Page 396 - ShowSight - December 2019

Lois Grier continued
most anything so I encourage my owners to do more with their Kerry. They are not couch potato dogs!
The toughest part about being a breeder? This answer goes along with the last question and that is pouring through all the inquiries and interviews to select the best possible homes for our puppies. I have always been fortunate to find good homes for our Krisma puppies.
Do I work outside of the home? When I began this journey of showing dogs I owned an Interior Design business that I ran from a studio out of our home which at the time was a renovated dairy barn. I also did portrait photography at the shows we attend throughout the midwest known as Krisma Images. That made rais- ing Kerries work pretty well since I was my own boss and could set my schedule as needed. Six years ago we moved to an acreage so that I could just enjoy raising and showing Kerry Blue Terriers along with doing portrait photography to help support my dogs. I think no matter what your situation is as a breeder it is going to be challenging. Times change and problems evolve, it will never be easy and certainly is not done as a way to make a living. I sometimes wonder why I work so hard for the fun of it.
Is my family involved? I was very lucky that my husband who had no idea what we were getting into also enjoys showing and has been supportive through it all. Two of our grown kids are not involved but our son Jordan and wife, Sarah, have been able to help us in many ways that includes staying at our house to take care of dogs while we go to major shows. Now we are thrilled that their oldest daughter, Averi, started showing with us last fall. She jumped into Juniors when she turned nine and has been turning heads each time she is in the ring with Krisma’s Illuminati taking a major win her first weekend, she was eight and her Kerry nine months.
Am I involved with a breed club or all-breed club and held posi- tions within the club(s)? Ted and I have been members and officers in our local club, Central Iowa Kennel Club since 2003. Each year we are both very involved in helping to put on our January show in Des Moines, Iowa. We belong to and support the United States Ker- ry Blue Terrier Club and attend the National Specialties each year. MBIS MBISS MRBIS Can CH Am GCHG Krisma’s Xman First Class RATN was BOB in 2015 and 2016 as well as BOB at West- minister KC 2016 and 2017. We are also members of the Kerry Blue Terrier Club of Canada. GCH Krisma’s Xiss Of Xcstasy RATN was BOB at the Canadian National Specialty 2018 and brother MBIS RBIS BISS Can GCHEX Am CH Krisma’s X Marks The Spot was BOB at the Canadian National Specialty 2017. At this time a group of Kerry Blue Terrier owners from the midwest is in the process of organizing and getting final approval of a new regional club which will be known as The Heartland Kerry Blue Terrier Club. I am cur- rently serving as President.
My kennel/exercise areas described: our Kerries are part of our everyday life. We have a room that houses their crates that they sleep in at night. I was able to design the room when we moved in and renovated what was a giant living room into the Kerry room since it was closest to the outside yard. I have a built-in tiled raised tub for bathing, a food prep area with tiled counters, sink, refrigera- tor, and cabinets. This leads to the outdoor area where we have four separate yards for them to romp in when the weather is nice.
How did I come up with my kennel name and is it registered with AKC? When it came time to choose a kennel name when we were expecting our first litter I was looking for a word that could describe what I thought was the essence of a Kerry. I kept coming back to the work charismatic but wanted it to look more unique so played around with the spelling and came up with Krisma Kerry Blue Terriers. Yes, it is registered with AKC. I think it fits them very well. Later I when I started to do portrait photography at the
shows Krisma Images seemed like the perfect name for the business as well.
Do I co-breed and co-own with others? Yes, I am blessed to be a part of a network that includes breeders who truly care about the future of our breed and the success of each. We work together to share our knowledge as well as our breeding stock. Each per- son brings a different a view point and many talents to the group. Together we have been able to do what no one person could do on their own. It take special people to continue to work together as we have through the years. Co-owning can be a good thing or as we all have seen a disaster.
Is my breed easy to place? Kerries are a breed that have never ranked high on the list of most popular dogs to own which can be looked at both ways. People who contact me often have already owned a Kerry or know of someone who does and has fallen in love with the breed. Many are attracted to the look of a well- groomed Kerry but have no idea of what it is like to own one so then I have to educate them to see if their lifestyle will fit having a Kerry in their home. The two placed I use to announce litters are on the par- ent club website at www.USKBTC.com and on AKC Market Place besides our own website www.KrismaKerries.com and on facebook at www.facebook.com/LoisGrier
Do I think “Breeders’ Showcases” as a special event at an organi- zation’s site will give breeders the recognition they deserve? We are living in an age where we need to fight for the right to own, breed and preserve purebred dogs. The public has been so bombarded to think that dogs should only be rescued not purposely bred. Educa- tion is the only way to overcome ignorance about where dogs in rescues are coming from and why they are there in the first place.
What can AKC do to help breeders attain great results? AKC needs to focus more on what truly is good for the breeders produc- ing purpose bred dogs in family oriented kennels. These are the people producing good dogs that get shown and keep AKC up and running as well as provide quality companions for the public.
Any hint or trick I can share with fellow breeders? Study and learn from those who have gone before us and were successful. Great mentors are hard to find but essential. There is so much to learn and we should never stop asking questions or think we know all there is to know about our breed, genetics, health, and the pos- sibilities of the future.
Do I show my own dogs? Yes, my husband and I have always shown our own dogs and now our granddaughter is showing in Juniors. There is one exception, Xavier was the number one dog of all breeds in Canada last year and was shown by a handler when I had my knees replaced in 2018.
The most amusing thing I’ve ever witnessed at a dog show? After so many years of going to dog shows two to four times a week there are many stories to tell about the adventures of being on the road. One that always comes to mind first is being locked in the RV with no way out. Most people get locked out but not us. My friend, Jinece, and I were at the Topeka, Kansas show weekends that are back to back with a day in between of not showing. It was on that Wednesday we were in the RV and suddenly couldn’t get out. The door latch had broken, both of us and our dogs were all locked inside. It was mid-morning and so we started calling around to see if there was a dealership anywhere that we could get help. Luck was we found one on the edge of town and had to drive through nearly impossible narrow tree lined streets to get there. When we arrived we had to call to tell them we were there. A service man climbed in the passenger window with a ladder and worked an hour and a half to drill out the door latch to open the door. We left with it only partially working the rest of the weekend, it had to be locked to stay closed.
392 • ShowSight Magazine, DeceMber 2019
Breeder Q & A