Page 192 - ShowSight - September 2020

ASK A USKBTC BREEDER
different things to do with them. Give your Kerry a job; small or big, they will enjoy every minute of it. Bogey loves bringing my slippers to me when I come home from work. My Kerries know their toys by name and will hunt until they find the one you asked for. Each one is an individual and enjoys different things.
All of our dogs are part of our family; we show them, but they spend a lot more time in our home. I encourage you to take classes with your dogs. Kerries that we have bred show in conformation, all types of performance, herding, barn hunt, nose work, therapy dogs, weight pulling—there is no limit as to what your Kerry can do. Our foundation bitch was herding sheep in the early 1990s, before it was popular. She loved it. You don’t have to compete to do these things with your Kerry, just do it for the fun of it! The best thing is when they curl up next to you, and the wonderful bond that you have with your Kerry.
Nancy Westbrook: Learn as much as you can about your breed. And always breed to the Breed Standard, not the flavor of the month. Enjoy your dog, first and foremost. If you are going to breed and show, go to someone who has been in the breed for a while and ask for advice. Learn from what the “old timers” say; there is wisdom in their years of experience. Learn to “see” the standard. Listen to other’s thoughts, and go to as many shows as possible to see the Kerry Blues. And please, be honest with yourself about your own dog. Learn to see your dog’s faults and true strong points, and breed accordingly.
If you intend on breeding then you should attend as many Breeders Seminars as possible. This is an excellent way to stay up to date on medical advancements. Many offer classes in breeding and whelping. Also, learn about the new DNA testing available. While these tests are not perfect or 100% accurate, they are so much bet- ter than guessing. We owe it to our breed to try and do our utmost in producing healthy puppies. Learn to groom. Find a mentor who can help you. Ask someone in the breed, a breeder of some years, to mentor you. You will find most are very willing to help, if you are willing to listen and learn.
I really thought that the statement made by another breeder summed it all up, “Breed what you believe is the best, according to the standard, and don’t fall prey to fads, because they come and go.” After over 30 years around the rings, I guarantee it. Oh, if you do see something as a very bad turn in the breed, do not let it become ingrained in your breed; speak out against it. Some will
BREED WHAT YOU BELIEVE IS THE BEST, ACCORDING TO THE STANDARD,
AND DON’T FALL PREY
TO FADS, BECAUSE THEY COME AND GO.
condemn you. You may lose friends, but you will have protected a breed you hopefully love!
Which books/articles would you recommend for the nov- ice pet owner and/or for someone wanting to get started in showing Kerries?
Carl Ashby: If you can find E.S. Montgomery’s book and/ or Edith Izant’s book, you will find that both are good texts. In reality, though, reading is great, but being mentored and learning by doing is the ultimate teacher. However, it all starts by loving dogs and the Kerry. Without this passion, you will never succeed in dogs.
Nancy Han: There are many very good books on movement, handling and showing, but I think for starters that Edith Izant’s book, The Kerry Blue Terrier, is a great book for new Kerry owners. It is very easily understood and explains the basics of the standard very well.
Reita Nicholson: Kerry Blue Terrier by Bardi McLennan. It has a wealth of information about health, training, showing and the history of our Kerry Blue Terriers.
K-9 Structure & Terminology by Edward M. Gilbert, Jr. & Thel- ma R. Brown. This is a wonderful book about structure and termi- nology in an easy to read, easy to understand format. It explains all types of structure, and why form follows function.
An Eye For A Dog: Illustrated Standard to Judging Purebred Dogs
by Robert W. Cole. This one helps to teach you to have an eye for a dog when looking at one.
Born to Win, Breed to Succeed by Patricia Craig Trotter. This is a very informative book in how to select your sires and dams, going into the genetics and inheritance properties of the dog.
Dog Steps, An Illustrated Gait At A Glance by Rachel Page Elliott. This is an older book, but very good for anyone interested in a dog’s structure and how they move.
Nancy Westbrook: Anne Seranne’s The Joy of Breeding Your Own Show Dog is excellent, a “bible” of dog breeding advice deliv- ered with wit and humor.
The Complete Kerry Blue Terrier books, along with old hand- books, whichever the country.
A Compact Kerry Blue Terrier by Eileen S. Foy.
ABC’s of Dog Breeding by Claudia Orlandi.
K9 Structure and Terminology by Edward M. Gilbert, Jr. &
Thelma R. Brown.
The Whelping and Rearing of Puppies by Muriel Lee.
Finally, a great source of information are Breeders Seminars.
These are excellent ways to stay up-to-date on medical advance- ments. Many offer classes in breeding and whelping. These are most often offered through Veterinarian Colleges and AKC, although some breed clubs offer them too.
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