WORKING GROUP BREEDERS Q&A
and many Performance-titled get. “Pie’s” daughter, “Amber,” GCH Allettare N Kettle Cove Secret Crown Jewel, is on her way to that award as well, and has been a wonderful producer. We have a num- ber of promising young dogs that we are hopeful will become great stud dogs. Can I talk a bit about my facilities? Where are my pup- pies whelped? How are they raised? Our dogs live with us in our home. We do have a designated dog room for crating and groom- ing, as well as an over 3,000 sq. ft. dog yard, but our Dobermans prefer to be by our sides. Our home sits back from the road sur- rounded by conservation land. Puppies are born in a designated bedroom that is equipped with a Jonart whelping box and all the necessary supplies. It is temperature controlled and quiet. After that, they move to the main part of our house to be a part of the action. We raise them following a combination of the Rule of Sev- en, Puppy Culture, and the Badass Breeder programs. This puts a high focus on appropriate exposure and stimulation for each age/developmental stage. What is my “process” for selecting show puppies? At what age do I make my decisions? We’re always watching our puppies, especially once they get up on their feet, to see who stands out. Once they are six weeks old, we begin stacking them to get them ready for offi- cial “grading” at eight weeks. Sometimes the grading process will extend up to nine or ten weeks. During this time, we also evaluate temperaments so that we can select the best homes for each puppy. How do I prepare my pups for the show ring? Does my breed require any special preparation? In addition to basic obedience, our show puppies start show training right away; from stacking practice at home to handling classes, and then utilizing the 4-6 Month Beginner Puppy competitions, they get a great head start to be ready for the ring by six months of age. With the Doberman requiring a full mouth exam, we need to incorporate this into our training as well. Is mine a cropped and/or docked breed? Can I share my thoughts on cropping and docking? The Doberman is a cropped and docked breed. We are strong supporters of the right to crop and dock, and all of our puppies are cropped/docked. Not only is this the DPCA standard, but it is much more than just aesthetics, as it offers other benefits as well. We are active in opposing anti-crop/dock legislation here in New Hampshire. Are Performance and Companion titles important to me as a breeder? Are parent club titles? We love ALL titles! While I primar- ily focus on Conformation titles myself, we work with all of our puppy homes to achieve Performance and Companion titles too. As a Working breed, it is important to have proof that our dogs can do all things. The DPCA offers the Working Aptitude Evaluation, which is similar to the newer AKC Temperament Test but designed specifically for the Doberman, resulting in a WAC title. When the WAC title is combined with a CH and an intermediate Perfor- mance title, the dog is eligible for a Register of Merit (ROM) title by the DPCA. In my opinion, is my breed in good condition overall. Any trends that warrant concern? Like with all breeds, there are things that could be improved in both structure and health. However, overall, I believe our breed is doing well. There are always fads that come and go, but I do believe the preservation breeders of the Doberman take their job seriously. Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a big con- cern in the breed and we have limited resources to help avoid this disease. Annual echocardiograms and Holter monitoring, paired with careful breeding, are critical. Yet without clear genetic testing available at this time, it is going to continue to be a problem. Hope- fully science will progress so that we can get ahead of this disease. Is my breed well-suited to be a family dog? Who are the best candidates to own my breed? Dobermans make wonder- ful family dogs, but they do require a lot of physical and mental
Is my breed well-suited to be a family dog? Who are the best can- didates to own my breed? Pyrs are not the easiest dogs to live with and are quite independent in their own right. In certain situations, their barking to claim their property can be a nuisance to neigh- bors, even in rural settings, and they can wander if not contained adequately; they need to be on leash. Owners must understand this to have the enjoyment of these dogs for what they are, which does not include coming when called, fetching, etc. The people who have them and love them will have nothing else. Those who want a dog to be at their beck and call should seek another dog. They co-exist easily with people and blend into the pack unless their attention is needed for protection—and then we see another side. It is impor- tant that the person is the leader of the pack, but not necessarily in a dominant way; just to take the dog in-hand if he is making the wrong choice. Do I feel that my breed is supported by a sufficient number of preservation breeders? Because our breed has many old-timers throughout the country, like myself, I feel it is in good hands. Many new faces with good ideas are coming into breed as well. With new breeders, they are either in for the long haul or they may be a “flash in the pan.” Time will tell. I pray that we continue to have the ones who stand the test of time. For a bit of fun, what’s the most amusing thing I’ve ever expe- rienced with a Working Dog? The funniest thing that I have seen one of my rather large (135 lb.) bitches do was an intentional yoga- type headstand. “K.D.” placed her head on the seat of a large chair and proceeded to do the headstand, with her back supported by the back of the chair as her rear legs waved in the air. She also thought she could lay on the back of the couch with the cat, and I occasionally found her standing on the dining room table when I came home. Another one of our girls was in a home when the owner found her on top of an upright piano. This Pyr once tried to bring a very large tree branch into her home through the doggy door—finally figuring out how to turn so that it came in with her. “Voila,” messy den. I find Great Pyrenees endearing to no end, of course. They are my heart and my breed. ANGELA FERRARI Where do I live? How many
years in dogs? How many years as a breeder? I live in Southern New Hampshire and have been involved in showing and breeding for close to two decades. I got started in Beagles with my Mom, Cindy Williams of Honey Pot Hounds, before switch- ing to the Doberman Pinscher. What is my kennel name? How many dogs do I currently keep? My kennel name is Allettare and we
Angela Ferrari & Neuma (CH Allettare Royal Neuma)
typically have 4-5 dogs at our home. Which show dogs from the past have been my noteworthy win- ners? “Neuma,” GCH Allettare Royal Neuma, won the Working Group under Dr. Elliot L. More on February 6, 2022 at the Great Barrington Kennel Club, defeating 219 dogs, breeder/owner-han- dled. Also, “Kizzy,” CH Allettare Mafiosa Madonna, won an Award of Merit at the 2021 DPCA National under breeder-judge Adrian Woodfork in a huge entry at 15 months old, breeder/owner-han- dled. We’ve had many great wins at specialties and all-breeds, but these are my favorite wins so far. Which have been my most influential sires and dams? My foun- dation bitch, CH Kettle Cove VR Boston Cream Pie, is eligible for the DPCA Bronze Legacy Award for producing eight Champions
188 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, FEBRUARY 2022
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