Page 292 - ShowSight - July 2019

Miniature Schnauzer Q & A
and cherish the time that we spent going to shows, whelping litters, and just enjoy Mini Schnauzers. The second tool which I think is essential for success is to be completely honest with yourself when it comes to the dogs in your program. It is so important when looking at your dogs with a critical eye that you not only see all of the great features of them but you equally are able to find their less desirable traits or faults. It is difficult to try and breed truly to the standard if you can not look at your dogs with an impartial eye.
Does the breed’s ranking make finding good homes easier? Absolutely! They are great family pets who can go out and do all the outdoor activities you like, but are also equally content sitting down with you to watch a movie. They are wonderful with children and are overall just a great dog. We have never had an issue trying to find good home for our puppies.
Are grooming trends affecting the breed in the ring today? I believe with every breed there are grooming trends that come and go in the show ring. Under truly good judges they will find the best quality representative of the breed regardless of what trends are circulating.
So far my most memorable and meaningful dog show memory was winning the American Miniature Schnauzer National Special- ty back in April of this year. The dog who I won the breed with is MBISS GCHS Regencys Play to Win, his call name is Pepe. Win- ning the breed at the national was always a dream of mine, but to do it with Pepe made it so much more meaningful. Pepe was one of the last dogs that Bev bred when she was alive. A few years ago we took him to Montgomery County Kennel Club as a puppy and he won a huge Sweepstakes entry. He is a dog that Bev always had a lot of hopes and dreams for, by winning the national I feel that I have fulfilled what she always believed this dog was capable of.
BETH SANTURE
I purchased my first MS in 1983 and bred my first litter in 1985. I’ve bred over 30 champions most being entirely shown by myself. I have served on the National club (AMSC) board of directors multiple times and was President of local breed club several years running as well.
I am also a member of the local All Breed club and the local dog training club where I have been an instructor for many years.
I participate in obedience, rally, agility, barn Hunt and nose work with my dogs. I have bred and owned multiple dogs with titles at both ends of their names. I live in Michigan, near Ann Arbor. I’m retired from being a Veterinary Assistant for over 30 years. I’ve been breeding and showing in conformation and performance since 1985
The secret to a successful breeding program is to keep the puppy that has what you want to improve on.
Does the breed’s ranking make finding good homes easier? I’ve never had to advertise my puppies for sale and always have a wait list. Miniature Schnauzers are popular because they are a good fit for many families.
Are grooming trends affecting the breed in the ring today? I’d say there are grooming “styles”. Not everyone grooms exactly the same and a judge should be able to see and feel through the hair.
My favorite dog show memory is the first time going winners at a National Specialty.
Of course I’m bias, but I believe Miniature Schnauzers could be a breed for most people. They are considered a small breed but they are large in intelligence, personality and athleticism.
They are happy to go along with you to do whatever it is you want and come home to cuddle on your lap.
DR. LISA G. SARVAS
I was born in Western Canada, I have a BSA and DVM from the University of Saskatchewan. Small Animal Internship from Long Island Veterinary Specialists and the Jose- phine Deubler Fellow- ship in Medical Genetics and Reproduction from UPenn. I spent many years in Small Animal Reproduction, Emergency and Critical care and now work doing relief in Small
Animal Medicine.
I live in Raleigh, North Carolina, I have a DVM and am active
in my career, traveling, running and yoga. I’ve been showing for 34 years and breeding for 32 years.
The secret to a successful breeding program is it’s important to understand canine anatomy and how it makes up your breed’s type. Select dogs to start with a strong base of soundness (in reproductive traits, health and temperament) and then focus on breed type traits and selecting for virtues. Do not select for a generic, faultless dog- it will get you no where. Guard your heads, fronts and ribcages as they are the basis of our breed type. Keep your best bitches as they are gold.
Does the breed’s ranking make finding good homes easier? Overall, yes it does. Most pet homes are repeat Schnauzer buyers and they understand the high grooming requirements of a non shedding breed.
Are grooming trends affecting the breed in the ring today? I don’t think they have changed that much over the past five to ten years as we have always been a highly stylized breed with demand- ing stripping and scissoring needs. Most dog are shown in a roll which can be more difficult for novices to master. All breed han- dlers are prone to altering our outlines and proportions with excess hair which is far from where the breed started as a hard coated ratter.
My favorite dog show memory is the thrill and excitement of attending my first Westminster Best in Show in 2003 after I moved to New York from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
We have an increasingly narrowing gene pool, with dominance of the Ruffian branch and virtual collapse of the Diplomate, Dele- gate and Tribute branches. As breeders we need to focus on keeping our tail male lines alive and maintaining some genetic diversity. We also have to be careful not to cull full families of dogs for producing health defects before that particular problem has been studied and a mode of inheritance is established.
We have a breed DQs for size that are not being monitored seriously by most judges. If judges question a dogs size, they need to measure. If breeders have questionable sized dogs, they need to police themselves to stay within our standard.
286 • ShowSight Magazine, July 2019