Page 23 - Chow Life - Winter 2025

and most are willing to help you avoid their mistakes me, “When you find a good mentor who’s willing to
or the ones they have seen other novice breeders work with you, take their advice.” It is important to
make. So, do not just accept it, ask for it. remember that mentors have been where you are
and can help guide you to make the best decisions
BE ACTIVE IN YOUR BREED possible.

A breeder can gain a great deal by being active in “Don’t assume that experience in one breed will
the dog show community and this means regular transfer to another,” says Lynne Rosebrock, of Carroy
attendance at shows and performance events. Being Kennels Irish Wolfhounds. So, if you want a mentor
a part of this community increases the possibilities who has experience in your breed – and there are
of identifying potential sires that meet and exceed plenty of good reasons for wanting that – you can
your breeding criteria. It provides you with the email your local and national breed clubs. They will
opportunity to see young dogs and bitches which provide you a list of approved breed mentors. Find
would be a wonderful addition to your out all that you can about the people on
breeding program. It also makes that list and then begin contacting
for establishing a great support them. Suzi Francis, of Harmony
system; and the advice of “ Miniature Poodles, suggests
those who have significant that you, “Choose one
experience can often mentor to guide you,” and
prove invaluable. Greter Whether you are looking her reasoning is sound,
Swiss Mountain Dog “because if you ask
breeder, Anna Wallace for guidance or just someone 50 people for advice,
tells me “You become eventually one person
a highly respected to bounce ideas off of, we will surely give you the
breeder by being an all know how great it is to answer you want.” The
integral part of your answer you want may
breed community.” have someone to count on not lead you to the best

Attending local dog decision.
shows and, more and turn to for advice. NETWORK WITH
importantly, regional OTHER BREEDERS
and national specialties
will give you more of an “ You have likely heard it said
advantage. This will give you a dozens of times: The best way
better understanding of the quality to create opportunities for yourself
of the dogs being bred and shown in is by building a professional network.
competition. An additional benefit to this is Of course, to establish a network, you need other
that National Specialty judges often give invaluable breeders to network with and, depending on your
feedback to exhibitors, and you can learn a lot by location or situation, other breeders may be in short
taking note of the qualities they look for in their supply.
winners.
Whether you are looking for guidance or just
FIND A MENTOR someone to bounce ideas off of, we all know how
great it is to have someone to count on and turn to
If you’re new to dog breeding, it is important that for advice. Mrs. Robinson also suggests that you,
you find the help necessary to lead you to your “Keep your support network tight.” This is because
desired goals. It should go without saying that the you are going to have bad days and an occasional
people who are in the position to help you most tough go of it as a breeder.
are those who have experience and have proven
themselves highly successful in and out of the What do you do if you do not have meaningful
whelping box. connections? Join a specialty or all-breed club! It
is a great way to meet a variety of People who all
Löwchen breeder, Alexia Rodriguez, shared with share a common interest; and because everyone

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