What do you see is the future of the breed and dog shows? Sadly, dog sports are getting smaller and smaller. There are too many shows to go to in a smaller radius than there was when I began – so many clusters many at the same indoor locations. The love of the purebred dog has been challenged by the creation Ch Random Wind Weather Report of designer dogs, especially doodles. Between that and the “Adopt don’t shop” that is in so many people’s minds, the role of a breeder is sometimes a hard role to have. The large kennels of the past are gone. These days you would be deemed a puppy mill with a large volume of dogs. Plus, the change with veterinary access for some for c-sections without a mandatory spay is hard in many areas. There are many challenges now when we breed. With all the mixes out there, the demand for purebred puppies has dropped a lot. I see it more and more doing breeder referral for Poodle Club of America. It’s not an easy hobby to have and it’s expensive. Many have stopped because of these changes. Many are not going into dogs due to that. I often wonder how the next generation will go forward especially with the entire anti-breeder and animal rights issues out there that we never had when we began. Have you ever considered becoming a judge? No!!! I had my top license (R) to judge horse shows, specifically, Hunters/Jumpers/Equitation and Hunter Breeding for many years. I loved it. These were some of my best years. I loved traveling all over while it was a time in my life I was able to. Judging dogs never interested me no matter how many times people tried to get me to apply for my license. I was asked many times to do sweepstakes, but it never was something I wanted to do. What challenges have you found in working with brand new Poodle exhibitors/breeders? The challenges have changed over the years and I feel social media has made it change in many ways, too. Many find their grooming or showing instructions online. Many do not seek a mentor. While you can learn a lot online, nothing replaces the hands-on mentoring many of us had in the past. I have mentored a variety of people over the years. Two jump out when I think about mentoring, one was Nancy Evans. After having several rescue Poodles, she decided she wanted something she could show. She purchased a Mini sired by Ch. Random Wind Dream On (Jake). She bought him from Tim Garrison of Eaglehill, who helped her until he moved to Florida at which time I offered to help her. I helped prepare her with her grooming and handling skills and it wasn’t long before she had her first champion. She got most of his single points by herself and with the help of Julie 60 Wilkins, his two majors. Watching people achieve that goal is so rewarding. Awhile later, she got another Mini this time from Pam Krieger’s Rhue Miniatures. This one was a half-brother to her first one, same sire. She wanted to try to finish this one herself and she finished him fast as a puppy. As anyone that helps mentor people new to the sport there is nothing more rewarding than watching the sheer joy on their faces when they did it themselves. Another person that I mentored in the breed was Bobbi Thomas. She got her first Mini from Sandra Wilson. Joshua, Ch. Random Wind In Your Dreams, was the sire of her first Mini. Bobbi finished him herself. I saw her show him at PCA in Salisbury where I first met her. Awhile later she was thinking of getting a Mini bitch and contacted me. I had nothing available at the time, but Tim Garrison had one that went back to my Ch. Random Wind Chase The Clouds. I told her about that puppy and she soon purchased her. I helped her with her breeding program and showing. Bobbi is a talented groomer and handler and learned fast. She finished all of her Minis breeder-owner handled. Her most well known Mini that she achieved lots of success with was Dakota, GCH. Jaboas Second To None. He was sired by Ch. Random Wind In Your Dreams and is the sire of Ch. Random Wind Dare To Dream, my young male now. Watching her success grow through listening and working hard was very rewarding. What important lessons have you learned during your time in dogs that might be beneficial to share? I learned from the start the importance of having a mentor and how important it was to get involved in a club. At first my mom and I were active in our all-breed club, Longshore Southport Kennel Club, then joined a local Poodle club, Quinnipiac Poodle Club, where we both were on the board at different times. I did two terms as president and was show chair Ch. Random Wind Weather Watch a few years, too. I also did their newsletter and website for many years. I still do their website and continued to do breeder referral for them after my mother passed away. She did it before me. I always felt that you need to give back to the sport. These clubs need members that participate, today more than ever. After awhile my mom joined Poodle Club of America and helped on various committees for the national. A few years after she joined, I joined. I started off doing “The Poodle Papers,” the PCA newsletter for over 16 years, and the website for a few years and other projects with Annie Clark and Doris Cozart. A few years later, when Helen Lee James became president, I began as co-breeder referral with Mary Olund. I was very humbled by the club when PCA awarded me the AKC Outstanding Sportsmanship Award in 2013. January-March 2025 • POODLE VARIETY
Poodle Variety Magazine January-March 2025 January – March 2025: Page 60
