COTON DE TULEAR THE
1. Where do you live? What do you do “outside” of dogs? 2. How many years in Cotons? Showing? Judging? Breeding? 3. What, in your opinion, is the secret to a successful breeding program? 4. Not seen much prior to its AKC entry in 2014, the Coton has quickly captured an avid fan base. Do you think its position as #81 out of 192 is a good spot, or do you hope for that to change? What problems would you anticipate from an upsurge in popularity? 5. Cotons are sometimes mistaken for another breed by people as yet unfamiliar with it. What is its overarching hallmark that to you shouts “Coton”? 6. Your opinion of the current quality of purebred dogs in gen- eral, and your breed in particular. 7. The biggest concern you have about your breed, be it medical, structural, temperament-wise, or what. 8. The biggest problem facing you as a breeder. 9. Advice to a new breeder? Advice to a new judge of your breed? 10. What is your favorite dog show memory? 11. Is there anything else you’d like to share about the breed? Please elaborate. ADRIANNE DERING Adrianne Dering breeds Cotons under the Hopecrest prefix. She is a Bronze Breed- er of Merit for the Coton de Tulear with four generations of AKC champions and top ranked Cotons in her breed- ing program. She resides in Morgantown, West Virginia with her husband, three teen- age children, Cotons, a Biewer Terrier and a naughty Mini Dachshund. I own a house remodeling and renovation business called 2 Ladies with Hammers. I have shown Cotons for 12 years and breed one to two litters a year. The secret to a successful breeding program? Seeing as many representatives of the breed from around the world as you can and training your eye for the qualities that best fit your interpretation of the standard. Then carefully selecting specimens for the strengths you bred the litter for rather than the best “overall” puppy. Do I think breed’s ranking is a good spot? This breed has always had a loyal following. I think it is sustainable at the level it is now. I would like to see more of the Breeders who have profited from the breed actually take an active part in its exhibition. For the num- ber of litters bred in this country, the number of active exhibitors is abysmal! The Coton is named for its coat. The “cotton” texture of The coat is the Hallmark of the breed. A correct coat should be full and “fluffy”, not silky or reminiscent of a traditional drop coated breed. My favorite memory is watching Harry Bennett exhibit my first AKC special (gCHS Hopecrest’s Monkey Business) to Best of Breed at Crufts. To win against many long term breed experts from Europe was a great privilege and honor for me. To do it again
with his granddaughter (GCHB Hopecrest’s Marvelous Night for a Moondance) was an amazing affirmation of my vision for the breed! The Coton is a very sensitive and empathetic breed. They are very responsive to environment and can be prone to resource guarding or aggression if placed in the wrong home. They should never be flippantly discussed as an “antidepressant dog”. Although they make great therapy dogs, placement should be carefully considered in homes where a family member has a disability or mental health problem. The happy go lucky personality and easy biddability characteristic to the breed can be easily ruined in a stressful environment. PATRICIA ENRIGHT I live on Long Island, New York. My outside interests include writing, music, dance, the arts, and cooking. I am also involved as Secretary for my local post 94 of the American Legion Auxiliary. I have over 23 years in the breed. Lifetime in dogs, Judging: first as a Licensed All Breed Judge by the American Rare Breed Judge Association (ARBA) since 2004, then Approved for my breed as an AKC judge in 2015. I’ve been in dogs all my life, but did not reach my peak until I became actively involved in the Coton over 23 years ago. I was also active in judging, going to Seminars of over 100 breeds and, taking advantage of the fact that I live in New York, had the opportunity to get to know and be mentored by some of the greatest minds in dogdom over the past 30 years. Thus my thirst for dog knowledge has never been satisfied. I continue to learn and share what I learn. I became an all breed judge for ARBA in 2004 after 5 years of apprenticing. Was President of the Alliance of Purebred Dog Writ- ers, co-founder of theMetropolitan Dog Club in Manhattan, as well as a current member of many dog clubs. I am President of the Westbury Kennel Association, Inc. on Long Island, in my 7th year. I have been a member of the USACTC, Inc. (the breed’s PBC) since the mid nineties, chaired and served in office and in many positions over the years; earned Breeder of Merit and was the first breeder judge, seminar presenter and mentor for the club since 2000. Edu- cation is my niche. The secret to a successful breeding program? Honest dedication that encompasses many components numbered below. Here are what I think are key factors: • Breed ONLY for the betterment of the breed, and nothing else! • Understand that it is not our goal to breed a genetically per- fect specimen of the breed. That is impossible. • Know your breed, the drags, the trends, what is out there beyond your own kennel. Be honest with what you have to work with. • Do all your required health testing and even some unre- quired, depending on your dogs, some tests maybe more than once in their lifetime. • Keep notes, document. To assess and conclude what to work on first is predicated upon a few things: 1) To know and understand the Standard, the history and the forward momentum in what is happening in your breed, the drag of the breed currently, and breed specific weaknesses. To do that properly, a breeder must be involved in the fancy in some way: either exhibiting in conformation, performance, trials, all or in
288 • S HOW S IGHT M AGAZINE , A UGUST 2019
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