Breeder of the Pack
What profession requires business acumen, a knack for genetic manipulation, the instincts of a corporate vulture as well as hairdressing skills? Welcome to the world of dog breeders.
Basset Hound
Debra Hull breeds her Basset Hounds to be a top competitor in the show ring, and she doesn’t approve of second place. Hull’s hounds need to earn their keep, whether it’s winning a show title or landing a Hollywood role in the movies…these dogs even help with the laundry! In this episode, we feature three of the Hull hounds all at different stages in their doggie careers. We meet a problematic pup, Dahlia, who may not be able to live up to her elite pedigree in the show ring; Lily, her top dog, who’s a serious contender for a Best in Breed prize; and Debra’s oldest Basset Hound, Megs, who at the age of 11 is finally getting her moment in the limelight when she is cast opposite an Oscar nominee in a Hollywood film. The pressure mounts when Debra travels to the National Basset Hound Specialty competition. It’s here where we find out the fate of her young pup. If Dalia doesn’t perform well, there’s a good chance that Debra just may give her away. And all eyes will be on Debra’s favourite dog, Lilly, who is just one prize short of winning it all. This will be Lilly’s best chance to be victorious, and it will all be decided in the ring.
Chihuahua
Lucinda Glenny has over 25 years of experience breeding and training dogs. Previously a breeder of poodles, Lucinda currently has only one left: Kudos, a seven-time National Champ, and her last remaining poodle. Unfortunately, Kudos now has a terminal disease. With her most successful breeding program coming to an end, she is working hard to start up a new one with a new breed – Chihuahuas. It’s the passing of the torch: from one breeding dynasty to a new one. Lucinda is putting all her hopes on Sonic, a feisty little male Chihuahua. Lucinda takes her young stud to meet adorable prospective mates, but in order to attract the highest quality bitches, Lucinda realizes that she needs Sonic to stand out in the pack. So she’s daringly entered him in Working Title a competition – which up until now has been the exclusive domain of much larger dogs like Retrievers, Shepherds, and Collies. Little Sonic has been practicing the obstacle course but is struggling to make the jump. In the end, all that matters is that he makes the jump on competition day. A tall order for such a little dog.
Dogue De Bordeaux
The Dogue de Bordeaux breed has had a tough time through history. These gentle giants have twice been brought to the brink of extinction at the hands of French Revolutionaries and Nazi soldiers - with only eight dogs left in the world after WWII. It’s been a struggle to rebuild the population of this breed, but Donna Deschambault is dedicated to the preservation and protection of this remarkable dog. There are very few Dogues in Canada and breeders like Donna must go to great lengths and extra cost to avoid inbreeding. Semen is often cryogenically frozen and imported from around the world to these dedicated breeders. And there are additional hurdles. It’s very difficult to breed these dogs due to their huge size, and the unborn pup’s large heads make the birthing process potentially dangerous. One of Donna’s dogs is about to give birth and we follow along to find out if she can deliver naturally, or needs human intervention in the form of an emergency c-section. But all the effort is worth it for Donna, who gets deep satisfaction from knowing she’s helping the Dogue breed reestablish its presence in the world.
Nova Scotia Duck Tollers
Dressed in camouflage, toting a rifle, surrounded by her champion Nova Scotia Duck Tollers, Sue Kish is not your typical breeder. She has a mission…one she believes most dog breeders have forsaken. She believes dogs are born to hunt, “I breed in order to maintain a dog’s natural instincts.” Along with her sister Dianne, and their two French Canadian “crack shot” boyfriends, Sue owns Foxgrove Kennels, internationally renowned breeding, and training facility located on a picturesque country estate. Her facility is so highly regarded people board their dogs for training for as long as nine months, or place themselves on a year-long waiting list for puppies.
Poodle Pandemonium
Breeders, Heather and Greg Pendragon are passionate about their plethora of poodles. But their love affair with this canine began with just one - Greg's poodle, named Uther Pendragon. When Greg and Heather married, it was bow-tie sporting Uther who walked Heather down the aisle and gave her away with a bark. And with that - their breeding careers began.
Afghans
Call them the Supermodels of the dog world - with their long, silky coats and slender physique, Afghan Hounds certainly look the part. But unfortunately, they also suffer from the same stereotype as their human counterparts – Afghans aren’t known for being “the fastest ball in the dog park”, so to speak. Dee Devins has spent her whole adult life trying to change people’s perception of the Afghans and increase their popularity. But her time is not her own these days as she helps her husband Wayne, cope with a terminal illness. So she’s recruited a young protégé, Dani, and is teaching her everything she knows – from grooming techniques (Dee’s a professional hairdresser) to lure coursing and, of course, the show ring. Dani launches her career in an attempt to carry on her mentor's legacy as Dee’s oldest Afghan, Leo, has his final turn in the ring.
Border Collies
If there were a doggie Olympics, Kayl McCann would be captain of the Canadian team. Her days (and nights and weekends) revolve around breeding these smart, sassy, and speedy dogs. They already have 25 wins (including five gold medals) at the World Championships. The next World competition is in 2012 but there's no free ticket to the Canadian team. Kayle must qualify but canine competitions can be as fierce and cutting as a political election campaign – it’s all about winning. And Kayl wants to win. But this year her fastest dog, Slyce isn’t quite up to par after having had a recent litter. And, at nine years old, this could be Slyce’s last year of competition. But Kayl has a young secret weapon and his name is Funky Monkey. With her old and new crew of dogs, this fiesty breeder is hoping to speed through the obstacles and taste sweet victory once again.
Dandie Dinmont Terriers
Have you heard of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier No Join the club, not many people have. The Dandie is listed as an endangered purebred breed and only 300 puppies are born each year. While that is still a precarious position for the Dandie, they would have long ago been extinct had it not been for Mike Macbeth. Mike regularly makes semen runs for other breeders around the world to expand the lines and pedigrees. But that selection process, as well as for deciding who she will sell pups to, is a bit like going for a high-level government security job – there’s a background check, an intense interview, and binding contracts going back and forth. Mike can’t afford any missteps when it comes to breeding these dogs – literally, their survival depends on it.
Olde English Bulldogges
Erin and Jen Braybrook are sisters. Sure, they love each other, but when it comes to the Olde English Bulldogges they breed, there’s also some good old-fashioned sibling rivalry. They regularly show their Bullies at rare breed shows and their goal is to win best in the breed and be recognized as serious breeders. They're young, new to breeding, but are also determined to inject fun into the dog world. The sister duo also wants to dispel the myth that Old English Bulldogges are non-agile slowpokes. Jen and Erin have entered their Bullies in an event that will have the dogs dock jumping, disc diving, and pulling weights. But like any competition, only one dog can win. First, will it be a Bullie? And second, will it be Jen’s dog or Erin’s dog? Which sister will end up being the ‘top dawg’?
Goldendoodles
Sherry Rupke is the queen of the dog hybrids with people from all over the planet on her waiting list for Goldendoodles (Golden Retriever, Poodle cross.) She's also the first breeder in the world to have produced a Bernedoodle (Bernese Mountain dog, Poodle cross) whose popularity is on an exponential rise. And…she's only 28 years old. Take that Mark Zuckerberg! But hybrid breeds are still controversial in the dog world with purebred purists accusing her of weakening the original breeds. But, as a registered vet tech, Sherry can hold her own against the naysayers. And Sherry is also much more than a dog breeder; she’s a life changer. She regularly donates her prized pups to charitable organizations to act as service and therapy dogs. Sherry is systematically changing both the human and canine world one puppy at a time.
Bullmastiffs
Who is Bugs He's a 2010 Westminster champion, the number two Bullmastiff in all of America, and the sire to numerous other AKC champions? Achieving that kind of status takes not only time and dedication but a lot of money. And that's not easy for Bugs’ owner, Christy Shelper, a single mother of four children who lost her job during the recession. Life is a daily struggle to make ends meet, but Christy will never, ever, stop trying to improve and showcase her prized Bullmastiffs. At a cost of $5000, Christy is conducting her most important Bullmastiff breeding to date – a controversial inbreeding of Bugs to his daughter. If this works, Christy will be a hero and financially stable. If it doesn't, Christy may face both spiritual and financial bankruptcy.
Central Asian Shepherds
Jeannine De Palma isn’t scared of anything. Her dogs, the Central Asian Shepherds, are known for their aggressiveness, and so is she. She has shut down puppy mills, stood up to dog fight clubs, and firmly stands her ground in the competitive and political show ringworld. But when it comes to the dogs themselves, Jeannine is a total softy. Suspecting mistreatment, Jeannine has brought back to her home, Buddy, a dog that came from one of her litters. Nothing is ever a lost cause for Jeannine - her days are spent rehabilitating, Buddy, both physically and emotionally, and is even confident that he can enter a show ring. They say dogs are a man’s best friend. But one might also say that Jeannine de Palma is a dog’s best friend.
Service Dogs
When top-tier military and police units across the globe are in search of a dog that will serve and protect, they go to Baden K9. Elite breeding and tactical training facility for over 30 years, Baden dogs are fearless and focused. They can take down an armed fugitive, sniff out IEDs in Afghanistan, or find bodies buried in the rubble of 9/11. Baden K9 is made up of Mike and his son, Josh, but another family member is waiting in the wings to carry on this dog protection legacy – Mike's 9-year-old grandson, Jacob. Mike embodies the qualities of a military commander-in-chief – straight, authoritative, and deliberate in his moves. But he's also human and like any soldier who loses a comrade in battle, Mike feels deeply when a Baden K9 dog dies in the line of duty.
