In our travels to dog events, we run into dog lovers all the time who seem a little embarassed to tell us that they purchased their dog from a breeder. Other dog owners who have adopted a dog from a shelter are happy to tell the back story. As a lifestyle magazine, we love hearing all of their stories.One thing is certain, we all love our dogs very much. The term reputable, as Dr. Kay goes on to say, is reserved for the breeder who is truly passionate about the breed. This person will possess knowledge about the breed’s history, and know everything there is to know about the breed’s inherent health issues, temperament, and special needs. This person must be able to provide a wealth of information to you about the breed’s lineage. “Compare this description to what is referred to as the “backyard breeder”— the person who produces puppies without giving significant thought to inherited diseases, pedigrees, conformation, performance, or temperament,” said Dr. Kay. “Their reasons for breeding have nothing to do with preserving the integrity of the breed. Perhaps they want their children to witness the “miracle of birth,” or they believe in the myth that healthy female dogs must have a litter.” Or, they mistakenly believe that producing puppies is a money-making proposition. Any reputable breeder will tell you it is not. Jaycee Roth, owner/operator of Clearwater’s A Very Important Pet, once showed Italian Greyhounds. “Those dogs loved showing off in the ring, and I loved showing them,” said Jaycee. But, she noticed that after about six years of age, the dogs stopped enjoying the ring and the continuous attention. “They became shy and preferred to stay home, so I didn’t want to force them to do something they weren’t going to be happy doing.” She began to search for what she described as the best and smartest dog. She finally narrowed her research down to two breeds: the Warren Hound and the Standard Poodle. The Poodle won her heart, beginning a love affair with the breed that began when Tyra Banks arrived in her home 14 years ago as an eight-week-old puppy. Jaycee continued showing Poodles up until about 1996. Today she stays busy with her daycare, boarding and grooming business, where
36 THE NEW BARKER
it’s not unusual to see foster dogs in her care. “Every dog doesn’t deserve a good life,” Jaycee recently told us, “They d ???????????????????????????e????$??????????????????????????????????????t?Q?????????????????-?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Q??????????????????????????????????????????()i!??Q?? ??
??????e????]??????]??)?I???????? ?????? ????9?????-??M?????????????????
??????????Y????????%??????5????????()???????????????????????????????)?????????????????????????????????????d????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????e?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Q???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Q?????????????????????????????????????e?????????????????????????????????e??????????M???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????M???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????()????????????????????????????()??????????????????????????????())???????????????????????????????????????()??????????????????????????????????????????????????Q???e????????)?????????????????????????????????????????????????M??????A???????Q???????????????????????A????????????????????????????????????????????P???????????????Q??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????)???????????????????????9?????????????-???e?I???????? ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????M?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????q??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????t()???Q??9?? ???????((