Rubad Cardigan Welsh Corgis

WELCOME TO

Nancy and Dan Willoughby · Columbus, Ohio · (614) 430·8277

THE CARDIGAN BREED

Why would anyone want to own a Cardigan? I can only speak for myself, but without Cardigans, our household would be much too quiet! Cardigans are very entertaining dogs. Their sunny, bright personalities make them a pleasure to live with. However, they are a herding breed, and as such are active and intelligent. And yes, Cardigans do bark and shed. Cardigans love kids and thrive on their attentions. Cardigans were used on Welsh farms for general purpose farm work - herding and managing livestock, catching vermin, acting as a watchdog and as the child's companion. These traits can be seen in the modern Cardigan - companion, performance dog for agility or obedience, show champion, watchdog, therapy dog, or competitive herding dog.

NEWS FLASH!

We are expecting babies around January 7! There is now room on our puppy list for 2 more families, and we are planning a second litter in the summer of 2010. See our puppy page for more information!

PUPPY PAGE

HEALTH TESTING IN CARDIGANS

Are purebred dogs too inbred? Is that why there are so many health problems in dogs now-a-days? My feeling is that careful use of inbreeding and linebreeding will not necessarily result in unhealthy dogs, just as outcrossing on its own may not produce healthy dogs. The reason that so many dogs have health issues is complex, including that there are many environmental insults to dogs that didn't exist "back when...". Back yard breeders or puppy mills may not want to spend the money on health testing or breed dogs regardless of health issues. Show breeders may be more focused on winning in the show ring and don't concentrate as much effort on health or temperament. Most show breeders last only 5 years in the fancy before health problems discourage them, so the knowledge that they have gained is lost to those who replace them. Responsible breeding requires one to focus on many traits at once, which severely restricts the choice of breeding partners and may interfere with personal goals in making strides for the show ring wins. It also requires a realistic attitude and the ability to move past heartbreaks. Even the most conscientious breeder cannot guarantee perfect health.

My own strategy has evolved into that of choosing dogs with certain health criteria, belonging to people whom I trust. I want to have as much information as possible about the parents, grandparents, siblings and offspring of these dogs as possible. Producing a healthy puppy involves much more than just accumulating health certificates. Structural issues and health problems for which no tests exist can create as much or more heartache and expense for puppy owners as disease that can be tested for.

Please do ask whether your breeder performs health testing. This increases your chances of obtaining a healthy dog, whatever your venue. Just by asking, you will be contributing to an atmosphere that is more conducive to good breeding practices,and this will help improve all pure breeds moving into the future.

At a minimum, Cardigans should be tested for hip dysplasia (OFA or PennHip) and eye disease (CERF). A complete thyroid panel should also be done. Other testing may include patellas (slipping knee cap), and elbow dysplasia. I am also adding cardiac exams, spinal exams and genetic testing as it becomes available. I am committed to obtaining health information on as many of our puppies as possible in order to establish a depth of pedigree for our line.

Recently, a genetic test for the autoimmune disease degenerative myelopathy has been made available, and though Cardigans have not had a high incidence of this disease (about 10% of the gene pool is likely "at risk"), this is a test I have added to my breeding program. If genetic testing were to be made available for most of the scourges of purebred dogs, then closed gene pools would become an asset rather than a liability. Many expensive and heartbreaking diseases of dogs could all but become a thing of the past. I dream of that day, and it is close at hand for many diseases.

I am a member of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi Club of America, Columbus All Breed Training Club and a contributing member of CardiCommentary International, a website promoting information about the Cardigan breed (see link at the bottom of the page).

I am always happy to discuss Cardigans with anyone who would like to learn more about the breed. Call us at 614-430-8277 or email at rubadcwc@yahoo.com.

Ch. Pecan Valley Run Ruby Run, AX, OAJ, AXP, AJP, NAC, NJC, CGC, ROMb, Ruby (pictured above with Sophia in their private pool), was added to our family as a performance dog, but mentor Kim Shira talked me into also showing her in conformation. Ruby finished, and then went on to acquire several agility titles and a herding instinct certificate. She is a multi-talented dog with a great temperament that loves every man, woman, or child, and every dog she meets! I felt that because of her solid structure and great personality, she deserved to be represented in the gene pool. With the help of mentor Kim, I selected the famous Ch. Coedwig's Carbon Blue as Ruby's mate. In her one litter, Ruby attained her Register of Merit (bronze) award.

In Ruby's first (and only) litter - with Carbon - we produced Sophia, Ch. Rubad Black Diamond, CGC. Sophia was a multiple group placer and group winner by the age of 2 years, and has garnered many exciting wins in the conformation arena, including Runner Up in the prestigious Megan competition at our Cardigan National Specialty show in 2004. In 2008 she was awarded a National Specialty Award of Merit as well as a Regional Specialty Award of Merit in August at the CWCCWR Ohio regional show. In August, 2008, Sophia was awarded her second all breed Group 1. Sophia has qualified for the Eukanuba Invitational show in 2004, 2005, and 2006, always breeder-owner handled. As of March 20, 2006, she was in the top ten for conformation Cardigans, and was #11 as of July 1, 2006 and finished that year at #12 in the breed.

We are excited to have added Ch. Rubad-Harrow Brython, HT, CGC,, Bryn, to our home. We adore this third generation Rubad puppy; as a baby he won Best Jr. Puppy in Match at Dayton KC Sanctioned B match April 1, 2007, Best Puppy at the Clermont County match, and BOW both days his first weekend out! Bryn finished his AKC champion title easily, winning points every time out, with the exception of one reserve win and a 4th placement in his huge puppy class of 16 at the Cardigan National, 2007. He won third Award of Merit out of five, and first male AOM, under Cardigan breeder judge Marieanne Gladstone at the huge Ohio CWCCWR specialty show in an entry of 108 Cardigans! He made the cut the other two days. Bryn has won his first Best of Breed award over top specials under judge Debra Gershwender October 14, 2007 at the Mad River KC show in Urbana, Ohio at 11 months of age! He enrolled in his first agility class in March, 2008 and has been started in herding lessons. He likes agility and shows promise there, but as a herding dog, so far he really shines. Bryn is a very happy dog with a great attitude just like his grandma Ruby!

We are proud to announce the addition of Bryn and Janel baby, Uno, Kaos-Rubad Wild Draw Four to the Rubad family! Bred and co-owned by Nancy Willoughby, Suzanne and Emily Geisler, she was born into a litter of five bitches on December 2, 2008. Thank you, Paul, and co-breeders Suzanne and Emily, for making this litter possible. Uno combines the chiseled looks of her daddy with the femininity of her mother Janel. She has a pretty face, a lovely tailset and nice angulation. So far Uno has acquired 7 points including a major at a supported entry show and best in sweeps. Uno will be living in Springboro, OH with Suzanne and Emily.

In November 2007 we were fortunate to add Ch. Afara Janel, Janel, to our breeding program. Janel is owned by breeder Paul Chen and lives and is co-bred with friend Suzanne Geisler, Kaos kennel. Janel has had a litter of 5 girls in the fall of 2008 by our own Ch. Rubad-Harrow Brython. Janel came to us with 6 points including a major, and easily finished with Nancy and Suzanne's daughter Emily handling her, winning a second major at the huge Louisville, KY supported entry show in the spring of 2008 and a best of breed under breeder/judge Jon Kimes. Janel has a lovely, sweet temperament and exquisite breed type.

We have acquired yet another beautiful bitch from our mentor Paul Chen! Afara Never Been So Blue, Nili, is joining Rubad and Sandsea kennels and will be living with Erin Ervine, DVM. Nili is another great moving bitch with a wonderful temperament and super breed type! Thank you, Paul, for these beautiful girls!
OUR GIRLS

OUR BOY

CARDIGAN LINKS

CardiCommentary International · Intervertebral Disk Disease Articles · Nutritional Control of Hip Dysplasia in Dogs · A Buyer's Perspective on Genetic Disease

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