A LIFE Magazine cover changed everything for Grace Fritz, inspiring a journey that would redefine the Shar-Pei breed in America.

From her early National Specialty wins to producing the top-winning Shar-Pei in breed history, Grace shares how careful selection, sound structure, and genetic insight built her Good Fortune line into one of the most admired Shar-Pei programs in the world.

She opens up about the heartbreaks behind the ribbons, the health challenges that shaped her breeding philosophy, and why preserving purebred dogs is more important than ever.

▶️ Watch now to discover the story, strategy, and heart behind Good Fortune Shar-Pei and what every breeder can learn from Grace’s journey.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

00:33 Meet Grace Fritz

02:12 How Grace discovered the Shar-Pei breed

02:56 First shows and early wins

03:43 Mentors who shaped her breeding journey

07:23 Foundational bloodlines and breeding approach

08:32 Balancing outcrossing and linebreeding

10:57 How Grace evaluates puppies

12:15 Defining the Good Fortune Shar-Pei type

14:30 Notable dogs that built her legacy

21:03 Recent successes and upcoming litters

22:50 Health challenges in the breed

25:00 Promoting purebred awareness

28:35 Using science and genetic tools

29:50 The value of judges' decisions today

30:27 Most significant challenge of the breed

29:10 Mentorship and bringing new breeders in

31:11 Optimism for the future

32:57 Advice for aspiring breeders

34:01 Legacy of Good Fortune Shar-Peis

34:46 Closing thoughts and contact info

#BetterBreederChronicles #PreservationBreeder #ConservationBreeder #AKCdogshows #PurebredDogs #GraceFritz #GoodFortune #SharPei

Meghen Riese-Bassel of Renascent (and formerly Statesman) Welsh Springer Spaniels grew up as a second-generation breeder. She shares how a childhood surrounded by dogs and great mentors transformed into a lifelong mission to breed with purpose.

She talks about those mentoring opportunities, balancing art and science in breeding, and how international collaboration helped improve health and temperament through the generations.

Meghen also opens up about the real work behind the wins, family, setbacks, and staying devoted to the breed.

🎧 Watch now to hear the story behind one of the most influential breeders in the world of purebred dogs.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

01:12 Meet Meghen Riese-Bassel

02:54 Growing Up & Family Life

04:10 Family Mentorship & Origins of “Statesman”

06:50 Early Mentors and the Education of a Breeder

09:06 Learning Through Debate

11:28 Game-Changing Experiences

13:52 Learning From Other Breeds

16:40 Becoming an Independent Breeder

17:39 Defining Breed Styles & Health Priorities

20:56 The First Imports That Changed Everything

22:59 Strategic Breeding Decisions

25:53 Combining Bloodlines for Progress

30:10 The Renascent Welsh Springer Spaniel

32:33 Influential Dogs of the Kennel

37:59 Power of Collaboration

44:54 Breeding Challenges & Emotional Resilience

48:44 The Future of Breeding

52:37 Educating the Next Generation

56:19 Collaboration Over Competition

58:39 Evolving Goals & Redefining Success

1:00:10 Modern Challenges

1:00:39 Hopes for the Future

1:01:21 Breeder She Admires

1:01:39 Most Notable Accomplishment

1:02:49 Advice to Aspiring Breeders

#BetterBreederChronicles #PurebredDogs #PreservationBreeder #ConservationBreeder #AKCDogShows #MeghenRiese-Basse #Renascent #WelshSpringerSpaniels

Jere Marder turned a Christmas surprise into one of the most successful Old English Sheepdog breeding programs in breed history.

Legendary breeder Jere Marder reveals how passion, perseverance, and an eye for excellence shaped Lambluv Old English Sheepdogs, a breeding program that has produced iconic champions like Show Stopper, Yoshi, Elvis & Andrew.

From her first dog show wearing disco heels to breaking records in the ring, Jere shares hard-won lessons on mentorship, breeding ethics, and keeping the soul of the breed alive for future generations.

👉 Watch the full conversation to hear the Lambluv story in Jere's own words.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

00:38 Jere Marder of Lambluv Old English Sheepdogs

02:12 What sparked her lifelong passion

03:28 The key moments of her breeding journey

05:16 Early mentors who shaped her breeding

06:37 Key bloodlines & careful selection

08:23 The role of pedigree & hands-on evaluation

11:19 Jere's selection process & maintaining the Standard

12:21 Evaluating puppies & preserving structure

13:06 The Lambluv Old English Sheepdogs look

14:19 The dogs that made Lambluv

22:22 Westminster triumph & show career highlights

25:02 Diva, Desdemona, and continuing the Lambluv line

27:02 Blue Thunder "Elvis" and his records

30:38 Using frozen semen to preserve bloodlines

31:28 Challenges, setbacks, and breeding ethics

33:55 Mentoring the next generation of breeders

36:51 Staying true to her vision and standard

37:17 Today's judges' decisions vs. past

38:08 Her optimism about the breed

38:19 What should breeders focus on

38:44 A breeder Jere respects

40:27 Advice for aspiring breeders

40:48 How Jere wants Lambluv to be remembered

42:40 How to connect with Jere

#BetterBreederChronicles #PreservationBreeder #ConservationBreeder #AKCDogShows #JereMarder #Lambluv #OldEnglishSheepdogs

So, how does one breeder build world-class bloodlines in two breeds? 🐾

In this episode, Kristi Libertore shares how she transformed her love of horses into a passion for breeding dual-purpose dogs that shine in the field and dominate in the show ring. 

From her mentors’ wisdom to the heartbreaks and triumphs of Whiskeytown Wirehaired Pointing Griffons and Whiskey Hills Bracchi, Kristi reveals what it takes to build a true legacy in purebred dogs.

👉 Watch now to hear the story behind one of America’s most inspiring breeder success stories.

Timestamps:

00:00  Intro

00:20 Meet Kristi Libertore

01:29 First Dog and the Show Ring

03:11 Mentorship and Early Lessons

04:52 Mentors Who Influenced Her

08:29 Key Lessons from Her Mentor

09:43 Additional Mentors and Role Models

13:20 Building the Whiskeytown Vision

16:07 What Defines a Whiskeytown Griffon

19:02 The Dogs That Made Whiskeytown

22:23 AKC Sporting Group Breeder of the Year

23:27 Entering a New Breed: The Bracco Italiano

28:10 Developing Broncos with Her Husband

30:55 Breeding Challenges in a Limited Gene Pool

33:44 What Defines a Whiskey Hills Bracco

36:53 The Dogs That Made Whiskey Hills

40:43 The Role of Pedigree

42:14 Breeding Strategies and Linebreeding

44:47 Overcoming Challenges and Heartbreaks

47:09 Advice for Better Kennel Management

49:21 Breeders as Collaborators, Not Competitors

53:32 How Her Vision Has Evolved

54:18 Redefining Success

55:12 Thoughts on Judging and the Show World

56:19 Challenges Facing the Sport

57:44 Optimism for the Future

59:50 What Breeders Should Focus On

1:00:58 Breeders She Admires

1:02:59 Her Greatest Accomplishment

1:03:50 Advice for Aspiring Breeders

1:04:29 Legacy and Vision for the Future

1:05:11 Where to Learn More

#BetterBreederChronicles #PreservationBreeder #ConservationBreeder #AKCDogShows #KristiLibertore #WhiskeyHillsandWhiskeytown #BracchiItaliani #WirehairedPointingGriffons

What happens when a curious teenager falls in love with a pet store puppy and ends up shaping one of the most respected English Cocker bloodlines in America?

In this episode, Lisa Ross of Winfree English Cockers reveals how a pet store Irish Setter sparked a lifelong passion for breeding dogs that are not only stunning in the ring but healthy, happy, and full of heart. She shares her decade-long road to her first points, the mentors who shaped her journey, and how DNA testing and ethical breeding are redefining the future of purebred dogs.

Tune in to discover what it truly takes to build a legacy in purebred dog breeding — and why health, temperament, and mentorship matter more than trophies.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

00:42 Meet Lisa Ross of Winfree English Cockers

01:42 Getting Started with Purebred Dogs

03:43 Mentors and Early Lessons

05:49 First Breeding and Vision

08:28 Influential Bloodlines

09:21 Pedigrees and DNA Testing Evolution

10:51 Evaluating Puppies and Breeding Type

12:20 Defining the Winfree English Cocker

13:20 Hallmark Dogs and Bloodlines Through Time

19:04 Breeding Challenges and Heartbreak

22:45 Supporting Puppy Buyers & Building Community

24:39 Collaboration and the Future of Breeding

26:44 Reflections on Success & Legacy

27:18 The Impact of Judges’ Opinion

28:05 The Biggest Challenge of the Breed

28:45 The Optimism for the Future of the Breed

29:23 What Should Breeders Focus On

30:55 Breeders Who Lisa Admires

33:02 Advice for New Breeders

33:49 Winfree English Cockers’ Future

34:41 Where to Find Lisa 

#BetterBreederChronicles #PreservationBreeder #ConservationBreeder #AKCDogShows #LisaRoss #Winfree #EnglishCockerSpaniel

What does it take to build a bloodline that leaves its mark on history? In this episode, master breeder Mary Nowak talks about the journey to develop Honeygait English Setters, from her very first puppy to producing Ch. Honeygait N Lampliter Fever, the winningest English Setter of all-time with 40 All-Breed Best in Show wins.

Mary shares the mentors who shaped her, the philosophy of linebreeding that defined her program, and the dogs that carried her legacy into the record books. Whether you’re a seasoned exhibitor or simply love great dogs with health and history, the Honeygait story is one you won’t want to miss.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction & the “Honeygait” story begins

01:19 First English Setter & how the Honeygait name started

03:47 Early mentors and their influence

08:17 Building the Honeygait breeding program

12:49 Breeding philosophy & health priorities

18:14 Selecting puppies and what stands out

21:40 Thoughts on outcrossing vs. line breeding

24:55 Defining the Honeygait “look”

29:30 Notable dogs and their show careers

35:16 Biggest challenges in breeding

37:04 Most proud accomplishments

37:41 Collaborating with other breeders

45:58 Biggest challenges facing the breed today

48:17 Optimism for the future of English Setters

50:25 Breeders she admires & would recommend for interviews

52:26 Advice to aspiring breeders

53:28 How she hopes Honeygait will be remembered

54:44 Where to learn more & closing thoughts

#BetterBreederChronicles #PreservationBreeder #ConservationBreeder #AKCDogShows #MaryNowak #Honeygait #EnglishSetters

What does it really take to breed world-class Chihuahuas?

Kristi Green of Knockout Chihuahuas reveals how she built one of the top families in the breed, from national winners to top-producing sires. She shares her journey through mentorship, health testing, breeding challenges, and what defines a true “Knockout” Chihuahua.

👉 Watch now and learn from one of the most successful Chihuahua breeders in the country.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

00:31 Meet Kristi Green of Knockout Chihuahuas

01:23 How Kristi got into Chihuahuas

04:06 Early breeding challenges and goals

04:55 Struggles finding mentors

05:47 Meeting Darwin Delaney and key influences

07:16 Lessons learned from mentors

08:30 Building a family of her Chihuahuas

10:01 Establishing foundation bitches and early successes

11:24 Breeding strategies and line development

12:15 Breeding philosophy: Linebreeding

13:02 Specific breeding strategies

14:25 Stud dog selection

15:38 Focusing on virtues over faults

16:20 Puppy selection and Knockout traits

17:41 Defining the “Knockout Chihuahua”

19:42 Notable dogs that shaped Knockout Chihuahuas

30:09 Challenges of breeding toy dogs

31:46 Health testing as a breeding tool

33:39 Importance of National Specialties

34:27 Today’s breeder challenges & shrinking gene pools

35:29 Biggest challenges in Chihuahuas today

36:18 Optimism for the breed’s future

36:58 Breeding priorities for longevity and lines

37:36 Kristi’s most meaningful accomplishments

38:25 Breeders Kristi admires

39:33 Advice to aspiring breeders

40:19 Knockout legacy and long-term goals

41:13 Where to learn more about Knockout Chihuahuas

#BetterBreederChronicles #PreservationBreeder #ConservationBreeder #AKCDogShow #KristiGreen #Knockout #Chihuahuas #KnockoutChihuahuas

What drives someone to cross an ocean at 14 just to learn about a breed? For Patricia Princehouse, that leap set the stage for creating America’s most influential Pyrenean Shepherd breeding program.

Patricia reveals what it takes to balance health, type, and tradition, the story of her most influential dogs, and the biggest challenges facing purebred breeding today. Discover the passion and legacy behind La Brise Pyrenean Shepherds.

Timestamps:

00:00 Early love of dogs & first purebred dog

03:00 Discovering dog shows as a teenager

06:00 First trip to France & meeting mentors

09:00 Breeding Great Pyrenees as livestock guardians

13:00 Transition to Pyrenean Shepherds

18:00 Early breeding challenges & lessons learned

25:00 Preserving natural breeds as cultural history

31:00 Importing dogs & building a U.S. program

40:00 Health, outcrosses & maintaining type

50:00 Head, movement, and selection priorities

55:00 Prominent La Brise dogs & show ring impact

1:10:00 Challenges: judges, novices, and public perception

1:20:00 Collaboration and community in breeding

1:27:00 Optimism for the next generation

1:38:00 Legacy & advice to aspiring breeders

#BetterBreederChronicles #PatriciaPrincehouse #LaBrise #PyreneanShepherds #PreservationBreeder #ConservationBreeder #AKCDogShow

From deep but separate foundations in the purebred dog world, Dennis and Katey Brown share the remarkable Solivia Pointer story. In this episode, you’ll hear how one family’s passion for purebred dogs grew into an international breeding program known for health, soundness, style — and winning at the highest level.

If you care about preserving breeds, producing sound, healthy dogs, and learning from two of the most influential Pointer breeders of our time, this is an interview you won’t want to miss.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro & the early Solivia story

00:22 Katey’s mom’s path: Irish Setters → Cockers → Pointers

04:00 Foundation lines that shaped Solivia

06:40 Core philosophy: Health and Soundness first

10:32 Dennis’s background & how Dennis/Katey connected

18:31 International outcross strategy (Italy, NZ, UK, etc.)

22:01 Why Pointers are a “bitch breed” (dam-line consistency)

23:57 What a Solivia Pointer looks like (type & movement)

25:07 Game-changer sire & what he fixed

36:07 Ch. Solivia’s Desiderata: National winner & record producer

48:12 Conditioning Secrets: paddocks, free-feeding pups, & more

1:06:06 Advice to aspiring breeders: don’t quit; condition the dog

#BetterBreederChronicles #DennisBrown #KateyBrown #Solivia #Pointers #SoliviaPointers #PreservationBreeder #ConservationBreeder #AKCDogShows

How do you come back from heartbreak and build a bloodline that makes history?

Master breeder Carol Felbaum reveals how losing her foundation bitch’s first litter almost ended her program, and how perseverance turned that tragedy into a dynasty of champion Bichons.She shares the inside story of Donald, (GCHG High Ridge He’s So Full of Himself ROMX) a dog some doubted who went on to sire top champions worldwide, and she explains why mentorship, transparency, and collaboration are the future of purebred dogs.

If you are passionate about breeding programs, preserving breed standards, or the hidden stories behind champion dogs, you won’t want to miss this.

👉 Subscribe now for more breeder stories, behind-the-scenes insights, and conversations that keep the purebred dog breeding community strong.

Timestamps:

00:00 Beginnings in purebred dogs

01:30 Teen years and weekends at dog shows

02:21 Discovering Bichons

04:59 Early mentors and lessons in dog care

09:15 Learning through observation and quiet study

12:14 Honesty, tough conversations, and breeder transparency

16:44 Returning to the dog world after raising a family

19:08 Foundation bitch Minnie and her impact

22:54 First litters, heartbreak, and perseverance

28:22 Breeding success: Audrey, Donald, and champion offspring

34:26 Donald’s Story: from family dog to top sire

51:24 Donald’s accomplishments and legacy

55:35 Building toward the next great dog

57:46 Breeding decisions, linebreeding, and frozen semen

1:02:43 Challenges of promoting purebred dogs today

1:04:39 Collaboration vs. competition among breeders

1:07:28 Educating puppy buyers and lifelong support

1:11:22 Challenges in the Bichon breed today

1:13:49 Optimism and gratitude for the future

1:16:21 Hallmark kennel name story

1:18:39 Breeders who Carol admires

1:21:12 Perseverance as the key lesson for aspiring breeders

1:22:37 How Carol wants Hallmark Bichons remembered

1:23:35 Why there’s still no website

#BetterBreederChronicles #Carol Felbaum #HallmarkBichonFrise #PreservationBreeder #ConservationBreeder #AKCDogShows