After!

She did it! After much "nesting," digging, fussing and NO SLEEP for a night and a day, Patty gave us nine puppies, six girls and three boys. All red and white, all very flashy with perfect markings. She's a great mother and is doing a great job taking care of them. Stay tuned!

Two weeks:

Well, I got accused by my friend in CO of being a "Puppy Hog!" since I hadn't posted new pics - (sorry!) Technical difficulties with the camera.... so here they are today, 13 days old and fat as little pigs. Squeaking, eating and sleeping is about all they do right now, but they are tottering around trying to walk already - it's really funny to watch. They tip over, crash, get back up, totter into each other and crash again, then fall asleep wherever they end up. It's a lot like watching puppy bumpercars. Their eyes should be opening soon. We're calling them: Mario, Luigi, Peach, Spot, Yoshi, Bowser, Rosie, Beanie and Bertha (Bertie). Any of you Nintendo fans may get the picture...

Three weeks:

Ok, here you go - updated pix of these darling chub-kins.... growing like crazy! Eyes open, yipping, yapping, growling, and starting to run around already. Well, sort of.... they run four or five steps and then lose their balance and tip over. Or they run into each other and tip over... then they play and chew on each other and then take a nap. Then eat, nap, play, run around all over again. If you watch them long enough you can actually SEE them grow... It's a hoot! These are VERY pretty puppies.

Four weeks:

Holy Cow! These guys went from hamsters to speedsters practically overnight! They eat; they play, they BARK! they GRRR! they RUN! They like their new toys and try to play ball, except the ball is still a little too tall and when they jump on it they roll off the other side. Patty has been the BEST mom, but they are eating on their own now and gobbling it up as fast I as can prepare it! As of last night they are now in a larger pen on shavings - it helps a lot with clean up... They are so funny to play with and love to snuggle.

Five weeks:

Did I mention how fast these guys are GROWING? They are now eating semi-solid food and LOTS of it. Now moved into a bigger pen to help with cleanup, in a week's time they have already outgrown it. So this weekend means building a bigger container.... Bark, grrr, wrestle and play. EAT EAT EAT.

movie of the girls | another movie of the girls and the cat Alvin

movie of the boys | another movie of the boys

movie of all pups | the new pen | pups in their new "digs"

Six weeks:

Well, these guys have discovered a new talent - drive me nuts while I am trying to clean their pen. They CLIMB IN the scooper and try to take a ride. So I try feeding first so they are otherwise occupied, but the rambunctious ones have already figured that one out.... so I race from one side to other, scooping and cleaning, trying to stay a step ahead. I suppose if anyone was watching they would say I am a nut. They love to go outdoors and while the weather stays good we try to get them out as much as possible. Unfortunately, the weather report is predicting rain again...

6 weeks movie of the pups

Seven weeks:

With the few days of wonderful weather I managed to get them outdoors to play in the "free-range" daffodils we have in the upper pasture. The had a blast! Running around with their older "mentors" Parker and Simon, they ran and ran and ran. And shredded a few daffodils too, when they discovered THAT was fun game of tug o war. Their first vaccinations are done and now I am having them evaluated for show prospects.

Click here for a slideshow of all the fun!

Click here to see another neat slideshow of the fun in the flowers

Pedigree for this litter

Meet the puppies:

These are some of the evaluation pictures I took at about seven and a half weeks. I may be late on eight week photos, the flu has hit me hard and right now my first priority is to get well. Click each picture for a larger version.

The Girls





The Boys

Ten weeks:

Well, we're coming down to the wire here and soon most of these guys will be going to their new homes. They are certainly a lot of fun now, bouncing here and racing there. When the weather is good they spend all day outdoors now and they LOVE it. They run, run, run! They commune with the ducks in the pen next door, and talk a lot with their "big brother" Parker, trying their hardest to wiggle through the fence to get to play with him. They shred everything they can get their needle-teeth into, and eat and eat and eat.....

[Yoshi video 10 weeks] [Yoshi video2 10 weeks]
[Bertha video 10 weeks] [Bertha video2 10 weeks]

[Yoshi & Bertha video at 10 weeks] [Yoshi & Bertha video2 at 10 weeks]

[Yoshi, Bertha video with the cat 10 weeks] [Bully stick]

Twelve weeks:

Well, everyone has found great new homes. Three will go on to show (hopefully - it's never a sure thing!) and the rest have matched up to really terrific "pet" homes where they are loved and treasured. I am very blessed to get to meet terrific people who like my corgis and take them home giving them wonderful lives.

Meet the Parents

Pedigree for this litter

Dam:

Rocky L Peppermint Patty , aka "Patty," is the mother. She was born in Nov, 2007, one of four from her litter to hit the show-ring. She is from our fourth generation of breeding corgis here at the Rocky L; she is red and white and this is her first litter. She is pointed (that is, she has earned conformation points in the show-ring) and one of my favorite dogs to show. She's a dream to travel with and very, very sweet. She has inherited her sire's incredible temperament - gentle, yet energized and athletic. She is a very well- balanced and good mannered girl, with a lovely head, dark eye, good angulation and movement, good length of body and turn of stifle. Her litter sister "Marcie" finished her Championship in Nov 2009, in just three months. Both girls are very similar in type, although Patty has a bit more size. She is a dedicated "ball" dog and lives to bring it back for you to throw, over and over!

Sire:

CH Tams Monte Carlo , aka "Monte," is a three year old tri-colored boy who is just gorgeous, with a beautiful coat, well-balanced with good angulation and length of body, lovely gait and a to-die-for temperament, from the Brnayr Kennel in Livermore, CA. He is very much like Patty in looks and type. Although young, he has a wonderful pedigree behind him and has already produced some beautiful pups.

Health:

Both sire and dam are vWD clear (von Willebrand's Disease), CERF clear (eyes). Monte is OFA Good (hips) and Patty has had a prelim OFA test at Excellent. 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 seven to nine weeks, when the "show" determination is usually made. At 11 - 12 weeks the pets can go home with their new owners after deworming and having at least two puppy shots. 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 BOTH 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. 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. The latest and greatest thing out is the "Furminator," a new tool that is a very successful grooming tool for removing excess fur. But it only works if you USE it, regularly!

Reputable Corgis breeders test their dogs for health issues (vWD, eyes and hips) and do not breed any who are not clear of, or at low risk 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.

Check out our Puppy Album from past litters.