Austin Smokin' Blues was born "Smokin' Northwest Blues" in the Pacific Northwest. I picked my "kennel name" (a misnomer since I have no kennels) as a tribute to my dog "Smokin' Smoky Blue." How I got Started in Cardigans When my German Shepherd "Summer" died of liver cancer in 1976, I decided to never get another dog. The death of this animal that was so much a part of my life for such a long (and short) time was just about too much for me to handle. Twelve years later I started hungering for another dog to warm my bed. But this time, due to apartment living, I needed something smaller. I read all the "find the right dog breed for you" books I could find and narrowed my choice down to the Cardigan Welsh Corgi. It took me till the following year to find a puppy. At that time I lived in the Seattle area and the closest puppy I could find was in Northern California. I located him on a Wednesday night and drove down there after work that Friday (an all-night drive). I named the tyke Smoky after my all-time favorite childhood animal hero, Smoky The Cowhorse. I just wanted him to be my best buddy but I figured out early these dogs need something to do. So I set about to find some things for Smoky and I to do together. Our joint efforts landed him an American and a Canadian Championship, AKC Tracking Dog, and several herding titles leading up to his HS. Another 14 years later and here we are, Smoky at my side while I type this. He is pretty slow now and we spend most of our time indoors but we have been hooked up for a long time. I didn't plan to be an exhibitor or breeder and it was three years and several titles, CERF approval and OFA x-rays before I decided to breed Smoky. Today, here in Austin, Texas, I have so much to be thankful to Smoky for--first and foremost of which is his daughter Q who sleeps under the covers with me every night! (I don't let Smoky on the bed at night any- more because I'm afraid he will hurt himself jumping off.) My other delight is his granddaughter Clarity, the happiest Cardigan you will ever meet. Those are the three dogs who live with me right now. Smoky has given me many Champion and performance-titled descendants and I have been the beneficiary of the love of many of those dogs over the years. And I have found many new friends when I found homes for puppies I bred. Stats and Affiliations: In 14 years, I have bred only 9 litters (my 10th will be in 2003). From those puppies you can meet the many titled dogs on my Parade of Champions page. I have bred Champions in every Cardigan color. A number of those have been Group Placers. Some of the dogs I have bred have placed in their classes at the National and in 2002 a dog I bred won Best in Sweeps at the Blluebonnet Cardigan Specialty. And I was showing him! I have been a member of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi Club of America since 1989. In Washington, I was a member of the Canadian Kennel Club (1989-2001) and the All-Breed Herding Club of Western Washington (charter member). Here in Texas, I am a member of the Bluebonnet Cardigan Welsh Corgi Club and Texas Hill Country Stock Dog Association. I have been involved in Rescue and personally have helped re-home about 5 or 6 Cardigans. Personal & Breeding Philosophy: I don't own kennels. My dogs live as family members in my home (here you see them hogging the bed). They all get obedience training and most get some higher level of training that includes achieving titles. I breed infrequently but when I do I breed in order to produce the best Cardigan Welsh Corgis according to the breed standard and to produce a dog with a temperament and biddabilty that make a great working dog and wonderful pet. I am 53 years old and work for a friend as her kennel manager while I study Computer Design--I'm hoping for a big career change in another year or two. We expect a puppy or two to arrive here in 2003 and of that I am glad--my dogs are the light of my life and the happiest time of my days. Donna Daniels ...and Smoky! Austin, Texas December, 2002 |
About Me and Austin Smokin' Blues |
Austin Smokin' Blues was born "Smokin' Northwest Blues" in the Pacific Northwest. I picked my "kennel name" (a misnomer since I have no kennels) as a tribute to my dog "Smokin' Smoky Blue." How I got Started in Cardigans When my German Shepherd "Summer" died of liver cancer in 1976, I decided to never get another dog. The death of this animal that was so much a part of my life for such a long (and short) time was just about too much for me to handle. Twelve years later I started hungering for another dog to warm my bed. But this time, due to apartment living, I needed something smaller. I read all the "find the right dog breed for you" books I could find and narrowed my choice down to the Cardigan Welsh Corgi. It took me till the following year to find a puppy. At that time I lived in the Seattle area and the closest puppy I could find was in Northern California. I located him on a Wednesday night and drove down there after work that Friday (an all-night drive). I named the tyke Smoky after my all-time favorite childhood animal hero, Smoky The Cowhorse. I just wanted him to be my best buddy but I figured out early these dogs need something to do. So I set about to find some things for Smoky and I to do together. Our joint efforts landed him an American and a Canadian Championship, AKC Tracking Dog, and several herding titles leading up to his HS. Another 14 years later and here we are, Smoky at my side while I type this. He is pretty slow now and we spend most of our time indoors but we have been hooked up for a long time. I didn't plan to be an exhibitor or breeder and it was three years and several titles, CERF approval and OFA x-rays before I decided to breed Smoky. Today, here in Austin, Texas, I have so much to be thankful to Smoky for--first and foremost of which is his daughter Q who sleeps under the covers with me every night! (I don't let Smoky on the bed at night any- more because I'm afraid he will hurt himself jumping off.) My other delight is his granddaughter Clarity, the happiest Cardigan you will ever meet. Those are the three dogs who live with me right now. Smoky has given me many Champion and performance-titled descendants and I have been the beneficiary of the love of many of those dogs over the years. And I have found many new friends when I found homes for puppies I bred. Stats and Affiliations: In 14 years, I have bred only 9 litters (my 10th will be in 2003). From those puppies you can meet the many titled dogs on my Parade of Champions page. I have bred Champions in every Cardigan color. A number of those have been Group Placers. Some of the dogs I have bred have placed in their classes at the National and in 2002 a dog I bred won Best in Sweeps at the Blluebonnet Cardigan Specialty. And I was showing him! I have been a member of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi Club of America since 1989. In Washington, I was a member of the Canadian Kennel Club (1989-2001) and the All-Breed Herding Club of Western Washington (charter member). Here in Texas, I am a member of the Bluebonnet Cardigan Welsh Corgi Club and Texas Hill Country Stock Dog Association. I have been involved in Rescue and personally have helped re-home about 5 or 6 Cardigans. Personal & Breeding Philosophy: I don't own kennels. My dogs live as family members in my home (here you see them hogging the bed). They all get obedience training and most get some higher level of training that includes achieving titles. I breed infrequently but when I do I breed in order to produce the best Cardigan Welsh Corgis according to the breed standard and to produce a dog with a temperament and biddabilty that make a great working dog and wonderful pet. I am 53 years old and work for a friend as her kennel manager while I study Computer Design--I'm hoping for a big career change in another year or two. We expect a puppy or two to arrive here in 2003 and of that I am glad--my dogs are the light of my life and the happiest time of my days. Donna Daniels ...and Smoky! Austin, Texas December, 2002 |
Smoky, age 10 |
Smoky |
Clarity |
Q and me |
