Past
It began when I received my first Pembroke as a Christmas present in 1977. That dog, Maravon Princess Ann, was the start of a lifelong love of Corgis, and dream of one day showing and breeding them. Our kennel name, MarPrAn is Princess's registered name combined. I had the kennel name far before I had my first show dog.
In 1990, after losing Princess, I contacted Gayle Garvin, of Garvin Corgis regarding purchasing a show prospect bitch. I had known Gayle for several years at that point, as I always attended dog shows with a family friend and of course, had to go talk to the Pem people. I was always drawn to Gayles dogs as they were so "cute". Cute, being what I now realize as typey, specialty winning dogs! Gayle sold me Dina, aka The Tooter, in 1990 and away I went, with my first show dog. I finished Dina in 1993, did her health testing, and bred my first litter.
Dina had two litters in 1993 and in 1995. The 1995 litter produced Ch. Marpran Kickstart My Heart, Bridgette, who was owned and finished by Barbara Zimmerman. I later got 2 puppies back from Bridgette. One of them was my beautiful Cami, aka Marpran Shockadelica:
Cami had 8 points and both majors and was a breathtaking bitch (by Ch. Ninacorte Chicago Hope). Unfortunately, Cami's hips did not pass OFA, so she was spayed. She later decided that living with other bitches was not her thing, so I realized I had to make the decision to place Cami in an only-dog situation. I am so lucky to have found Ben and Ann S, who have adored Cami since they day they met and have kept her looking like a glamour girl even at almost 12 years of age.
Cami's half sister, Babaloo, came to live with us shortly after her grandma Tooters death at the too young age of 10. Babaloo was spoiled and brilliantly smart and my dog-soulmate! She never set foot in a show ring, she never grew big enough, never had the conformation and though I knew I wanted another show dog and would get one...Babaloo was going to stay as my constant companion. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, things do not go as planned. Babaloo decided that human children, which I brought home much to her dismay, were horrible. She lived under the bed in fear of my daughter...who NEVER was allowed to be unkind to her in any way. It was a horrible day when I realized that I had to begin searching for Babaloo's REAL soulmate. Heartwrenching. But, I am so fortunate. Gay G, who watched me grow up and taught obedience classes to me with my first Corgi, Princess, had talked about getting a Corgi for a few years. Gay and "Bobbi" as she is now called, are both happy and I had a wonderful reunion with them both in 2008.
