singers. Now they live outside in a large pen filled with shavings. They love the room and tear around attacking each other, then it's back inside their cave for another nap.

Week Six

We had a glorious day in the sunshine and the pups decided running around in the grass and rock pile is really fun. Then they napped, then they chewed on everything and anything they could get their needle teeth into; then they napped some more.... They are eating well, love their new outside pen and have discovered their "auntie Marcie" does NOT have the proper equipment for nursing.... (check out the short video clips)

Six Weeks - The Movie: Part 1

Six Weeks - The Movie: Part 2

Six Weeks - The Movie: Part 3

Six Weeks - The Movie: Part 4

These clips are large files (sorry!) - Please have PATIENCE! The download time is worth the wait.

Week Seven

Big Specialty show weekend - not much time to take photos. Litter was evaluated by visiting expert from Wyoming and she told us our litter is wonderful!!! Of course we knew that, right? grin! Took some "show shots" that are not great, but show how lovely their chunky monkey bodies are at the moment.

Week Eight

We took a few days "off" after the big dog show to take the horses to the beach and ride in/on the sand, surf, cliffs and fields. While we were gone the puppies GREW some more! I hardly recognized them! We're now completely out of the small pen and into the larger dog pen with time out on the front lawn to play with the cats and pounce on anything else that moves.

8 Weeks - The Movie: Part 1

8 Weeks - The Movie: Part 2

8 Weeks - The Movie: Part 3

8 Weeks - The Movie: Part 4

These clips are not quite as large - But just in case, please have PATIENCE! The download time is worth the wait.

Week Nine

Ok, I'm have a REALLY difficult time deciding about which of these beautiful puppies are going to show homes. They are really nice. And they are getting amazing agile; love to run run run and play and grrr and pounce and play some more. Just getting these pictures was a challenge. I hope to have a decision soon. (table pix)

Our friends (also our vets) came by at 9 weeks for a visit; the "examination" turned into a free-for-all, but everyone sure had fun! Do you see the blur of corgi fur.....?

Weeks Ten +

Ok these guys are getting HUGE. They dig. They carry things all over the place. They SHRED toys. They LOVE to shred paper the best. They "guard" the premises from the evil horses (who live in the pastures on the other side of the fence and visit quite often just to drive the puppies nutz!) They play and play and play. They love their kitty "Alvin" and sometimes when they swarm him, it's even a bit too much for him, which is saying a lot - "Alvin" is the most patient kitty I've known around the puppies. All he does is "go high" and then he monitors them from above until he wants to come back down again for some more puppy antics. He never leaves, he just takes a break now and then. He loves his puppies! Soon the puppies will go to their forever homes, if I can ever get the time to sort them out. Truth be told, we are still enjoying them too much to part with them - in a week or so, the final determinations will be made.

6/16/2009 Videos: The puppies in the flower garden - Alvin playing with his puppies

The End

Well, all our puppies have now found their new homes. It's been a blast - these guys are really something! Two are going to show homes out of state and the rest stayed here in CA. Congrats to Laurie & family, Linda & Ellie, Pam & family, and Melanie & Cassidy. Enjoy your new puppies!

Meet the Parents - See their photos below

Dam:

Larklain Rogers Jalapeno Hottie, aka "Veda," is the mother dog. She is red and white and was born in Feb, 2007. This is her first litter. Her favorite trick is to "sing pretty," when she hoots short little howls that sound exactly like she's talking! She's adorable and knows it too! Veda has earned several points in the conformation ring, including one Best of Breed. In 2007 she earned the Annual Best Puppy award from the Golden Gate Pembroke Welsh Corgi Fanciers. On hiatus from the show ring, Veda now spends most of her time living in Napa, CA, with her "other" family of two very tall young men and their very patient parents, two very beautiful siamese cats, plus two other adorable corgis from the Rocky L Ranch and one from Larklain Corgis in WY. (FOUR corgis! WOW! That's a LOT of shedding!)

Sire:

CH Fergwyn Now Voyager, aka "Sam," is a really pretty, easy-going and incredibly sweet dog from a very famous kennel (Fergwyn) in New South Wales (Australia). His movement is stunning. The Fergwyn name is known far and wide for truly excellent corgis and I am fortunate to have been able to breed to him. He is red and white, was born in 2004, imported into the USA in 2005, and has already produced several American conformation champions. Sam is owned by Faerie Glen Corgis in Hollister, CA.

Health:

Both sire and dam are vWD clear (von Willebrand's Disease), CERF clear (eyes). Sam is OFA Excellent (hips). Check these links to learn more about these tests

What does this mean to you? Our dogs are tested, shown and bred to "build a better Corgi" for show and performance competition. From a litter, maybe one or two will reach the show ring. The rest are placed as PETS. The decision is very subjective and it is often a very slight difference that sends one pup home as a pet and another to a show home; it may be something as simple as a "mismarked" white tip on an ear or eyes a shade too light, that determines whether a pup misses the show ring and is placed as a pet. The pet owners are the big winners in the long run. Bottom line, ALL the pups are healthy and strong, with less likelihood of any genetic disorders or health problems later in life. Of course, there is no guarantee that some obscure thing may manifest itself, but the chances are less likely. A well-bred Corgi is usually a long-lived Corgi.

The litter is evaluated at about six to eight weeks, when that determination is made. Pets are sold on a MANDATORY Spay/Neuter contract: once the pup is spayed or neutered the new owner sends me the certificate and then I send the AKC registration papers to them. Neutered pets are easier to live with since they do not "mark" territory as much, are less likely to become aggressive, nor are they obsessed with the opposite gender.

Pet pups have NO restrictions - they may be shown in ANY event except conformation dog shows. There are MANY performance events which cater to purebred dogs, regardless if they have been spayed or neutered. Obedience, Rally, Agility (our personal favorite), Tracking, Herding, etc. Corgis are ACES in ALL these events. It's fun too! Check out performance events on the American Kennel Club web site.

Our Corgis are bred for companionship, conformation and performance - the all-purpose Corgi!

What you need to know about Corgis:

Corgis are a member of the Herding group. They were bred to move livestock. They need room to get plenty of exercise. On the other side of the coin, they are a good size (25-30 lbs; 12 inches high) so they do well in a smaller space, like an apartment, but MUST have a dedicated owner who will exercise them religiously. Physically, with their long back and short legs they are VERY susceptible to weight gain and it will harm their back, heart and circulatory system if they are allowed to get too heavy. This can be a challenge, as Corgis are VERY GOOD at fooling you into feeding them too much! Funny article about Corgis and their irrepressible appetite!

Corgis get along well with people, other dogs, cats and livestock. They are usually GREAT with kids, if socialized well when young. Because of their size, they are not physically intimidating to kids, but they are not so small as to be easily breakable either. (Corgis are pretty tough!) Corgis do better in pairs (at least), with another Corgi(s) or other dogs. They are active and need a buddy or else they get bored. Boredom leads to barking, digging, chewing and other unpleasant habits. Corgis are masters at being couch potatoes too, so with a Corgi you have the best of several worlds: they are great at being indoors, outdoors and because of their size, they FIT well, almost everywhere.

Corgis travel well too. Ours go EVERYWHERE with us; and are welcomed too, since they are always on their best behavior, friendly and affectionate with everyone. We use several of them very successfully as "Therapy Dogs" at local retirement homes and boys & girls daycare facilities. Keep your Corgi company, happy and occupied and you will have a friendly, outgoing companion who is a joy to live with and take with you everywhere. Corgis are not usually the best guard dog (typically they will run up to the burglar and ask for a snack and to be petted...), but will bark briefly when a strange person, dog or vehicle arrives.

Corgis SHED. Be Aware. My favorite example is, "after a Corgi sheds for a couple days you can assemble a whole new dog." Now, it's not THAT bad. But, Corgis DO shed. Brush them weekly, and sweep the floor - often. But it only works if you DO it, regularly!

Reputable Corgis breeders test their dogs for health issues (vWD, eyes and hips, more recently, for DM) and do not breed any who are not clear of genetic disorders. In this way the breed is being kept free of hereditary problems. If you find a Corgi "cheap," or from the pound or the paper - BEWARE. Of course, nothing is absolute. Occasionally some obscure disorder will manifest itself in a well-bred dog, or a "pound puppy" will live to the ripe old age of 17 without a single health problem. Remember the odds. These are exceptions. Good quality, well-bred Corgis have a minimum of health-related genetic disorders as compared to many, many other over-bred breeds, overall.

This is NOT to say you shouldn't take a RESCUE Corgi - if you have the opportunity! "Rescue" Corgis are often the best buddy you will ever make. Due to unforeseen circumstances, occasionally a nice Corgi will be abandoned or lost. The Corgi Rescue organization is RABID about finding and taking these dogs in, caring for them and placing them in exactly the right home. Rescued Corgis are the luckiest dogs! Look for one at www.goldengatecorgis.org/rescue.htm.

Our Puppies:

Our secret weapon is my daughter, an experienced "puppy wrangler." She raises these pups from day-one with care, affection, firmness and love. They spend their first month in the warm house; then they are weaned and moved into a large enclosure, either on the back porch or in the garage (weather dependant). They are clean and healthy; handled constantly; taken outdoors to play; exposed to our cats and horses and other dogs (when old enough). They are vaccinated, wormed and groomed regularly. No aggressive behavior is tolerated from the beginning. By the time they go home with their new owners they are brave, outgoing, healthy and strong. And FUN! We hear from our "old" puppies quite regularly and get photos and email often. In FACT, TWELVE or our Rocky L corgis were featured in the 2012 Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club of America calendar! (March, June and August, as well as various candid shots throughout the calendar! How cool is THAT!

Check out our Puppy Album from past litters.

SIRE: CH Fergwyn Now Voyager

Click for pedigree and other information about him

DAM: Larklain Markers Jalapeno Hottie (pointed)

CH Fergwyn Now Voyager, aka "Sam"

On May 4, 2009, Veda was officially done; the pups weaned and she was on her way back to her "other" home. Here's the photo and report I received upon her arrival: (TOO funny!)

"Veda was pretty happy to get to the front door and hear everyone barking [to welcome her home].  She ran in and greeted everyone and then ran up stairs and down the stairs. She got on the couch, got off the couch, ran up stairs and got on the bed, then back down stairs.  She was singing all the time she was running.  It was really funny to watch her. She's still the biggest love hog in the tribe."

Veda meets her half brothers and sisters, 2007

Veda enjoying her favorite show...