GOALS My goal is not to populate the world with Cardigan Welsh Corgis, nor to "make a living" selling puppies. Too much popularity can compromise the health and temperament of any given breed--think Cocker Spaniels, German Shepherds, Doberman Pinschers, Rottweilers, etc.--and in order to make money selling puppies, one is required to own many bitches and to breed them every single season. As a "hobby breeder," I breed only 1-2 litters per year. My emphasis is on the show ring, but in most cases not all pups in a litter are of show quality. This means that puppies destined to be household companions exist from birth, and are raised to be sound in temperament and body so they can provide years of loving companionship to their human families. CHALLENGES Being a breeder is a serious responsibility. The challenges are many: to raise a healthy, socialized, happy bitch; to find a stud dog who is equally good; to whelp and raise sound, social puppies. This requires researching pedigrees, understanding how genetics work, evaluating the bitch for her strengths and weaknesses as well as evaluating potential stud dogs, doing dietary homework, and being prepared for complicated pregnancies and whelpings which may require veterinary intercession and substantial expense. Another challenge is evaluating the puppies as show and pet prospects, sorting out their individual personalities, and socializing them. The toughest challenge, however, is evaluating potential homes. When one has invested so much time and love in bringing a litter into the world and raising it for several months, one must be sure the puppies are going into the very best homes. Responsible, reputable breeders evaluate the potential homes just as they evaluate the puppies, and try to make the perfect match. Puppies are not peas in a pod, but develop individual personalities as they mature. Some are extremely outgoing and thus are more appropriate for an active family, while others will do better in quieter homes. This is why it's vital for a prospective owner to answer a series of questions about the lifestyle the dog will encounter. But puppy buyers should feel equally comfortable asking questions about a breeder's experience, philosophies, lifestyle, and goals. BREEDING PROSPECTS Puppy mills, pet shops, and high-volume commercial breeders and brokers breed and/or sell puppies strictly for profit, not because they love them, and not because they wish the best for the welfare of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi breed. Reputable breeders refuse to sell their pups as breeding stock to such operations. For this reason, responsible hobby breeders are very careful qualifying potential puppy buyers, often have questionnaires, and provide contracts spelling out ownership terms for people who wish to purchase breeding prospects. None of my puppies or older dogs, including retired champions, will be sold as breeding stock except in the following cases: --To individuals known to me or to other reputable breeders, and who have experience in exhibition and/or breeding; or --To newcomers who are committed to first achieving a championship on their dog or bitch, who will conduct health tests prior to breeding, and who will initially work closely with me to learn the breed so they may develop their own physically and temperamentally sound breeding program. I welcome Cardigan Welsh Corgi newcomers to the world of exhibition and breeding, and am happy to assist them in any way. But the welfare of this wonderful breed should always come before any desire for awards and recognition. |
