What’s In A Name?

Times & Transcript, July 7, 2001

Puppy love at work

So you want to be a DOG Breeder by Kimberly Haskett Passion for animals turns into much-loved work for dog breeders       While other girls were playing with Barbie dolls, Maureen Gladstone was training other people's dogs. As a young child, she always wanted a puppy, but her parents couldn't buy her one because the apartment they lived in wouldn't allow it.       This was only a minor setback for the ambitious 13 year old, who was desperate to have a pet.       She started walking other people's dogs for free and through word of mouth she got several clients. This only served to pique her interest in the animals and she began reading books and magazines and attending seminars on the subject. To her clients' pleasure and amazement she began to teach their wayward pets how to sit, stay and walk on a lead.       "I understand dogs," says Maureen, "I can get them to do what I want and they seem to care about me." She claims that she can make other people's dogs do things their owners never thought they could in about 15 minutes.       Her fascination with dogs eventually led to a future career as a dog breeder. The fact that she didn't make any money doing it, does not matter to her.       Maureen became seriously involved with dogs when she turned 20. She bought her first house and two Irish Setters that she and her husband trained to hunt. Meanwhile she worked at the SPCA as a volunteer learning how to take care of up to 50 cats and 40 dogs and their kennels.       Maureen often brought home sick kittens and puppies to her make-shift vet clinic, as long as they didn't have any contagious diseases. She usually had at least two to four pups in her home.       Eventually she had to find a way to earn some cash to feed her precious friends so she began selling cars, and then moved on to restoring and selling houses.       When Maureen saved enough money, she opened up her own kennel in 1985 and began raising many breeds of dogs and Siamese cats that she originally purchased from across Canada.       She breeds her dogs in the fall and the spring, with about 40-70 puppies in her care each season.       Since then Maureen has never had a vacation. She has become full-time Mom and dog breeder, working seven days a week feeding, watering, cleaning and caring for her 34 dogs and 15 cats. To allow her females to rest in between heats, she has more females than males.       She breeds Brittany Spaniels, Maltese Terriers, Labrador Retrievers, Doberman Pinschers and Siamese cats. She also attends trials and dog shows and constantly reads up on the business and what is going on in the dog/cat world.       What makes her successful is always having a goal in mind. "It is hard to stay focused in this business when the dogs you love die, you have bad sales and there are market fluctuations," she says, "My goal is to be a reputable breeder, not to win show or field trials. My best moments are when people recognize me as a good breeder. That's the best pat on the back."       Before breeding a dog she does a personality test, looks at the dogs structure and ability to ensure the meet her high standards.       Although the Maltese Terriers and Brittany Spaniels are house dogs, she keeps the Labrador Retrievers and Doberman Pinschers outside in 26 X 32 kennels with lots of area to run so they can keep in shape. For companionship dogs are kept in pairs.       A normal day for Maureen begins with cleaning the kennels, watering and feeding the puppies. In the afternoon the dogs take a nap and then are rewatered and the puppies are fed a second time. In the evening everyone is fed and the kennels are cleaned again. She also takes inquiries in the evenings and trains the dogs at night in the summer and during the day in the winter.       Maureen is busiest when she is selling her puppies because she conducts several interviews with each potential buyer. The worst scenario would be to sell a dog to a bad owner. So, she throughly interviews everyone. Once she rejected seven people who wanted to buy her Doberman Pinschers.       When she has chosen the owners she holds three hour seminars to educate her new owners on how to care for the animals. If she does sell her pups to a bad owner she has a contract allowing her to take legal action.       Her her hard work has paid off, not financially, but personally. She has sold some of her dogs to television celebrities such as the man in the Glad commercials and some of her Siamese cats to film companies. She has sold her animals all across North America from the Yukon to the mid-west of the United States.       Janet Bourgeois has also sold her Labrador Retrievers across Canada and the Eastern United States. "Once your name and what your contract offers gets out, people get in touch with you," she says.       Unlike Maureen, Janet breeds only one type of dog and on a smaller scale. Although she has bred dogs for 17 years, she only began breeding full-time once she retired from CN a few years ago.       When you step into her home you can immediately see her attraction to the breed. There are pictures and pillows all showing the lab, and then dozens of figurines, ornaments and plates.       Janet keeps her three female labs and their puppies in the house where they sleep in their kennels and occasinally on her bed. The dogs also stay in the enclosed backyard where there is a tarp for shade and an mini swimming pool. Only one of her dogs, Ebony, is able to breed. Misty can't be bred because she has a bad elbow. Before Janet will breed a dog, she checks for any health problems such as eye, hip of elbow deficiencies. "I wouldn't want to pass that on to future dogs," says Janet.       Pride is too young yet to be bred, but since Ebony is about to retire at six years old, Janet hopes the younger dog will be able to breed eventually.       Currently Janet has one litter of four pups, all five week olds. They are fed the closest thing to their mother's milk - goat's milk - so they can grow up to be healthy and strong. Soon she will start to give them puppy food.       "You have to be able to afford to look after dogs," says Janet. "There is a lot more involved thantaking care of an ordinary pet." Breeders have to pay for health checks and clearances, needles, and tattoos and microchips for identification.       David Shaffer, from Von Schaffer Kennels says dogs have to be registered with the Canadian Kennel Club to prove they are authentic pure breds.       David began breeding his Shepherds, Rottweilers, Miniature Schnauzers and Boxers full-time after he retired from being a Deputy Sheriff/Coroner. He currently has 17 dogs and six pups.       "I do it for the love of dogs," he says, "There is no money in it. You are lucky if you break even."       When choosing a breed he says you have to consider what the dog was meant to do, not just h the dog is cute or not. "They have to suit your lifestyle," he stresses. When buying a dog for breeding purposes be sure to choose the best stock. Find out if the dog comes from a healthy line without any eye, thyroid, elbow or hip problems. This is important because every time you breed, it should be to improve the line, not just for the sake of breeding," says David.       As an animal lover, David breeds purely for enjoyment. "Wages are zero, but satisfaction is 100 percent."   January 2008 update re: the above article. Station One no longer breeds the beautiful Doberman Pinschers. We now breed our gorgeous little chihuahuas! For those of you who never had a chance to see some of our beauties, here are a few photos. Siamese Update: Maureen has retired a lot of her beautiful Siamese, has introduced the Lynx Point (Colorpoint Shorthair) to her lines. To see some of our cats click link above.

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