Pure Dog Talk

A Family Affair: How to Balance Family and Breeding

Recorded LIVE at Westminster Dog Show.

Doug and Michaelanne Johnson of Old English Sheepdog and Bouvier des Flandres fame raised 5 children while handling show dogs and running a Colorado Springs, CO boarding and training kennel.

Winners of the AKC Breeder of the Year and Herding award in 2006, credit goes to the family as a whole.  Son Colton Johnson is now a professional handler and the four girls help run the family kennel business with everyone having an input on the breeding decisions.

The Johnsons breed Old English Sheepdogs under the Bugaboo prefix originated by Canadian breeders and mentors John and Edie Shields.

 

Sunrise Woodmen Kennels

Jody Davidson - Jody's Juniors

Once upon a time a Junior Handler herself, Jody Davidson is a professional dog trainer, member of Assoc of Professional Dog Trainers and Canine Good Citizen Evaluator.  Located in Arizona, Jody leads a team of young dog show enthusiasts to become not only good handlers, but the life skills of responsibility, discipline and compassion.

From chores to grooming, lessons on toenail, healthy poop, heatstroke, sportsmanship, and nutrition; Jody's Juniors learn how to care for and train dogs.

We hope you enjoy episode #39 of Pure Dog Talk!

Contact Jody's Juniors

A Dog Show Should Be Fun

Listen to Episode #38 of Pure Dog Talk as Betty-Anne Stenmark shares lessons learned of how to throw a party with a premium list; a dog show that all enjoy and attracts specialty clubs to party too.

Show Chairs, Club Members, Exhibitors and Aspiring Judges will all benefit from these words of wisdom.

If you missed Episode #31 - Not a Gene Pool...A Gene Puddle , or want to hear again the humor and wisdom of AKC Judge and Breeder of Dandie Dinmont Terriers, Mrs. Betty-Anne Stenmark, listen here.

Not a Gene Pool... a Gene Puddle

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Chris and Tom Levy and the Pumi

When Chris and Tom Levy first imported their Hungarian Pumi to work as a herding dog, the breed was not recognized by the American Kennel Club.  It was an eleven year journey to full recognition

FSS to Miscellaneous

The journey to rare breed AKC recognition begins with FSS or Foundation Stock Service.  Formation of a parent club, a breed standard, and 150 dogs are a few of the requirements to move a breed from the FSS status to Miscellaneous.

Listen to #37 of PureDogTalk and how Chris and Tom championed the Pumi to AKC recognition in the herding group.

 

 

 

Photos Courtesy of Chris Levy

Bird Dog Mentor: Ray Calkins

Mentors Who Last a Lifetime

by Laura Reeves

Ray and Lynn Calkins, Cascade GWP, were among my very first breed mentors. Back in the mid-‘80s, I acquired my first Wirehair when I was a teenager. She was eventually bred to the Calkins’ first Wirehair, the dog who would be the foundation of their long line of dual champion dogs. The connection has continued through the better part of 35 years.

When mom sent me the bitch who would serve as the foundation for my own line of dogs, she was a daughter of the Calkins’ most successful Dual Champion/National Field Champion.

Ray taught me about pointing dogs and field trials and, along the way, he and Lynn have generously shared their knowledge, their experience and their friendship.

Ray recently retired from his long-running and successful veterinary practice outside of Portland, Oregon. Past president of the GWPCA and a judge of pointing breed field trials, Ray was the 2014 AKC Lifetime Achievement Award winner.

As breeders, the Calkins’ Cascade dogs are extraordinary, as they are represented in the lists of all-time top producing sires of Field Trial, Hunt Test and Conformation dogs. Of the 10 Supreme ROM sires, two are dogs the Calkins’ bred and four more are directly descended from dogs they bred. Of the six Supreme ROM dams, three are direct descendants of the Cascade dogs.

 

Listen as Pluis Davern brings her devotion and wonderful spirit to Pure Dog Talk #35.  Part Two of Sussex Spaniels, Spaniel Hunt Tests, and the formation of the Search and Rescue Canine program.

Pluis Davern

* 2011 AKC Breeder of the Year - Sundowner Sussex Spaniel

* First Sussex Spaniel, Vicar of Lexxfield CD was first Sussex Spaniel to win Best in Show in the U.S. and place in the group at Wesminster.

* Helped create Spaniel Hunt Test

* One of two women who formed the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation. Trains teams for FEMA.

* AKC Licensed Judge

Read Full Article Here

National Disaster Search Dog Foundation

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A Two Part Episode on PureDogTalk

Sussex Spaniel fan or not, the accomplishments of Pluis Davern is a must-listen to.  Many of us would like to see our dogs instincts at work - in the field, on the hunt, herding, or retrieving on land or water.  Pluis Davern has excelled, not only in spearheading the creation of spaniel hunt tests, but in focusing her field and obedience experience to direct Search and Rescue training and service.

Pluis Davern

* 2011 AKC Breeder of the Year - Sundowner Sussex Spaniel

* First Sussex Spaniel, Vicar of Lexxfield CD was first Sussex Spaniel to win Best in Show in the U.S. and place in the group at Wesminster.

* Helped create Spaniel Hunt Test

* One of two women who formed the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation. Trains teams for FEMA.

* AKC Licensed Judge

Courtesy of Pluis Davern

Read Full Article on Pluis Davern

Photos Courtesy of Search Dog Foundation

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Was the "Voice of Westminster" Your First Mentor?

David Frei was "The Voice of Westminster". For 27 years, David opened our eyes to the traits, instincts, stories and wonder of purebred dogs.  From David we heard about border collies and herding, Belgian Malinois as police dogs, golden retrievers, fox terriers, bloodhounds, siberian huskies, and so many more.  Almost always, the reason behind the pom-poms on the poodle was clearly defined.

Listen to Episode #33, Feb 27 on puredogtalk where David joins Laura Reeves for a walk into his beginnings and career in dogs.  Homage is given to his many mentors, especially in Afghan Hounds.  David talks about Pat Craige Trotter and "Craige-Hounds", a name respectfully given for her dominance in Norwegian Elkhounds.

READ the full article here

Seattle Kennel Club Dog Show Rocks!

Katie Campbell is a second-generation dog breeder and has been exhibiting and breeding under her own TAJI prefix since 1991. Though known worldwide for her highly acclaimed Basenjis, she is also a Breeder of Merit in Ibizan Hounds and Poodles. She has also judged across the USA and around the globe. Like many of us, Katie is an active member in an ensemble of purebred dog clubs, tirelessly aspiring to keep members active and replenishing their rosters. She does so with an inspirational message that mentors not only new owners and aspiring judges, but effectively reaches the public to share our pure bred dog message. As a member of the Seattle Kennel Club Board of Directors and show committee for Seattle Kennel Club’s upcoming large, diverse, and very public oriented show, Katie shares with us how the Seattle Kennel Club uses media to attract gate and potential new pure bred dog enthusiasts and club members.

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Mrs. Betty-Anne Stenmark

Mrs. Betty-Anne Stenmark wrote the book on Dandie Dinmont Terriers...literally.  Under the King's Mtn. kennel name, a long line of champions have been bred and an endangered breed preserved to this day.

We don't have a gene pool, we have a gene puddle.

Dandie Dinmont Terriers are a low-entry breed.  A situation that many of our breeds face today.  In Episode #31 of PureDogTalk.com, Mrs. Stenmark shares her wisdom and generous humor on the "Dandies".

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