Marshfield Kennel Online Web Log

Corgis at three weeks

Amanda — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:23:08 GMT

Gale's kids are now three weeks old. Personalities are starting to emerge as are their voices. We do still have two males available, contact us at amanda@marshfieldkennel.com if you would like more information.

Gronk at two weeks

Amanda — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:17:31 GMT

Since he was so big to begin with, Gronk's rate of growth isn't quite as noticeable. His eyes are open now and he enjoys hanging out with his corgi siblings. He has a home in NH waiting for him, but we do always invite inquiries about upcoming litters.

Two weeks old

Amanda — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:14:06 GMT

Everybody's eyes have opened over the past two days. This has also meant a major increase in mobility.

Please call 207 636 1240 if interested.

Meet Gronk

Amanda — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:07:44 GMT

One week to the day after Gale went into labor, Diva followed suit. The result is one striking, strapping, 18 oz birthweight male puppy who will be making his home in NH. For now, we're calling him "Gronk" We do of course invite inquiries about upcoming litters.

They're here!!!

Amanda — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:32:38 GMT

After a very anxious night last week, Gale's puppies arrived via an emergency c-section. There were three trying to make their way out at once, which didn't quite work so well. We have one girl (who will be staying) and four boys. Two boys are still available. Please contact me via e-mail amanda@marshfieldkennel.com if you would like more information.

Finn

Fig

Fonzie

Frank

Tempi

Tempi the lone girl

How Many? Again.

Todd Chrisman — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:15:12 GMT

We bred Diva to Brutus and have been keeping it under our hat because it didn't look like she was pregnant. Dive has been a bit tricky to breed, but she's been getting fatter. We snapped a picture and here it is:

We have a due date of January 20th. Marshfield Kennel will have GSP pups for spring, one or two will be available.

How Many?

Todd Chrisman — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 00:32:56 GMT

We don't know how many pups are in Gale's tummy. Here's a picture.

Puppies due January 13, 2012!!

Amanda — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 02:05:08 GMT

Todd and I are thrilled to formally announce that our little Gale aka Marshfield N Sandwynn's Perfect Storm RN has been confirmed pregnant via ultrasound earlier this week. While we have had several inquiries, we do still invite anybody who may be interested in a corgi puppy from this litter or future litters to get in touch via e-mail amanda@marshfieldkennel.com Gale comes from a long line of performance bitches. Gale is working on her Rally Advanced title and will resume Agility training once done with maternity leave. We expect her to be ready to start work towards her Novice Jumpers title in 2012. Gale is in whelp to the fabulous Brookehaven's Strangers in the Night aka Stewie. If you scroll down here http://www.brookehavencorgis.com/boys.htm you'll see Stewie as well as some of his relations.

We expect these puppies to by happy and easygoing like their parents. Stewie is fluff-free, vWd and DM clear. This means that while we will have puppies who are DM carriers in the litter, there will be NO DM affected puppies. Gale is a vWd carrier, so some puppies will be carriers, but again there will be no affected puppies. These puppies should excel in the performance ring along with being wonderful companions.

Tracking dogs

Amanda — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 00:28:57 GMT

Iris's daughter Pixie Dust has already earned her AKC TD or first level tracking title. This requires that the dog follow a track 440 to 500 yards long with three to five changes in direction. The track is "aged" between 30 minutes to two hours before the dog begins scenting. When we learned that Diane of Ellis Dog Training was going to offer a tracking class, Todd and I jumped at the chance to participate. We decided to bring Iris and Brutus to class. As Iris has her RA, NA, and NAJ titles already, the addition of a tracking title would give her the designation of AKC VC (versatile champion). We expected Brutus to blow Iris away, but he's proven to be challenged by tracking human scent as opposed to tracking bird which is instinctual for him.

At our first class, we started by laying what is called a double track. I walked 30 paces from my start flag, placed a directional flag, and then walked another 30 paces before dropping a leather glove loaded with treats. I then retraced my footsteps out of the field. At the third double track, the lightbulb went on for Iris and has remained shining brightly. We practiced at home and graduated to a single track (no retracing of steps) and then a single turn. Todd and Brutus will practice this weekend on single track and a single turn.

Most dogs get confused when you add in a turn. Iris, just like her grandma Bridget, came to her first turn and just kept booking. Class two had us working with two turns over longer distances. We've worked Iris over tracks up to 220 yards in length. That day we worked with strong breezes over wet ground. Iris plowed through the water, uphill and down to reach her glove. For the first several tracks, I've been the one who has laid the track and as such knew where we were supposed to be going. We continued with this work at home.

Class three was a big day. Brutus continued to work just on Todd's scent. Iris was set on a track laid by one of my classmates. So, for the first time she tracked scent other than mine. I also didn't know where we were going, I had to trust my dog. There was somebody spotting my to help keep me from wandering too far off track if Iris lost her way. I clipped the lead onto her harness, told her to track and she was off. It was an even longer multi-turn track and she put her nose down and found the glove.

Today, I worked her on three turns aged a full hour. As Todd put it, "she made it look easy" We'll see what next week's class has in store for us.

New title

Amanda — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 23:23:33 GMT

Yesterday at the Mayflower Corgi Specialty Gale finished her Rally Novice title with a great score of 97. Todd and I are thrilled that Gale has her first title. Gale's sister Xena earned her first Rally Novice score with a 94. Now it's time to work on getting rid of the leash and being reading for Rally Advanced. Oh yeah, and not sniffing in the ring when we're supposed to be working.

Three pretty ladies

Amanda — Fri, 20 May 2011 00:16:53 GMT

Again, thanks to Dusty for this lovely image. Below, going left to right are Gale, her aunt, Stormy and her great-grandmother Bridget.

New Iris photos

Amanda — Fri, 20 May 2011 00:14:35 GMT

As promised, here are some fresh photos of Iris. Our thanks to Dusty Perin, www.dustyperin.com for making the trip to Ellis Dog Training to take these photos.

Banging down the teeter

Surveying the world from the top of the A-frame

Bursting out of the tunnel

Upcoming puppy plans

Amanda — Wed, 18 May 2011 16:10:00 GMT

Okay, so in the advent of facebook, we have been lax with our blog posts. As some of you may know, Diva's last breeding didn't take. Just one of those things that happen. She is actually just starting into heat now, but we will be skipping this cycle. We will breed her later in the year, but have yet to decide to whom. Some of you are probably wondering why we're waiting, especially if you found our site while looking for a German Shorthaired Pointer breeder.

Well, when Todd (who started the kennel) got married a few years back--he married someone who was already solidly into Pembroke Welsh Corgis. And then along came Iris, aka Sandwynn's Storm Treasure RA NA NAJ our foundation corgi bitch. And quite some time ago, we had committed to breeding her this spring. She's at a good point in her training to go on maternity leave. Her daughter Gale and Poppy will be my show dogs for the next several months.

So we are beyond thrilled to announce that in the very near future Iris is going to be bred to Ch. Tri-umph Taint No Saint of Texas. Chris as he is known just finished his AKC conformation title and is home now with his owner Marian Your. His pedigree is filled with outstanding dogs. And of great importance to Diane, Todd and me, Chris is negative for the Degenerative Myelopathy gene, Fluff free, vWd clear and has excellent hip. Iris is a carrier of DM and it was imperative to all of us involved that we not create any affected puppies. Some will be carriers of DM, but none will become ill from it. All puppies will be vWd clear as Iris is clear as well. Iris does carry the fluff factor, so we will have carriers but no fluffy puppies. Iris's offspring from her last litter are showing great promise as agility dogs and have dabbled in the breed ring. I'll post some new Iris photos soon, but for now below we can see Chris looking great.

Hooray for Spring Puppies

Todd Chrisman — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 17:40:00 GMT

Diva is in heat and we'll breed her to Berkly. I'll elaborate on Berk's positives later, but I've already written so much about him it's a little sick. He produced some awesome pups with Diva's mother so we're expecting more of the same.

Pups to go home in mid-April.

Diva

Berkley

Physical Therapy Rocker

Todd Chrisman — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 17:24:00 GMT

I've been thinking of building one of these for a while and just now happened to have materials and a reason to build it. There is a cat at Amanda's office with a broken leg. The poor kitty isn't putting any weight on it and the longer she continues to neglect it, the more likely she will have to have her already surgically repaired leg amputated.

The rocker itself is pretty basic technology.

It's an 18 inch square platform with a rocker on the bottom. This one is smallish, but it's for a cat. You flip it over and stand the animals front or rear on the board and rock it side to side.

It's like standing on a boat. The cat will shift her weight from one foot to the other as the therapist rocks the board. As the cat becomes accustomed to using the leg, and starts to trust it to keep her weight, she'll naturally use it more to walk.

I might try another with a small mixing bowl on the bottom, so it would rock in any direction. Anyway, I hope this basic tool helps save the kitty's leg and comes in handy for a long time.

Upcoming Election

Todd Chrisman — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 14:40:00 GMT

I'm sitting here with my abestee ballot and thought I'd share my opinions. Let's start with the questions

Question 1 Oxford County Casino
Vote: No
This comes up every year, and every year it's the same. To give one group a casino. I think Maine needs an up or down vote on whether or not to allow casino gambling AND THEN (if the answer is yes) figure out who should get the right to put up a casino.

Question 2 Build a college of dentistry
Vote: No
Dentist schools around the country are closing and we want to go another Five Million Dollars in debt to open one? A dental school in Portland isn't going to make dentists that want to work in Fort Kent. Maine's biggest export is young talented people and a degree in dentistry is a ticket out of here.

They are dealing with a shortage of large animal veterinarians, and the truth of the matter is to create a large animal vet you have to give preference to farm kids, and male farm kids in particular. Unfortunately, it's illegal to give preferential treatment to white men, so the very folks most likely to become a farm vet can't get into veterinary college. The same thing will happen here.

If we want more dentists in rural areas we need to 1) pay them well and 2) let them keep more of the money they earn. You aren't going to retain many dentists in areas where they have to accept public health insurance that reimburses at a rate less than the cost of doing business, and then tax whatever they manage to eek out at Maine's tax rates.

Question 3 Land "conservation"
Vote: NO

I have voted in favor of this in the past, but violates the first rule of fiscal responsibility, which is "When you are too deep in the hole, stop digging."

We're a billion dollars in debt and this proposes to add TEN MILLION to that. Nobody can tell me exactly what they want to do with the money, but it's supposed to help farmers and fishermen and everyone including Aunt Sally. My bet is that it's used to fend off PROFITABLE businesses in favor of keeping unprofitable ones.

The way to support farming and forestry and fishing is to look into our laws and see what kind of onerous pressures we've put on these industries. Let's make sure nobody has to break out and sell a house lot so they can pay the taxes on the farm. Are the limits on the forestry industry ecologically sound? Or do they just make us feel better?

Governor's Race
Vote: Paul LePage

LePage is not my favorite politician. However, he is the only one in this race who says he isn't going to screw me. Could he be lying? Sure. But the others are all PLANNING to screw me. We in Maine pay more in taxes per dollar earned than anyone else in the country. No wonder people and businesses and investment dollars are fleeing the state for friendlier states. LePage understands that lowering tax rates will increase tax revenue. He looks like an unmade bed and has a temper, but if he does for Maine what he did for Waterville, we won't care.

Libby Mitchell is a moonbat's moonbat. She'll continue confiscatory taxation and Maine's unfriendly business climate and then wonder why her government programs don't work. We can't tax ourselves into prosperity. Government can't create jobs, it can only hinder job creation.

Elliot Cutler is nothing but a spoiler. Some folks I know are voting for him to "send a message." If the vote tally is Mitchell 43%, LePage 42%, what message will have been sent? That Libby Mitchell won. A vote for Cutler is a vote for Mitchell. Hold your nose and vote for someone who can win, even if he isn't your favorite. Cutler want's everyone to "work together." That's sweet, but that's the problem in Maine for thirty years. With one-party rule, the governor and legislature have been working too well together.

Shawn Moody, ditto Cutler, except worse. This guy has no idea what he believes in and that means he has no idea where he's going. Ordinarily, this is the kind of guy I'd like to have for a politician. However he's such a lightweight, he will be at the mercy of the legislature.

Kevin Scott, never even heard of him until I got my ballot.

Representative to Congress, Maine District 1
Vote: Dean Scontras

OK, here is a guy I actually like. He has strong principles and he stands by them. There is a pile of garbage sitting in Washington waiting to be voted on. The Energy Tax is at the top of the list. Dean will vote against it.

Chellie Pingree is engaged to a billionaire hedge-fund manager and hob-nobs with Barney Frank. She is a reliable rubber stamp for Pelosi and I don't think she represents her district at all.

State Senator, District 2
Vote Still Thinking....

I'm going to miss Senator Nass.

Sheriff, York County
Vote Gange

Ouellette has not handled the budget cuts from the county well. The Sheriff's department is the primary law enforcement agency for most towns in the county and we have almost no protection at night.

Farewell Boys

Todd Chrisman — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 18:55:00 GMT

The male pups are sold. We are actively seeking a sire to produce a litter this spring, so please keep in touch and.

Puppy Pics

Todd Chrisman — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 01:26:00 GMT

Two boys ready to go home next weekend.

Two males available

Amanda — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 23:31:00 GMT

Two males available. So, if the nip in the air has you thinking it's time to add a new hunting companion to your household, Excalibur and Eros are still looking for someone to shoot the birds they find. Eiru will be staying with us. Both buys are already showing signs of being good hunters in the woods while still having a nice degree of cooperation. We'll get fresh photos up over the next couple of days

Photos: http://blog.marshfieldkennel.com/2010/09/19/puppy-pics.aspx

Two males, one Female available

Todd Chrisman — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 17:31:00 GMT

Excalibur and Eros are available to hunting homes.

Eriu, the female, is available as well. However because we can't repeat this breeding, some special conditions will apply. We'd like her to stay in New England and with someone who can train dogs and who is willing to work out some agreement for us to have breeding rights on some level. There are a lot of different ways to go, so if this sounds interesting to you, please let us know.