About Blacksheep

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Blacksheep Cardigans is a small home kennel in Plaistow, New Hampshire. We’re just north of the Massachusetts line and not far from Maine.

We spent almost a decade passionately dedicated to Great Danes. We still think they’re the most wonderful dog in the world, but after a series of losses (inevitable in Danes) we made the decision to switch to a smaller, healthier, rarer breed. We searched for over a year, talking with breeders of several different breeds before settling on Cardigans. We attended the 2005 Nationals and the decision was made.

In 2006, after an extensive breeder search, we found Betty Ann Seely of Pecan Valley Cardigans and brought home Clue. She is everything we wanted and more. Bronte followed soon after. Bronte had one litter for Kate Roberson of Hagaren Cardigans, and then came back to our family. Our newest addition is Friday, a black and white puppy who shows every sign of becoming as great a member of the family as the other two are.

So what makes us different? We’re a small kennel and a young family–we’ve been involved in dogs since our oldest was a toddler. At this point, if we shake the kids awake anytime before 9 am, somebody asks, “Are we going to a dog show?”

We are committed to breeding and raising dogs in the healthiest way possible, and we strive to have every single dog a good fit in its home–that means we feed a certain way, and vaccinate (or don’t) a certain way. All breeding-quality dogs are health-tested for the disorders that are prevalent in that breed. We require certain promises from puppy buyers: Non-show-quality puppies must be spayed or neutered (certain exceptions may be made for male pets or performance dogs if the home is exceptional and a non-breeding contract is signed); show puppies must be shown.

As should be VERY obvious, we strive for excellent temperaments and good training. Our daughters are four very important reasons that we breed with the high standards that we do! We try to follow common-sense principles and accept nothing but the best. We raise sound and sane dogs, and we seek out breedings to produce more of the same. We socialize our dogs and expose them to many new situations. We seek out advice from other breeders, and we do our best to stay on top of dog-related research. In short, we do what most other good breeders do. If the breeder you’re considering doesn’t do these things – please think again.

We hope you’ll join us on this journey.