Breeding & Presenting GORDON SETTERS
By Mary Ann Leonard Sastya Gordon Setters
B reeding and exhibiting dogs of Championship quality is both a science and an art, with a whole lot of luck thrown in for good measure. To make the decisions that produce a dog that not only has these fine qualities but also possesses health clearances and great temperament only makes the task more daunting. Th row bird ability and agility into the mix and the challenge can appear insurmountable. Ours has become a sport that is extremely expensive—just the entry fees and travel expenses alone make a stag- gering total to middle class people such as myself. Add to that the high cost of clear- ances and stud fees and vet bills... it is very hard for normal folks to compete. Now that I have reached the age where I can no longer show my own dogs, I must hire a great and kind handler as well. Th e costs become staggering and prohibitive. I learned a very long time ago from a wise mentor, that for me to be competi- tive on a shoe string budget, I had to put not just good dogs on the ground, but outstanding dogs on the ground. In order to pull that o ff , I had to be ruthless about decisions I made concerning breeding stock. If I was willing to make those tough
decisions, I could compete with the big guys, my mentor promised me. I have to admit that I feel I have done that. I have two All Breed Best in Show Gordon Setters, two National Specialty winners, most everything I own and exhibit finishes with at least one specialty win, some with all specialty wins. Not only do my bitches produce, but my stud dogs as well, bred to other lines. I feel uncomfortable saying this—it feels like I am bragging—but that is why I was asked to write this article. It has only just been brought to my attention that my dogs have had a positive impact on the breed and that makes me feel both humble and very proud. Th ere has never been big money behind my dogs, I have not had a “huge face” handler showing my dogs, but I have been blessed with a wonderful and talented handler who has taken my dogs to heights that neither of us thought possible in a sport described as being so political. It warms my heart that this is still possible to achieve—not always, but sometimes. I was asked to write an article for Show- Sight Magazine explaining how we have been able to achieve this success while continuing to consider temperament and health clearances. And, in addition,
I was asked to comment on anything I feel is important for judges and exhibitors to know about Gordon Setters. My philosophy about breeding stock, based on the advice from my mentor so many years ago, is that just because a dog earns a championship title does NOT mean it needs to be or should be bred. If it is mediocre and it struggled to finish, it will produce mediocre at best. Only the very best should ever be bred and that outstanding bitch should be bred to the very best and most appropriate stud dog that can be found. Th at “most appropri- ate stud dog” doesn’t necessarily mean a male standing in my own back yard… one that happens to be black and tan as well as the bitch. I see people breed what they’ve got to what they’ve got—over and over—and rarely do I ever see them get much better than what they’ve got. I see top breeders who breed one of their bitches to a dog on the other side of the country or many states away and get puppies that take my breath away. Th ey may own stunning Champions that they certainly could use, but choose not to. My advice is be ruthless in your decisions about what should be bred and most assur- edly don’t be kennel blind when you make that decision.
“I learned a very long time ago from a wise mentor, THAT FOR ME TO BE COMPETITIVE ON A SHOE STRING BUDGET, I HAD TO PUT NOT JUST GOOD DOGS ON THE GROUND, BUT OUTSTANDING DOGS ON THE GROUND.”
206 • S HOW S IGHT M AGAZINE , J ULY 2014
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