TOY GROUP BREEDERS Q&A
CHERIEMCDANIEL
In my opinion, is my breed in good condition overall. Any trends that warrant concern? The breed has a severe problem with fronts. They should move with reach. If they are not built correctly, they cannot. Is my breed well-suited to be a family dog? Who are the best candidates to own my breed? They are a fabulous family dog. They love kids, if raised with them, and they love dog sports such as Fast CAT and Agility. Do I feel that my breed is supported by a sufficient number of preservation breeders? We have a few preservation breeders. We defi- nitely need some new people with a “fire in their belly” for them. We have lost many longtime breeders. For a bit of fun, what’s the most amusing thing I’ve ever expe- rienced with a Toy Dog? I’m not sure I would call it amusing, but “Pete” always tries to pee on me before or in the ring. ANNETTE LEWIS
I am a retired RN and worked my last 20 years in the ER. I have been involved with dogs almost my entire life. I bred Yorkshire Terri- ers under the name Cheriette and changed it to Cheristar when I start- ed breeding Miniature Pinschers. I strive to breed better than each sire and dam I have and according to the AKC Standard. I showed Amer- ican Saddlebred horses in Saddle-
seat Equitation and I excelled in my tri-state area in my teen years. I also was involved in hunter-jumper competition. I have had many top-ranked dogs, but my moment of glory was winning BIS OH and then BIS All-Breed with my dogs that I owned, bred, and handled. And no matter how many times I go in the ring, I still have the jit- ters. My dog is usually prepared, and I do my best to deal with the healthy anxiety. Where do I live? How many years in dogs? How many years as a breeder? I live in Little River, South Carolina, just north of Myrtle Beach. I am second generation “in dogs” as my mother was involved in breeding and showing many breeds. So, I have been involved with dogs for most of my life. I have been breeding and showing for 45 years, 25 years with Miniature Pinschers. I had Old English Sheep- dogs and Yorkshire Terriers. What is my kennel name? How many dogs do I currently keep? CHERISTAR is my kennel name. I have some beloved chmpion geriatrics, some champion middle-aged, and a few starlets waiting for the ring. I love the Portuguese Podengo Pequenos and have two girls that are inseparable. I have a Rottweiler who is my loyal com- panion and guardian of the homestead. And soon, we will be joined by a Boerboel puppy. Of course, I love all dogs—small or large. Which show dogs from the past have been my noteworthy win- ners? A noted sire I bred is CH Cheristar’s OOHS And AAHS! And special girls are CH Cheristar’s Captivation, MBISS GCHS CH Cheristar’s I Am Cybill Shepherd BCAT, and BIS MBISS GCHS Rehpin’s I Am Charmed For Cheristar. Which have been my most influential sires and dams? My influ- ential sires are CH Cheristar’s OOHS And AAHS and GCH CH Cheristar’s Master Mason, and the dams are CH Cheristar’s Macie’s On Parade! and CH Cheristar’s Sheer Joy. Can I talk a bit about my facilities? Where are my puppies whelped? How are they raised? I have a large kennel building which is 6-8 ft. elevated off the ground. I have ramps leading to four dif- ferent grass paddock areas. They are all double-fenced and I have some electric wire 6 inches high in one large area. The large breeds have the run of 3.5 acres, which is all fenced. I strongly believe in lots of exercise and fresh air for all the dogs. The puppies are always whelped at my bedside and stay there until 4-5 weeks. Then I move them to my kitchen where there’s more activity and noise. Daily, each pup is handled and stacked and all are played with as a group. I have Min Pin parties. What is my “process” for selecting show puppies? At what age do I make your decisions? Daily, I am constantly evaluating and assessing each puppy. I watch their interactions with the others, their movement, their presence, and their balance and overall conforma- tion. I can select my show prospects from these observations between 8-12 weeks. How do I prepare my pups for the show ring? Does my breed require any special preparation? In preparation for the ring, I practice with them on lead and on stacking blocks, and I offer lots of posi- tive reinforcement with voice and small treats. As with most breeds, socialization and exposing the pups to new environments and strang- ers is a must. My goal is to present a bomb-proof dog, and this is better obtained by exposure to a myriad of environmental stimuli. Of course, this breed has cropped ears, which are usually done at
Where do I live? How many years in dogs? How many years as a breeder? I live in North Texas. I guess I’ve been in dogs all my life. My eldest brother showed our Kerry Blue Terriers as a teenager. Mom bred Miniature Poodles in the late 1960s-70s. I’ve been breeding Shih Tzu since 2010. What is my kennel name? How many dogs do I currently keep? My ken- nel name is Lotus and I currently keep
10 dogs. Can I talk a bit about my facilities? Where are my puppies whelped? How are they raised? Everything is in my home. I really like keeping my puppies and moms close. I also have a camera on each pen, so I can look in on them without disturbing the moms. What is my “process” for selecting show puppies? At what age do I make my decisions? I watch them at play, watching personalities develop, and looking at structure. By 12 weeks, I’ve decided on who I’m keeping. How do I prepare my pups for the show ring? Does my breed require any special preparation? I start young, about 10 weeks, get- ting them on the table and lead broke; making it a game and fun. I also go to training classes, so they get used to people going over them on the table. Can I share my thoughts on how my breed is currently presented in the show ring? I love how the breed is presented. Are there any health-related concerns within my breed? Any spe- cial nutritional needs? The only concern I have is dry eye as they age. As long as you’re feeding a good quality food, I find they remain healthy throughout their lives. In my opinion, is my breed in good condition overall. Any trends that warrant concern? I believe we are going in the right direction with good, responsible breeders. What concerns me are the people breeding down to get “pocket” dogs and the “designer” craze that’s going on. Is my breed well-suited to be a family dog? Who are the best can- didates to own my breed? Shih Tzu are the BEST family dogs; young families with kids, older kids, empty nesters, and retired people. These guys travel so well and they just love all the attention they get! Do I feel that my breed is supported by a sufficient number of preservation breeders? Of course, I’d love to see more preservation breeders. There are too many breeding “Imperials” and breeding what they like rather than what is correct to the standard. For a bit of fun, what’s the most amusing thing I’ve ever expe- rienced with a Toy Dog? PUPPIES! When they start learning to play with each other and explore their surroundings… endless hours of entertainment.
172 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, APRIL 2022
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