Dog Articles

I had been doing conformation classes since early 80's. Finally settled on French Bulldogs in the late 90's. By then I had started my breeding program to bring forth what we have today. I showed my first Frenchie in 2005 and from then on that's all I wanted to do. We have a Champion at little over a year old now working on his Grand.

Lots of training and finding the best food for our dogs and I am proud to say I use Pro Plan. What works for me is lots of love and socializing. My special dog isn't just one. Every one of them are special in the own right.

A fan of the Working breeds, Tracy Houlihan of OutBack Kennel in Berkley, Mass., has owned Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs, Boxers and Doberman Pinschers throughout her career as a breeder. She began showing dogs when she was 31 years old; however, multiple sclerosis sidelined her from the conformation ring 10 years ago.

My story begins seven years ago. I was a grouse hunter without a dog. I met an older gentleman at a gun show and he invited me to go with him and his Llewellins to Wisconsin. After a very successful trip I tried to buy his five year old Setter named Star that was just an amazing field dog. He declined but offered to let me borrow her the next season. That year at Christmas he called and offered to bring her by for a couple of weeks. I quickly accepted and when he came by I was shocked when he asked me if I wanted to keep her permanently as he was getting too old to hunt her.

In 2007 my husband and I decided to start showing and training boxers. We have always had a boxer in our marriage and so it was just a natural thing. I have learned so much in my time of handle-owning my own dogs, as well as having the limited litters we have. I only breed when I am wanting something for my program.

I love to get out there and show off my dogs. This year I have three to show off, it is going to be a wonderful year!

After 25 years breeding and exhibiting Siberian Huskies and Shiba Inu, I took on the challenge of a Curly Coated Retriever.

Keeping a dog in top condition for both the field and the show ring can be a daunting task, but we have found that Pro Plan Performance Formula fits the bill!

In addition to being a top ranked show dog - Top 5 Breed and All-Breed and multiple sporting group winner for 2008 & 2009 and the #1 Curly in Canada for 2009, Thriller is also training for his JH.

Showing her heart out for owner-handler Sherri Hurst of Houston at the Cardigan Welsh Corgi Club of America (CWCCA) National Specialty May 14, “Libby,” an 8-year-old brindle bitch, moved effortlessly. With beautiful side gait, powerful reach and drive, and a perfectly level topline, Libby looked as though she could go on endlessly.

Winning her second CWCCA National Specialty Best of Breed, having won the first in 2011 at 3 years of age, GCH Aubrey’s Tail of Mystery CGC brought Hurst to tears. This time, Libby won from the Veterans class.

Some of my first memories are of my parents showing their Bullmastiffs, playing "show dog" with the puppies. I put points on my first dog - a Chihuahua named Ruby when I was only 5 years old. Dogs are, and have been my entire life. When I was 14, I was introduced to the Australian Shepherd. Flash forward 15 years and today they are still my breed of choice. I have produced multiple champions, group winners, top 5 ranked breed/all breed winners, herding, agility and obedience competitors - the "whole dog" is my goal.

I started showing shelties as a junior handler in the 1980's. Being involved in junior showmanship kept me out of trouble and focused on a goal. The years I competed I was ranked number 2 and number 6 in the nation.

Later, as my life started to change I began breeding and showing professionally. I was lucky enough to pilot the youngest sheltie in our breed history to an all breed Best in Show when she was 8 1/2 months old. Her name is BIS Ch. Iona I Can Shine.

I started in purebred dogs in 1999 with Alaskan Malamutes. Fell in love with boxers and purchased my first boxer in 2001, and haven't looked back. We train for show and working, and started working on SAR training in 2008. It is exciting to see our program grow and we have exciting prospects for the show ring and even more exciting breedings lined up for the coming year. In 2012 I started my All Breed Handling business and have been working hard to get it off the ground and growing!

I was introduced to the Texas Blue Lacy about 12 years ago and have been hooked on these versatile, intelligent dogs ever since. Generally a healthy breed, the intelligence of these dogs surpasses most of the breeds that I have been accustomed to being around. They can do anything from baying hogs or varmints, to blood trailing game or search and rescue for emergency personnel. They are a clean, medium size dog who is loyal to their family and children but able to turn on the speed and aggression when needed.

My Dad introduced me to deer hunting at a very young age and I have be obsessed with it ever since. I started shed hunting a few years ago and have been hooked ever since. My dad also trains dogs and happens to be very good at it so I got Bone and talked my dad into taking on a different kind of training. He got Bone started on the basics and then introduced him to sheds. Since then Bone and I have been Shed hunting a lot and also going to N.A.S.H.D.A qualifiers. Bone Qualified for the World Shed Dog Competition and finished 6th overall at 1 1/2 yrs old.

We are all about bird dogs. We run a bird dog training facility in northeastern Oklahoma. At our facility we accept two classes of pointing and flushing dogs a year. These dogs come to us from across the country and stay with us for at least 90 days, during which time we teach them bird dog fundamentals. When we are not training bird dogs, we are teaching people how to train their own bird dogs. For a couple of months every year, we travel the US giving training seminars. During hunting season we can be found in Texas guiding quail hunts.