New Litter January 9, 2024. [Litter pedigree]

Before... and AFTER!: Click photos for larger view
This is Comet's first litter. She was a bit worried when she first went into labor, but after the first few pups were born, she got into the swing of it. Nine puppies and 5 hours later, we were done! Sadly, we lost one boy the next day, but the remaining eight are doing fine. Well distributed/mixed litter: 2 tri-colored boys, 2 red & white boys, 2 tri-colored girls, 2 red & white girls. Comet is already a great mom and is taking wonderful care of her babies.

One week: Click photos for larger view
The puppies are growing like weeds. Fat as ticks. They really don't do a whole lot right now except eat and sleep. Comet is doing GREAT and is a wonderful mama.

Two weeks: Click photos for larger view
These guys have grown so much! They have more than doubled their size! Chubby and cuties! They're already trying to walk around but only manage sort of a stagger, then back to sleep. Eyes open, well, mostly!






Three Weeks: Click photos for larger view
The pups' are tottering around and just beginning to play with each other.... sort of! They are also just starting weaning now and Comet is still taking good care of them, but they have become very demanding. They are insatiable! I've introduced them to semi-solid food and they gobble it down. Then they take a giant NAP. Next: litterbox training, thank goodness! (Yes, there is one pup with a tail. It is not available.)

Four Weeks: Click photos for larger view
These chunky lunks are beginning litterbox training! I am stoked! (Although they seem to think it's a bedroom too....) They're still eating mush, but will graduate to soaked kibble in the next week or so. They are playing a lot with each other too, and are fun to cuddle. My granddaughters have been having fun doing that!

Five Weeks: Click photos for larger view
Playing, sleeping, pooping, eating, playing. They are now out in their new larger box with their "cave," litter boxes, toys and semi-solid food. More toys to come! The kids are having so much fun with them!

Six Weeks: Click photos for larger view
These guys are having so much fun being in a larger box with toys! They are fully weaned, they love to play with my girls, and will get their first vaccination next week. Now they have their jungle gym to play on and are using their litter box(es) fairly well. That makes my life SO much easier! (the green pellets are alfalfa so they smell good, and since they are plant material, if eaten don't do any harm - and trust me, they tried!) They chew on anything and especially love my pant legs! Please be reminded, the single tri-colored pup with a tail is NOT available.

Seven Weeks: Click photos for larger view
The pups are exploring and they chew on EVERYTHING! The world is their oyster. They all had their first vaccinations this week and were all just fine. They get evaluated next week and will all be microchipped as well.


Eight Weeks: Click photos for larger view
Sorry I'm late this week. My washer broke. AND my house furnace! Not only was I freezing, I had to drag all the blue and white (washable incontinence) puppy pads from their box to the laudromat every day! Luckily, the furnace was an easy fix, although it took two attempts. (I am a fan of Home Warranty protection!) The washer survived one fix, then failed - so now awaiting a new one. And we're back to the laundromat until the weekend.... ugh! FYI, the pups have heating pads and lamps so they stay warm! plus their coats are getting thick and they "puppy pile," wherever they seem to land to cuddle and stay comfy. They are having fun with their new toys. The Chewy box didn't last long tho! ;) Given the nasty weather I haven't been able to get them outside much, but this next week looks promising. I'm sure they will love seeing grass, trees, birds, the other dogs, etc. At least I've been able to leave the garage door open for fresh air and sunshine when it's not raining.... We play with them a lot and when my grandkids get in there it's a party! First evals are done and there are at least three that I will take a closer look at to see if I have any show prospects. What a pretty litter overall!



Nine Weeks: Click photos for larger view
The pups had their "big adventure," out out in the pastures this week with their friend Dove. They had a wonderful time racing around exploring everything! They were so tired by the end that they crashed all night long! They had their de-worming and second vaccination the day they turned ten weeks old and two pups have gone to their new homes. As soon as show prospects are decided this weeek the rest will go to their new homes, not all have been decided as yet. But close! Stay tuned!


Ten - Twelve Weeks:
I'm happy to say all my pups have new homes! Congrats to all my repeat pet homes and new friends, Sam, Patty, & Jina.

Meet the Parents:

(See their photos below)

Dam:

CH Rocky L Kemosabe, aka "Comet," is the dam. She is two years old and this is her first litter. She had a stellar show career, winning her AKC Championship with four Majors. She also won my corgi club's AKC "B Match" in 2022 when she was a puppy. Comet is often a challenge, wanting to be "top dog," with my other corgis, but she is secretly always wanting to be a lap dog, and loves my grandkids - all kids in fact! she has an amazing "wiggle," and is super sweet and loving.

Sire:

CH Rocky L Silver Hammer, aka "Max," is the sire of this litter, from my "Beatles" litter in 2017. He is a six year old tri-colored dog I sent to a show home in Illinois as a pup where he was shown and won his AKC Championship. I co-owned him, always intending to use him in my breeding program. He was returned to me last year due to his other owner's family situation and the timing was perfect since Comet was the ideal choice for him. He now lives with his mother (dog!) elsewhere in CA, happy as a clam as a much loved pet.

SIRE: CH Rocky L Silver Hammer, aka "Max"
Click photo for larger view [Pedigree]

Max

"Max," Best of Breed
New Champion

Max

"Max," Best of Winners
Major win

DAM: CH Rocky L Kemosabe, aka "Comet"
Click photo for larger view [Pedigree]

Comet

"Comet" wins the Match!

Comet

"Comet," Best of Breed

Comet

"Comet," Winners, Major Pts.

Health:

"Comet's" health test results are DM "Clear" and EYES/vWD/ all Normal/Clear. Hips "Good." Review her official results here. "Max's" health test results are DM "Carrier," EYES/vWD/EIC/Cardiac/D-Locus all Normal/Clear, Hips "Good." Review his official results here. Both sire and dam have been tested for DM (Degenerative Myelopathy). "Comet," is "Clear/Normal," while "Max," is a DM "Carrier." All that means is all their puppies will only be "Carriers" or "Clear." There is 99% NO chance their offspring will ever manifest symptoms of DM. This litter will all be DNA tested for DM and microchipped in addition to being vaccinated and treated for parasites before they are placed in new homes.

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 color; 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 show potential determination is made. Pets may go to their new homes at 10-12 weeks old and are sold on a MANDATORY Spay/Neuter contract with a Limited AKC registration: once the pup is spayed or neutered the new owner sends me the certificate and then I send the AKC registration application 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 as obsessed with the opposite gender. In fact most neutered pets get along better with opposite sex buddies. (I'm only speaking DOG here, honest!)

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, Flyball etc. Corgis are ACES in ALL these events. It's fun too! MANY of our corgis have gone on to compete with their owners in a variety of performance events. Check out performance events on the Golden Gate PWC Fanciers web site.

Of course, they are wonderful companion dogs, regardless if you EVER want to participate in competition events! :-)

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

What you need to know about Corgis:

Corgis are a member of the Herding group. They are stout, tough and strong, And, they have no idea that they are short. THEY think they are 6 feet tall! They were bred to move livestock. They need room to get plenty of exercise. On the flip side, they are a good size (25-30 lbs; 12 inches high max.) 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 ACES at fooling you into feeding them too much!

PLEASE don't allow your Corgi to become a fatty! You will do more harm than good!

Corgis get along well with people, other dogs, cats, livestock and they LOVE to travel because then they can make more friends! 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 have used 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 they will bark briefly when a strange person, dog or vehicle arrives. (Hello! Somebody is here! Maybe they brought dog treats!)

Corgis SHED. Be Aware. My favorite example is, "after a Corgi sheds for a week 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! (And have a good vacuum cleaner!)

Reputable Corgi breeders test their dogs for health issues (for example, vWD, eyes and hips, more recently, for DM) and do not breed any who are not clear of genetic disorders, or at the very least, are less likely to perpetuate a problem. In this way most breeders are trying to reduce the incidence of hereditary issues. 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 usually 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! You may find one at www.goldengatecorgis.org/rescue.htm.

Our Puppies:

We raise our 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 dependent). 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! HOWEVER, and I get asked this a lot: your puppy will be crate trained, but WILL NOT be leash or house trained. That training is YOUR job. But not all that hard to do as they get a little older! ;-)

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!