I’ve been so remiss in updating the blog in any fashion. Although I have been keeping up pretty well with the website itself. Its just so much easier to post directly to our facebook page and I feel that reaches more people anyway. (If you arent following us there, you can find it at https://www.facebook.com/GrandioseCardiganWelshCorgis/)
So a lot has happened since our last update –
Gizmo finished her RATN title in Barn Hunt and has a leg toward her RATO. She picked up a major towards her AKC Championship as well (the only one that has been available locally so far this year….hopefully we can find one more so she can finish her Championship) She also completed her HT title in herding, and has a leg towards her PT. We are also working on needed skills for Started (trial level herding – which I still feel is too far above my personal skill level but we are going to jump in head first in a few weeks if she finishes her PT at the trial so wish us luck!). and earned an ASCA Started Sheep leg as well. She passed her eye clearances in May at the National, and two weeks ago passed her BAER hearing test with normal hearing. We will do her hips and elbows in October when she turns two, and then she has a date in the Spring with a handsome young man we have picked out for her. In the mean time, her schedule is pretty busy with training and trials and the occasional dog show, along with teaching the new babies the ropes around here…
Gable started barn hunt this year as well. He easily earned his RATI, and tried one run for a RATN leg but couldnt quite pinpoint where the rat was exactly (but he tried so hard! Hes learning quickly…) so we will keep trying him. He LOVES hunting rats, but I havent taken him to as many classes as I wish I could have. He will trial this fall anyway, just because I know he loves it so much! He finished his Grand Championship quickly this year, finishing it with BOB wins under Cardigan breeder judges. He is being shown just for fun at this point with the idea that eventually he will finish the requirements for his Bronze Grand Champion title. He also won the Herding Titled Dog class at the National and made it down to the final cut in BOB (when they handed out the ribbons). Gable went to one herding class for a refresher since last Septembers trial, and then he went to the July trial hoping to complete the one leg he needed for his PT title – and he did wonderfully! He completed his leg for his PT, and is now retired from herding for the time being. I’m not sure I will ever work him in the trial level, will just have to see what the future holds. And we also decided, since he was done with herding and could now learn to chase things with no consequences, that lure coursing might be fun. So we took him out to a local lure coursing trial and ran him for his CAT test, and he passed three times and earned his CA title. I’m thinking our next adventure will be Rally and Obedience.
This year has been mostly about Gable and Gizmo….but the other dogs have done great things as well.
Rumple finally went to a show. He had fun even if it was overwhelming for him. He was WD/Best Bred By. He showed fabulously in the Bred By group later in the day. He has been very dramatic and unwilling to learn to walk on a lead without being dramatic about it, so I havent really taken him anywhere and thats been my mistake. His mission for the rest of the year is just to get out. And he will keep being shown, because why not. He really is a handsome kid.
Tipsy started showing this summer as well after Gizmo singled out and there were no majors available. She has picked up one point, and has been slowly figuring out the show dog thing.
We lost Locke to complications from a partial blockage that was discovered too late. Still trying to come to terms with his loss.
Flutter gave us 8 beautiful puppies in March. Violet, who we co-owned with Jeri of Allegro in Denver, gave us 6 wonderful puppies in April. Those 14 babies occupied most of our Springtime and are now all in wonderful homes of their own. We kept one from each litter back, and are excited to see what Sparrow and Aine will do in the future.
We are just a little over halfway through this year and there is a lot still to do…the opportunities are exciting!
Grandiose Cardigan Welsh Corgis 