Barbara Dubois
1. My name is Barbara Dubois, and I am currently the only Breeder of Merit for Peruvian Inca Orchids. I never thought I would be here, but owning this breed is a passion. I got into the breed after a mission trip to Peru where I saw my first hairless dogs in a park in a small town in the country’s coffee-growing region. It was love at first sight! When I returned to Peru two years later and encountered so many Peruvian dogs in Cusco, I knew I was going to make one mine. After a couple years of research, I decided to import my foundation bitch from Peru, as the breed was extremely rare in the States at that time. What started out as a family dog grew into family weekends at shows. My four children, some now grown, have learned responsibility and good sportsmanship by being involved as well. They are involved in every step.
I have lived with and owned dogs my whole life. My first “adult” dog was a hairless Chinese Crested, but I have had various rescues, Chihuahuas, and a Dachshund previous to the Peruvians. I was in the breed for four years before I bred my first litter. I wanted to make sure I learned what I could from my mentors, taking the time to research health issues that can arise. My first litter was born five and a half years ago, and I am glad I took the time I did beforehand. And I would still do it the same all over again.
I am enjoying living in the South, outside Augusta, Georgia. We have a couple acres, so the dogs have a lot of space to run and enjoy the outdoors.
I chose Calypso for my kennel name for a couple of reasons. I love the laid-back vibe of the islands and being at the beach. My soul is at peace at the ocean, and having a Peruvian next to you, just relaxing when you are home after a hard day at work, gives you the same sense of calm.
2. Overall, I think the ethical breeders are doing a fine job at keeping our breed in good condition through health testing and making sure they use dogs with sound temperaments.
Like most breeds, a trend that warrants concern is breeding for color. In our case, it would be breeding specifically for spotted dogs. While beautiful and flashy, dogs with more than 20 percent white are more prone to sunburn, skin cancer, allergies, and other health issues.
3. Being that our breed is still in Miscellaneous, I find that many folks are very welcoming to newcomers. There is a huge camaraderie among the different exhibitors to help each other, and most are really pretty friendly. Showing is enjoyable. I think that this has to happen overall in all areas of the sport.
In the Miscellaneous ring, many of the judges have never encountered a Peruvian before. So, many times, we will see them referencing the Breed Standard in the ring. I appreciate the time they take to refresh their memories on our Standard while judging.
I am pleased with the number of shows and the opportunities we have to showcase our dogs. It would always be great to see more clubs include Open Shows to their all-breed events.
4. Membership is a challenge, for sure. We definitely need people who want to see this 3,000-plus-year-old breed finally get recognized here in this country! I always hear, “Oh, I want one of those… after you get recognized.” While I am glad the breed has won their heart, we still need interested parties now to help make that happen.
With a relatively small gene pool, the new rules on imports are definitely not helping preservation breeders. Also, the availability of fully health-tested breeding partners in this country. Importing semen does get a little pricy over time.
As an exhibitor with multiple dogs showing, making sure I have enough hands on deck to get everyone in the ring is a challenge. I am very lucky that my fellow exhibitors do step up, and we do try to help each other when at all possible.
5. Social media can be good for the sport. It can be so uplifting and encouraging. It can show people what is possible with hard work and determination. It has the possibility to show that anyone can join this sport and have fun with their dog. Unfortunately, the flip side of social media is that folks can hide behind their keyboard and spout negativity at every turn. This is detrimental to the sport.
6. The biggest challenges, I think, could be a whole article on its own. But in reference to my breed, I would really like to see the Miscellaneous and FSS breeds be welcomed like our fully recognized counterparts. We are not new breeds. We are just new to AKC.
7. I have seen more judges take their time to learn more about our breed and take time in the ring to engage with exhibitors. And ask questions after judging is complete.
