ELIZABETH TOBIN, BLUESTONE SMOOTH FOX TERRIERS
Ch. Bluestone Mirror Mirror “Ruffles”
Am. Eng. Ch. Bluestone Snow Angel “Snowy”
won at important shows, but more importantly, contributed to the quality of their respective breeds. Every breed is a learning curve for one’s own. The Bluestone Smooth Fox Terriers are widely known, highly suc- cessful and well respected. What breeding philosophies do you adhere to? Good breeding starts with great bitches. We have a very strong bitch line, started by the bitch from Mrs. Clark, and a secondary bitch line that goes back to Sergio’s breeding, all old pedigrees upfront. We have tried to keep the old lines right up front, and have adopted the policy that just because it can win, doesn’t make it good. Puppies have been run on, and sold off as pets, as we try to improve on each generation, knowing you need to keep those assets you have, but can only fix one issue per generation. We run our puppies on a bit longer than most, as our lines are slow to mature; each breeding we expect to be a learning curve. It’s important to both Joe [Joe Vaudo, Liz’s longtime partner—AR] and me to try to be honest when evaluating puppies, mindful of keeping our type, but moving forward with what we needed to improve on with the current breeding. We look for clean heads, with flat back skulls, full muzzles with proper chiseling, super expression, and proper ear placement. Good shoulders are impor- tant, which sets up the balance of the dog, along with short hocks, proper tail sets, bone, and great coats. Balance is so important, to keep the same picture moving as standing. Because we keep one or two from a litter and the rest go to pet homes, temperaments and health are paramount. While we have had many of our own super stud dogs from our own breeding, we also look for good dogs to breed to outside of our own lines. We look for “stallions” that have produced well, have similar type, and produce no genetic defects. Until COVID, traveling internationally meant we could seek and find new lines to enhance our well-bred bitches, and likewise, for those in other countries, to use dogs from the States. We have several winners in Europe and beyond, sired by our own stud dogs here at Bluestone.
How many dogs do you currently house? Tell us about your facilities and how the dogs are maintained. Our numbers vary, but not by much. We house roughly 10 to 15 dogs of various ages, from 15 years to a month. When I moved from Austin to Cape Cod, Joe and I converted his 1850 antique barn into a kennel. It’s rather quaint, very bright, all carry out, with spacious runs and three running paddocks. My outdoor runs are heated, and have snow and wind drops, much needed on Cape Cod in winter months. During the summer months, we get a great sea breeze. All runs are roofed and completely shaded. Every dog here is bathed at least weekly, kept trimmed, and all puppies are raised in the house. All dogs get some house time, and my youngsters accompany me to the stable for some horse time and socialization. What a great way to socialize youngsters! Of course, the older dogs live in the house permanently, and teach the young ones manners. Like all good dog people, the dogs come first and foremost. Who were/are some of your most significant Smooths, both in the whelping box and in the show ring? Each generation is built on the last, and I have to start with my foundation bitches that gave not only in the ring, but more impor- tantly, in the whelping box. Without their quality, we would not be where we are today. Starting with Ch. Bluestone I Love Ttrouble, WB under a breeder judge at Montgomery County KC, and then Ch. Foxstorm Bluestone Paper Moon, we built our lines. From both of these bitch- es, bred in different directions, we derived our very best. Everyone knows us for “Witchy,” Ch. Pennfox Trackway’s Wicked Brew, who was a three-time MCKC breed winner, also placing in the Groups, including winning BIS as a veteran (the only one to do so). She was also a superb producer, and is present in many of our dogs and bitches today. We bred her in two different directions, and one of my best current sires is linebred on Witchy/ Gabryl lines. Ch. Bluestone Ambitious Brew, “Eli,” has get winning in Europe and beyond.
82 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, NOVEMBER 2020
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