WORKING GROUP BREEDERS Q&A
puppy yard and start to join some of the other dogs occasionally to socialize. They also continue to come in the house at that age, and eventually get groomed, etc., as they grow. I want them used to a home environment. I do not sell to kennel facilities because I believe Great Pyrenees need a purpose in their lives—something to guard. They are flock guardians and need companionship. What is my “process” for selecting show puppies? At what age do I make my decisions? I temperament test for livestock guarding ability at 5, 6 & 7 weeks. I do one-on-one challenges to see how sound in body and mind each pup is. Generally, a few will stand out. At eight weeks, I will evaluate by comparing them to the stan- dard, and I’ll consider how well they tolerate grooming, staying in crates, and traveling. I prefer to wait until nine weeks for my last considerations because they are a very large dog and my lines are slow maturing. I generally will keep two and make my final choice at around eight months or so. Sometimes I keep both, and some- times I place one. During this time, I get to know the pups and see which overall pup I want to add to the program. How do I prepare my pups for the show ring? Does my breed require any special preparation? Great Pyrenees are shown in a natural coat, but it still takes roughly three hours to get a mature show dog ready. Most of the time is spent washing and drying the coat. The allowable trimming is just to tidy the feet and whiskers, and getting out some of the undercoat that causes the rump hair to stand up taller than the backline. Pups are groomed regularly, to accept all the time that is needed, generally always standing, espe- cially on a table. (I think this goes back to their ancient ancestors standing on a hill, looking out over the sheep.) Transitioning of coat from puppy to adult happens at around 8 to 18 months, and we will often thin out the excess wisps of soft hair on the ears around this time. This doesn’t usually grow back, as the adult hair tends to lay flat. Being a double-coated breed, we are often dealing with the shed-out on a regular basis as well. Is mine a cropped and/or docked breed? Can I share my thoughts on cropping and docking? Pyrs are neither a cropped nor a docked breed. They even have double dewclaws on their back legs and singles on front, so there’s no real removal of anything on Great Pyrenees. I understand that docking and cropping had a purpose for the breeds that do it. I feel natural is better; one of the reasons why I have a natural breed. If the fighting dogs are used for that purpose, I can understand the cropping to prevent tearing. Pyrs fight too, but they pull their ears back into their ruff and allow the looser skin in that area and the thick mane to protect the dog. I do think that too much impor- tance is placed on the look of the cropping to the point that a wor- thy dog may be overlooked because one ear fails to stand or the crop just wasn’t what it should be. It’s not a part of that dog in its natural form, so points should not be deducted. Docked breeds, I’m not sure about. Tails do help to con- tribute balance. I don’t feel I really know enough to have a noteworthy opinion. Are Performance and Companion titles important to me as a breeder? Are parent club titles? Performance and Companion dog titles show me that the owner is spending time with the dog—best thing ever! Everyone likes their work appreciated. And by the parent club setting goals, it enables us to see how a breeder is fairing and what is important to them; all good things to have goals to strive for in your sport. In my opinion, is my breed in good condition overall. Any trends that warrant concern? We are fortunate that Great Pyrenees is a very healthy breed overall. There are many new breeders coming into the breed, and many of them are doing all the testing they can to help the breed continue even healthier into the future. There is so much more we can learn about our breeding stock now. It’s exciting.
most wonderful people in it; people who not only care about titles but also the forever homes their puppies live in. The breeders in this breed try very hard to guard against volume breeders, who are after quantity not quality, or the Doodle breeders. Every breeder I personally know guarantees to take back their dogs if the owner cannot keep them, myself included. For a bit of fun, what’s the most amusing thing I’ve ever expe- rienced with a Working Dog? As you know, I show and breed both pepper & salt and black Standard Schnauzers. Years ago, at a benched show, I had a lady who “knew everything about dogs” come up to me to show her friends what a “Scotty” looked like. I tried politely to let her know that this was not a Scotty, but a black Standard Schnauzer. She informed me that she knew a Scotty when she saw one. At that point, I said “okay” and let it drop. Later in the day at ringside, they were calling for Standard Schnauzer bitches in the ring. I walk in front of her and her friends and said, “Told you she was a Standard.” Her friends then started in on her about being wrong, and I just smiled. Sometimes it’s best not to argue and let karma intervene. TERRY DENNEY-COMBS Where do I live? How many
years in dogs? How many years as a breeder? I live in Hesperia, which is located in the High Desert area in the Southeastern part of Califor- nia. I’ve been a breeder for 53 years. I started at 18 with Basset Hounds and, on my 21st birthday, started with Great Pyrenees. It’s been love ever since. I’ve achieved becoming an AKC Platium Breeder of Merit. What is my kennel name? How
Terry Denney-Combs, Poppy Fields, Lancaster, CA, with ‘Firefly’
many dogs do I currently keep? My kennel name is Euzkalzale Great Pyrenees, and I usually keep four dogs here with me. I’m alone and want to spend time with my dogs. I have many Pyrs in homes with families that also show them and sometimes breed them. Which show dogs from the past have been my noteworthy win- ners? CH Euzkalzale Sundance Legend is still #1 Breed for All-Time Stats. He showed from 1993 to 2000 and won his last Best in Show at Orange Empire Dog Club under Michelle Billings at the age of 10 years. He was in the Hall of Fame for both Showing and Produc- ing Sire for the Great Pyrenees Club of America. We’ve managed to keep a few dogs in the rankings each year (usually Top 10) and in the Hall of Fame for show standings, and we have produced many fine bitches that have reached Hall of Fame for Producing Dam. Which have been my most influential sires and dams? There are many sires and dams that have contributed. I choose to breed a bitch usually once or twice and then move on to the next gen- eration. I spay the dam and place her in a home so that she has a chance at a very good life. Then I proceed to continue with the new offspring. This helps limit the number of pups I choose to breed. Good homes are always at a premium. I prefer to place the males because I can use them, and they will have lots of attention in their lives. Many are shown and continue on to be added to the breeding program when needed. Can I talk a bit about my facilities? Where are my puppies whelped? How are they raised? My dogs have very large yards to play and socialize in, and they are house dogs besides. They live with me, and the pups are whelped in my bedroom where it is easy for me to keep an ear and eye on them; it’s more private from the other dogs, so the dam is content. I also keep a pen in the living room so that they can start getting used to TV noises, etc., as they grow older. At around six weeks, the litter and dam move to my
184 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, FEBRUARY 2022
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