ShowSight - August 2018

ShowSight Interviews Joan Luna Liebes, Azteca Samoyeds BY ALLAN REZNIK

Where did you

grow up?

San Francisco. I completed my formal education in Califor- nia: BS Physiology, UC Davis; MS Physiology, SFSU; MBA Finance, University of San Fran- cisco. I lived in the San Francisco Bay area until 2012 when I moved

to Houston, Texas to marry my husband, Eric Liebes. Multi Group-winning, SBIS GCHS Azteca’s Pink Camillia (“Cami”) and I drove to Texas. “Jazz,” a Thoroughbred hunter mare and “Reggie,” a nine-month-old Oldenburg colt, were shipped to Texas and arrived three weeks later. We became a blended family with Eric’s four Komondors and lived on five acres in southwest Houston. It was a wonderful community with marvelous neighbors, but the humidity was a tough adjust- ment for both Cami and me. The horses thrived but keeping the Sammies in coat in Houston was a challenge for us. Eric, a geophysicist, retired three years ago after a 30-year career with Chevron and we moved to Peyton, Colorado where it is cooler! We live at 7,300 feet, on the prairie, northeast of Colo- rado Springs on 35 acres. The Sammies and Komondor love the cold. And Fred, our Ibizan Hound, is pretty darned tough! He has several different dog coats and plays and chases the others in the cold and snow. Do you come from a doggy family? And if not, how did the interest in breeding and showing begin? Our first dog was a black Pomeranian circa 1962 and we bought our first Sammy in 1967. My mom Paula and two sis- ters, Laura and Connie, are also involved in showing and breeding Samoyeds. Susan and Kim Fewlass (Snoflyte) in Las Vegas, who are family, have been co-breeding with us for 30-plus years. We also co-breed with Mary and Jim Augustus (White Eagle) in Ohio. We have bred 50-plus champions and our boys have sired 40-plus champions. Eric did not come from a doggy family but has been deeply involved in dogs for almost 40 years. He is an AKC Breeder of Merit in both Komondors and Ibizans and a mentor for judges in those breeds, plus Pulis, Greyhounds and Samoyeds. He handled several Sammies in the ‘80s. His ability to evaluate puppies and make breeding decisions complements mine. Who were your mentors in the sport? Doris McLaughlin of Silveracres in Morrison, Colorado taught me about handling and pedigrees. Joyce Curtis of Kolinka Samoyeds in Arizona showed me how to be a better groomer and taught me coat care and show strategy. Betty Cline of Silver River Samoyeds in Baton Rouge also helped me with coat care, grooming and show strategy. I still chat with Betty and visited with Joyce a few years ago in Biloxi. Danny and Chris Middleton, breeder/owners of Ch. Quicksil- ver Razz Ma Tazz, top-winning Samoyed in our breed with 54 Bests and two National Specialty wins, spent part of July 4th here in Peyton, while choosing a puppy from us. We cher- ish our old friendships. I so enjoy the camaraderie; reminisc- ing over wins and losses; discussing pedigrees, puppies and

84 • S HOW S IGHT M AGAZINE , A UGUST 2018

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