Page 372 - ShowSight - December 2019

Jeanine Dell’Orfano continued
Is my breed easy to place? Bergamascos are not easy to place. I have a waiting list and it can take a long time to find the types of homes I am looking for to place one good sized litter. The lon- ger I have been breeding and with the success of our puppies, the demand has increased a bit, but they are still a very rare breed and not the right fit for everyone. I talk more people out of the breed than I consider. I advertise on AKC Marketplace. I make announce- ments on my website and social media. Most of my homes are from word of mouth and many are past puppy families. I am okay with this breed not being in high demand.
Do I think “Breeders’ Showcases” as a special event at an organi- zation’s site will give breeders the recognition they deserve? I think it would depend on the site. If the site is reputable then I would think it would help.
What can AKC do to help breeders attain great results? I think AKC can ensure that their Breeders of Merit are actually worthy of the title by auditing and monitoring those breeders to ensure that they are fulfilling their health testing and other requirements. I think the program would work better if it were based more on the responsibility and integrity of the breeder rather than based on how many Champions are bred.
Any hint or trick I can share with fellow breeders? I think it’s important to find your own way but rely on your mentors for advice when it comes to breed knowledge, choosing mates, whelping, eval- uating puppies and developing an eye for your breed. It’s important to be objective and step back and really look at your dogs and what you are producing and be honest with yourself. It is important to have a network of fellow breeders and to ask questions and discus- sions about your breed. I rely on my network of breeders who I respect to shoot ideas back and forth with, to help me understand something I don’t, to give an honest opinion.
Do I show my own dogs? I use a handler ( Amanda Shea) for our Special, Faggia who has been campaigning for a couple of years now. There are some dogs I do show myself and have had a lot of success with. It was a very special moment for me when my GCH bitch Amira won Owner-Handler Best in Show because we did it together.
The most amusing thing I’ve ever witnessed at a dog show? Someone left a stack of smoked pork chops on the ground just out- side the group ring at a show in Rhode Island. The whole stack went missing, I was embarrassed that it was my bitch who ate them— while somehow still in the group ring.
ANNE ECKERSLEY
My childhood years was not as one would have expected from Scottish parents as I was born and raised mostly in the Orient. Moving from one city to another in Asia, showing dogs was not exactly an activity that one came across too often and therefore I did not grow up in the dog show world. I have always had an intense affinity towards all creatures and judging from the many rescue ani- mals I brought home, including a pregnant goat from the streets of Bangladesh, there was no doubt that animals and breeding would be an integral part of my life. My mother grew up with dogs and her cousins had a working farm in Scotland where I found myself helping the farm hands with the cows and sheep. I was introduced to breeding when the family Dachshund had a couple of litters of puppies. My first Cavalier, whilst not a show dog, was super smart, outgoing, had no interest in other dogs—she was convinced she was a human and was a wonderful ambassador for the breed. By the time she was six months she knew all the basic obedience com- mands and multiple parlor tricks as well. It was through this dog that learned about obedience training and became very involved in performance, showing her to her Utility title. It was a natural
progression to consider conformation showing but for that I needed a show dog. I desperately wanted a Tricolor female but none were ever available and thus I purchased my second dog, a Tricolor male, with whom I did both performance and conformation. I learned everything I know about dog behavior, handling in performance and conformation from these two dogs.
What made me know that this was what I wanted to do? I lived in London, England with my first Cavalier and through the breeder I learned about Crufts and open dog shows in England. Crufts was at that time held in Central London and I was enthralled at the many spectator events offered at that show. I would say that this event made me want to enter the world of conformation showing.
Who were my mentors? In the late 70s there was no such thing as a “mentor” and communication was not as easy as it is these days with email and the internet. Not to mention the high cost of inter- national and interstate telephone calls. Ultimately I learned from attending the many seminars offered at that time as well as from trial and error. It is not the way I would recommend today as there are endless opportunities to learn and I would definitely find a men- tor with whom you have a rapport and whose dogs you admire.
I would say that the best part of being a breeder is making fam- ilies so happy for many years having purchased one of my dogs. That, as well as the many friends I have made worldwide through breeding and showing. The challenge of breeding Cavaliers is pro- ducing that elusive top show dog and having succeeded, the bar is set so high that nothing less is acceptable. The tough part is battling the health issues, removing from a breeding program spectacular specimens of the breed because a health clearance did not come out well and on occasion caring for sick puppies around the clock.
Do I work outside of the home and is my family involved? I do not work outside the home. I am in awe of those who breed and have a full time job. The extent of my family being involved is—let dogs out, let dogs in, feed dogs, let dogs out again, let dogs in again.
Are you involved with a breed club or all-breed club and held positions within the club(s)? I have been President of CKCSC, USA twice—the original breed club in the USA dating back to 1956 when Cavaliers first came to the USA. I have held many positions within that club and the Regional affiliates. I have seen CKCSC, USA grow in leaps and bounds over the years and continues with many new programs designed to encourage quality competition, careful breeding and setting the highest standards of excellence. CKCSC, USA is unique as it encourages, not only breeder/exhibi- tor members but also the pet owner-members plus the Champion- ship system is based on the British system where dogs must beat Champions to become a Champion. There is no Specials/Cham- pions class. This in turn raises the bar of quality for the breed. I am also a member of the UK National Cavalier Club, Progressive Toy Club, Tibetan Spaniel Club of America, Leonberger Club of America and have in the past been a member of an all breed club and obedience club.
My kennel/exercise areas described: I don’t have kennel runs or a kennel for my dogs. There is fencing upon fencing for security surrounding grassy areas, gravel and patios. All my dogs MUST get along as they all go out together—males, females, Tibetan Spaniels and the one Leonberger.
How did I come up with my kennel name and is it registered with AKC? Chadwick, my kennel name, is indeed registered with AKC. It is my father’s middle name and my grandmother’s maiden name.
Do I co-breed and co-own with others? Yes I do but not a lot. Mainly because I never consider my dogs are good enough! I expect my co-owners to take the offspring of our co-owned dogs and go forward breeding their own home-bred show winners which is eas- ier said than done.
368 • ShowSight Magazine, DeceMber 2019
Breeder Q & A