Page 440 - ShowSight - December 2019

Mary-Jo Winters continued
Some of the toughest parts about being a breeder; losing a puppy during whelping is awful. Having a dog come back is also hard, but even being a responsible breeder it can still happen. Being excited about a long awaited breeding that doesn’t work out is also difficult, but you pick up, move on and look to the future.
I did work outside home, but am happily retired giving me more time to spend with my dogs.
My kids are grown and living on their own. While they enjoy the dogs when they visit, they aren’t involved, Hubby Marty is very help- ful.
I am a member of the Canadian Kennel Club, The Poodle Club of Canada, and The Poodle Specialty Club of BC.
I don’t have a kennel building per se, my dogs and puppies live with us as house dogs. Our pups are whelped in our kitchen, and are raised there. They experience all the noises and hub bub of daily life. We have a fully fenced 3/4 of an acre in a park like setting for them to play in.
My kennel name is pretty easy. WinterGarden is a combination of my last name and my love of gardening, which I got from my mom. WinterGarden is permanently registered with the Canadian Kennel Club and I am a registered breeder with that organization.
I have co-owned dogs with Ann Rairigh. She and I co-own “Liv” CanCh AmGrChS WinterGarden The Heat Is On. Liv is to be bred soon, and that will be my first co-bred litter, a very exciting time.
Breeding is a series of trial and error moments. Good mentors and breeder friends to bounce ideas and experiences off are essential. Sem- inars at PCA have been a good source of information. A good breeder vet is very helpful but hard to find these days. In the end you mostly have to trust your instincts.
I have standard Poodles, they aren’t difficult to sell or place. I advertise in industry and breed magazines, and have a website www. wintergardenpoodles.com, Competition with “doodles” is an issue that all Poodle breeders face. You can only give people good informa- tion and hope they make well informed decisions.
I have shown and finished my own dogs, even winning a Bred By Exhibitor BIS, but I don’t really enjoy being in the ring. I prefer to send my Poodles out with professional handlers.
As a final comment, the wins are exciting and keep me going, but I feel the pinnacle of being a good breeder is people have great com- panions that live long healthy lives.
ERICA WYATT
How I got started in dogs? I have always loved dogs and used to pester my parents to take me to dog shows as a child. For me, it was a natural progression from loving dogs, to getting more involved with the sport of dogs, to becoming serious about breed preservation and the importance of protecting purpose-bred dogs.
What made me know that this was what I wanted to do? This is a difficult question to answer and I think it is probably uniquely per- sonal answer. The Sloughi is a breed that is ancient and primitive, and dogs of this type have coexisted human societies in North Africa for millennia. The Sloughi is therefore culturally significant and interest- ing. But the most compelling reason I fell in love with the breed was perhaps its unique and total devotion to its people and the relation- ship that grows out of that bond. Simply put, I fell in love.
Who were my mentors? Ermine Moreau-Sipiere was and has undoubtedly been one of my greatest mentors and a dear friend. She and her family moved to the US in 1979 and bred the first litter on US soil in 1981. Another great mentor of mine is Dr. Yassine Jamali, a Moroccan veterinarian and Sloughi breeder who is completely devot- ed to the preservation and protection of the North African Sloughi.
The best thing about being a breeder? The individual relationships and the bonds that I share with each of my Sloughis. Living with them
is by far the most rewarding aspect of having them and far exceeds any accolades or show ring wins.
The toughest part about being a breeder? Preservation. In mod- ern times, the Sloughi is threatened. It is threatened throughout the western world where breeders for the most part do not use hunting prowess as breeding criteria. (Lure coursing, sprint racing and oval track racing are interesting but completely unrelated the actual hunt- ing of live game.) A beautiful sighthound that does not or cannot hunt is not a Sloughi, and every time a Sloughi litter is born to par- ents whose hunting ability is not tested, that is a potential diminution in the most essential characteristic of the breed. In addition, some health problems are emerging in the breed, particularly in some parts of Europe, that further threaten the breed’s survival. In its countries of origin, the Sloughi is endangered by loss of lifestyle as well as by the introduction of the Galgo Espagnol to North Africa and cross breeding that has resulted in many areas in the countries of origin. All of these challenges are compounded in the US by an extremely small gene pool. Finding authentic, healthy, high quality Sloughis in North Africa is an integral component to preserving the breed and that is one of the toughest aspects. It is equally tough to find excellent, commit- ted homes for such a rare breed.
Do I work outside of the home? Yes, I am an attorney, which is a time consuming profession, and time spent away from the dogs can be challenging. Luckily, I have a very supportive husband whose career demands are more flexible than my own, and the work involved pre- serving and protecting this breed is a shared labor of love.
Am I involved with a breed club or all-breed club and held posi- tions within the club(s)? I am the vice president, the AKC Delegate and the Judges Education Chair for the American Sloughi Associa- tion (the National Parent Club), a board member of the Chicagoland Hound Association, the Skokie Valley Kennel Club. I am also a mem- ber of the Little Fort Kennel Club and was recently invited to join the prestigious Morris & Essex Kennel Club.
My kennel/exercise areas described: we live on 12 acres in northern Illinois with ample fencing for the Sloughis to gallop and exercise on a daily basis. Our dogs live in the house with us and we have a dog room set up for them so that they can be separated for feeding time and where they stay when we are traveling or away from the house.
Do I co-breed and co-own with others? I have co-bred litters and I co-own certain Sloughis of my breeding with their owners.
Is my breed easy to place? The Sloughi is not easy to place because it is not a breed for everyone. It is also very rare in the US and most people have never heard of the breed. I normally do not have to adver- tise for puppies as I maintain a fairly lengthy waitlist. Better breed recognition would, I think, increase interest in this fascinating and devoted breed.
Do I think “Breeders’ Showcases” as a special event at an organiza- tion’s site will give breeders the recognition they deserve? I think it would be great!
What can AKC do to help breeders attain great results? AKC does a tremendous amount of work for the betterment of dogs, including both purebred and mixed breed dogs. The Canine Health Founda- tion, AKC Reunite, and AKC Pet Disaster Relief are just a few exam- ples of the widespread support the AKC provides to dogs as a whole.
Any hint or trick I can share with fellow breeders? Remember the purpose for which your breed was developed and make breeding decisions based on health, temperament, purpose, and type, NOT on what is winning in the show ring.
Do I show my own dogs? Yes.
The most amusing thing I’ve ever witnessed at a dog show? I have watched my husband learn how to present a show dog. Does that count?
Breeder Q & A
436 • ShowSight Magazine, DeceMber 2019