Our Cardigans

Meet each of our Cardigans -- Castell Finnish Connection, HSAs STDs OTDs ATDs “Hunter”; Raglan’s Burna Skid Mark, HSAs STDs “Skid”; and Rhoswen Finnish’d in Blue “Gabbi”. Our photo gallery also includes our special family dog Pembroke “Jazz” and extended family Cardigans “Rook” and “Clue”.

Hunter is my heart dog and was our first Cardigan. He came to us as a pet at 15 months of age but I soon found that both Hunter and I loved herding.

After considerable time and effort trying to not only learn herding myself but also teach a young dog, I decided Hunter deserved a real chance to compete. Kelly Orr of New Plymouth started training Hunter and after just a few months we entered Hunter in an ASCA trial. Hunter finished his started title with two qualifying scores including a 3rd place. Later in 2005, Hunter was entered at his second ASCA trial, and earned a qualifying score of 102 and a fourth place, and his first leg toward his open sheep title. Hunter - CWCCA Nationals - Kentucky

In the spring of 2006, Hunter traveled to Kentucky for his first AKC herding trial and the Cardigan Nationals. He went three for three, taking second place three times in the started sheep class -- finishing his started sheep title with a score of 86.

The fall of 2006, Hunter was entered at his third ASCA trial. He earned a score of 96 and a first place in the open class -- completing his open sheep title. Then on the same weekend went onto earn a 3rd place in the advanced sheep class with a score of 92. In September 2007, Hunter finished his Advanced title with a score of 102 and a 3rd place -- first and second place scored 106 and 104 respectively.

In summary, Hunter has competed in only 5 herding trials; qualified 10 out of 12 runs; and was in the ribbons 8 out of the 10 qualifying runs; and finished his AKC started sheep title and three ASCA titles (STD, OTD and ATD sheep). Hunter is now retired and enjoying it!

Skid (Raglan’s Burna Skid Mark, HSAs STDs) came to us from Amy Hill in Florida. Her dam is CH Cornerstone’s Lady Liberty HXAs ROMB who was only a few points away from finishing her Dual Championship before an injury ended her competitive herding career. Her sire is CH Paradiddle’s Token of Love.

When Skid arrived at 12 weeks of age, she was extremely social and has been exposed to livestock since her arrival. Since it would be a while before serious herding training started, we began to show her in puppy conformation classes. With very limited showing, she has earned a major (from the 9-12 month puppy class) and has a total of 8 points toward her bench championship, including three BOB and one BOS awards. She just started competing in herding trials. Her first ASCA trial included a second place score of 87 and her second run she finished first in class with a score of 86, and completed her started sheep title. In June she competed in her first AKC herding trial earning two qualifying scores (79/86) and finished her started sheep title in Washington with a 5th place and High Scoring Cardigan in Trial. Skid is now preparing for ASCA open trial dog and AKC intermediate competition.

Skid is known as the “holligan” in our pack and loves being a farm dog. You can see by her picture just how athletic she is -- she knows no physical bounds.

Skid Working Sheep

Skid Going Best of Breed - 2007

Last but not least, meet Gabbi. She is from our breeding to FIN/NO/SW CH Trenwydd’s Silver Wizard “Lucas” and Skid. She is showing lots of early promise. Gabbi earned a Reserve Winner’s Bitch at the Chintinimi Kennel Club supported Cardigan entry from the 6-9 month puppy class. With a total entry over 30+ Cardigans, this was quite an accomplishment for this first timer! Gabbi took two BOB wins at the So. Jordan Beehive Circuit in May earning her first championship points from the Bred by Exhibitor class and completed the month winning BOS/BOW/WB and her first major points at Spokane, Washington -- all from the BBE class. In June, Gabbi won a Herding Group 4 placement (Breed by Exhibitor), one BOB and two BOS at Filer/Blackfoot, Idaho. October offered Gabbi another opportunity and she earned her second Herding Group 4 (BBE) at the Boise Cluster shows. Ably handled by Angie Hall (co-owner and breeder).

We are just beginning to introduce Gabbi to stock and she is showing lots of instinct and natural ability. So once she finishes growing up watch out for her in the herding arenas too.