“IT’S ALARMING WHEN SOMEONE GETS A PUPPY OR ADOPTS AN OLDER DOG, THEN DOESN’T STAY IN TOUCH.”
7. The biggest concern you have about your breed, be it medical, structural, temperament-wise, or what. SA: A little bit of everything mentioned. Being it is a rare breed, there are medical concerns to keep an eye on. Responsible breeders are working hard to avoid said problems within the breed. PB: The gene pool is very Small and testing is not readily available. DK: Medical issues and temperament are personally impor- tant to me. Health testing is really important. Pedigree research with the help of breeders who have been in the breed a long time. Unfortunately, most new breeders just seem to wing it. Until they have a medical or a serious temperament problem, they just do their own thing. 8. The biggest problem facing you as a breeder. SA: Trying to use different lineages while managing a busy work schedule. Several families want a puppy right away, but we do not want to compromise the time we spend with our adult dogs or in raising the puppies. This is a loved hobby not a career for us nor would we ever want it to be a job! PB: Wanting to keep them all. DK: Finding suitable homes, health and DNA testing my dogs, importing Azawakh from a variety of bloodlines to diversify my line, ensure my puppies are well socialized with plenty of stimulation and free play. Puppies should be puppies, not mini show dogs. Free running is so important to both mental and physical development. It’s vitally important for the breed to have ample room to run and play, whether puppy or adult. 9. Advice to a new breeder? Advice to a new judge of your breed? SA: Put time and effort into researching lineages, health con- cerns, and making connections. Be humble and patient as this is an old rustic breed that deserves the best from us humans. For a new judge, look for overall balance in
us reach a percentage of the population, versus a specific arbitrary number for all breeds regardless or the world population?!!?
DK: Educating judges. Many of our club members are pet owners, so conformation and performance events are not interesting to them. 5. Are people coming together as a team for the good of the breed? SA: In my experience, yes. PB: The majority, yes. DK: Our club is quite cohesive. We all pretty much get along and work together. Unfortunately, there are some breed- ers who are not members of the club and concentrate on their own egos, rather than working for the good of the breed in the US. 6. Will the publicity the breed receives as a result of recognition be an advantage or disadvantage to responsible breeders? SA: For responsible breeders, the publicity will be an advan- tage. The disadvantage is for the public as they will have to wait for a puppy from a good breeder. I would advise people interested in the breed to do their research on a responsible breeder. Waiting for a quality pup from a breeder that takes their time in selecting the parents, caring for the pups, and doesn’t rush the process is well worth the wait. Breeders who follow the club ethics are an excellent list to start from. PB: To responsible breeders it will likely be no different or an advantage (for opportunity, education, etc). DK: Publicity is a bit scary. The Azawakh is certainly not the breed for everyone. Many people are showing Interest in obtaining Azawakh who have no sighthound experience. It’s really important to screen homes carefully, get some- one to do a home visit if they aren’t local to the breeder and be prepared to mentor and guide the new owners. It’s alarming when someone gets a puppy or adopts an older dog, then doesn’t stay in touch.
S how S ight M agazine , J uly 2018 • 251
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