Page 24 - Demo

Ch Lyric’s Big Spender CD AX AXJ RS-E JS-E GS-O “Django”
LP: I want a confident, balanced puppy that moves well. For performance prospects, I really don’t look for anything differ- ent than in a show prospect. I like to see a puppy that wants to play with toys and retrieves naturally. Being the “alpha” puppy is not as important to me as being outgoing and happy. I study and evaluate a litter right from the time they’re born. I can’t help myself. I do like “pretty,” although I’ve almost become color blind to flash. If a dog has presence, then I don’t think the chrome (white collar and markings) is that impor- tant. I always have other breeders evaluate my litters too, in case I’m missing something.
ASJ: How has temperament and workability influenced your breeding program?
LP: Because most of my puppies go to pet/companion homes, I always keep temperament in mind when I plan a breeding. It’s nice to get the high drive that will enable a dog to excel in performance events, but my worst fear is that one of my dogs will be abandoned or wind up in a shelter.
ASJ: What are you doing to ensure the workability of your dogs?
LP: When I bred to Chance (HOF WTCH ASCA CH Gold Nugget’s Contender CD), I wanted a versatile litter. Billie is high drive, and Chance was a proven working dog but also had a wonderful temperament. Anne, Kathy Kregel’s VCD2, is from that litter, and so is Django (Ch Lyric’s Big Spender CD AX AXJ RS-E JS-E GS-O).
Ch Lyric’s Can’t Say No RS-N JS-N OA OAJ STDs “Sage”
Lyric’s Skylark NA NAJ “Lark”
Then I bred Bea (Ch Lyric’s Luck Be a Lady CD OA OAJ RS-O JS-O), my other Cajun daughter, to Bronson (HOF Ch Carolina’s Rave Reviews CD HS-As RV-O JV-O GV-N ATDsd STDc). Bea is a lovely, athletic girl, but she’s a bit lazy, and I knew that Bronson would add some pizzazz. I’m enjoying the puppy I kept from that cross and have hopes of competing in Most Versatile with her.
Most of the dogs I’ve bred to were either Record of Merit or Hall of Fame producers or have since become ROM or HOF producers. I prefer to breed to older dogs that are proven pro- ducers, not only to increase my chances for a successful litter but also for health reasons, since any health issues hopefully have shown up in earlier litters.
ASJ: How many days/hours weekly do you train?
LP: It varies, but I usually attend one agility class a week, and then I train two or three hours at home each week. I only work each dog for a short time. I like short, happy, successful sessions.
ASJ: Do you attend training classes, or do you train at home?
LP: I attend a drop-in agility class once each week where I can get feedback if I ask for it, and then I also take agility classes with Beth Godwin. She has an outdoor facility, so classes aren’t consistent until the weather warms up. My favorite obedience trainer, Dick Gasaway, has retired, so I mostly train at home or attend drop-in sessions. I don’t go to many con- formation classes. There are enough local ASCA shows that I can get the puppies out and socialized. If I had more time I’d like to attend some agility seminars. I’d like to become more adept with clicker training.
ASJ: How many trials do you attend annually?
LP: I probably do 12 to 15 a year. There is often a conflict with the different venues, so which event I attend may depend on who is ready to do what and who is in coat and needs to finish their championship
ASJ: I hear you are now dabbling in the stock ring. How is that going?
LP: Well, I have attended a couple of Kay Harris’ seminars, and Terri Morgan agreed to work with me—but after our first
22 The Australian Shepherd Journal May/June 2005