HERDING GROUP BREEDERS Q&A
meet newcomers. They are my ideal “take anywhere/do anything” dog that I’d hoped to have. Some individuals can be quite inde- pendent, and others can have much more drive, creating challenges for owners who are unprepared for those possibilities. Barking, and reactivity accompanied by barking, can be a common complaint among owners. Team-building, to create a bond and earn their trust, can address those issues. Ideally, owners who actively train and work their dogs, creating opportunities that challenge them, usually find the breed easiest to live with. For a bit of fun, what’s the most amusing thing I’ve ever expe- rienced with a Herding Dog? The Icelandic Sheepdog is really fun individually, but they are hilarious in groups. Traditionally, the breed would chase off raptors in Iceland that targeted the farm’s chickens and newborn lambs. This instinct has not been lost—not even a little bit. While at the annual fundraiser “Icetoberfest” for the breed’s rescue group, NISRA (an event that takes place in a fully fenced park), owners were stunned to suddenly see 40 Icelan- dic Sheepdogs race across the park, all barking at a single vulture silently gliding high overhead. The sight of three dozen Icelandic Sheepdogs barking in unison at a winged beast far above our heads assured the owners present that we had not only preserved and nur- tured the breed instinct to protect their flock from threats from above, but we also clearly were safe from any potential danger. No one was going to sneak up on us that weekend. ALLYSON SENEK
Are Performance and Companion titles important to me as a breeder? Are parent club titles? Yes, performance and companion titles are very important to me as a breeder. These are all-around dogs that can do many things. They want to please their people and work with their people. I value those titles as a breeder. In my opinion, is my breed in good condition overall? Any trends that warrant concern? Our breed is still a relatively new breed, so it is still not totally “set” like some of the older breeds. I believe, over- all, it is much better than it used to be. The dogs are getting better and better. I think that sometimes people forget this is supposed to be a moderate breed and should not be overdone. Is my breed well-suited to be a family dog? Who are the best candidates to own my breed? This breed is a great family dog. My puppies are raised around my grandchildren and they love kids. As long as kids respect the dog, they make for the perfect home. A family that is active is the perfect home for one of my dogs. If they have a Junior who participates in conformation, it’s the ideal home in my opinion. Do I feel that my breed is supported by a sufficient number of preservation breeders? I feel there are a good number of preservation breeders in our breed who truly care where we are headed. For a bit of fun, what’s the most amusing thing I’ve ever experi- enced with a Herding Dog? My most amusing thing with my cur- rent dog, “Puzzle,” was at our last National where I took two of my granddaughters with me (ages 7 and 8). They wanted to show her in Peewee. This was Puzzle’s first National, and she had limited show- ing and had never shown with anyone but me. The girls begged and pleaded. I agreed, and that dog took those girls out there like they show with her every day. Heck, I actually think she showed better with them than with me! Anything else I would like to share about myself? Any special message I have for all of us in the fancy? I have met some amazing people (and have had some of the best times of my life) showing dogs. I would recommend this sport to anyone thinking of trying it. ERIC VAVASSORI & JOANNE BOUDREAULT Eric: I have been a dog lover
Where do I live? How many years in dogs? How many years as a breed- er? I live on the back side of the Colo- rado National Monument in Glade Park, Colorado. I have had dogs all my life. I have been breeding Min- iature American Shepherds (MAS) since 2014.
What is my kennel name? How many dogs do I currently keep? My kennel name is Blue Elk MAS. I currently have 15 dogs in my breeding program. Which show dogs from the past have been my noteworthy win- ners? My most noteworthy from the PAST was GCHB Blue Elks Amazing Grace. Which have been my most influential sires and dams? Blue Elks Chosen One has produced two of the top-winning dogs in our breed today. GCH CH Away To Me Jasmine Bejeweled was another influential dam in my program, producing champions that went on to produce champions. Can I talk a bit about my facilities? Where are my puppies whelped? How are they raised? We have an up-to-date 2,800 square ft. kennel building, complete with grooming facilities. All of our litters are born and raised in our home. We have granddaughters who love to help socialize puppies. What is my “process” for selecting show puppies? At what age do I make my decisions? We watch puppies closely from the time they are born. At 8 weeks, we do evaluations. We watch puppies on the ground for movement as well as to evaluate for temperament and structure. Some puppies are ready to go at 8 weeks, some at 10 weeks, and some longer. How do I prepare my pups for the show ring? Does my breed require any special preparation? We train them on the table, on the floor, in a group with other dogs, in classes, and by themselves. We curve our training to fit the need to individual puppies. Is my breed hand-stacked or free-stacked in the show ring? Why is it presented in this manner? Our breed is hand-stacked on the table and free-stacked or hand-stacked on the floor. I prefer to free- stack on the floor.
all my life. I handled my first dog in a tracking trial at 8 years of age, and I’ve continued with this passion along my life. From 1995 to 2003, I was a military officer and K9 handler in the French army. I then worked as a dog instructor in several clubs
for 15 years. I was the captain of the French team for the World Championship for Search and Rescue (SAR) dogs from 2015 to 2018. Since 1997, I have bred more than 52 litters of Beauce- rons under the “des Monts du Lac” affix, focusing my attention on excellent temperament and conformation. My dogs have won the highest awards for Beaucerons both in the United States of America, Europe, and France. I moved my kennel from France to the US in 2018. My wife and I are now established in Queen Anne, Maryland. Joanne: Despite being a Whippet and Sighthound person, I always had an interest in the Beauceron breed for as long as I can remember. I purchased my first Beauceron female in 2006. Eric Vavassori and I met in 2015 when I purchased a second Beauceron from him (NBIS CH Jaguar Noir des Monts du Lac) and today we are married and breed Beaucerons together! I am recognized in the world for my Whippets that I’ve bred since 1997. I am currently a CKC permit judge for half of the Hound Group.
SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, MARCH 2022 | 217
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