Dragonfly Cardigans

Q. & A. with Steven

• Why did you start breeding?

  I didn’t set out to become a breeder. I set out to live with dogs that made sense—dogs with sound minds, sound bodies, and a purpose beyond ornament. That search led me to the Cardigan Welsh Corgi, and I never looked back. Cardigans are everything I value in a dog: intelligent, interactive, and biddable. They’re wonderful family companions and capable working dogs, with a breed standard that honors function over fashion. Their tails are left intact—not docked as for Pembrokes—and their ears are naturally upright, not cropped. They usually whelp naturally, grow into athletic, healthy adults, and carry themselves with a kind of quiet dignity that’s rare in modern breeding. Unlike some more commercialized breeds, Cardigans haven’t been overbred into fragility. They retain genetic diversity, structural integrity, and a disposition that’s both joyful and grounded. That’s what drew me to Kim Shira of Coedwig Cardigan Corgis—a breeder with 50 years of experience and a legacy of champions. Her dogs are the Cardigan gold standard, and I’m proud to raise them in my home with the same care and intention she’s modeled for decades. Breeding, for me, isn’t about producing puppies. It’s about stewarding a breed I believe in—one that deserves to thrive in real homes, with real families, doing real work or simply being the best companions anyone could ask for.

  Read more

• What makes your program special?

  Every puppy we raise is part of a legacy—exclusively from the breedlines developed and maintained by Kim Shira of Coedwig Cardigan Corgis. With over 50 years of thoughtful, rigorous breeding, Kim has produced dozens of champions, numerous best in show and group winners and earned her place as a respected Cardigan show judge (she was a judge for the National Specialty in 2016). Her dogs are known not just for their conformation, but for their exceptional temperaments. We are proud to raise these dogs in our home, not in kennels. From day one, our puppies are immersed in the rhythms of a modern household—handled daily, exposed to everyday sounds, and cared for with loving precision. We follow early neurological stimulation guidelines pioneered by Carmen Battaglia, Ph.D. They’re bathed, wormed, nails trimmed, held upside down, and gently introduced to tools like the Dremel. We believe in preparing them for real life, not just the show ring. As their age and immunity allow, we take them for car rides, introduce them to older dogs and cats, and give them supervised outdoor freedom. Every experience is intentional, designed to build confidence, resilience, and joy. These puppies are the very best the breed has to offer—genetically sound, emotionally grounded, and ready to become cherished members of your family from day one.

  Read more

• What are the different breed coat colors in your program?

  Our puppies include brindle and white, red and white, sable and white, blue merle and white, and black and white. Colors will vary depending on the parent dogs.

• Where do your breeding dogs live?

  They live in my home.