Charina DeFur | Corrado Neapolitan Mastiffs

Interview with Charina DeFur, Breeder of Corrado Neapolitan Mastiffs

1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Where do you live? How many years in dogs? How many years as a breeder? What is your kennel name?
2. What is your “process” for selecting show puppies? Performance puppies?
3. In your opinion, is your breed in good condition overall? Any trends that warrant concern?
4. As a Preservation Breeder, can you share your thoughts on the sport today? How’s the judging these days? What do you think about the number of shows?
5. In your opinion, is social media good for the sport? Is it harmful?
6. What are the biggest challenges facing the dog show community as a whole today and how can these be addressed?
7. What are some of the positive changes you’ve seen in the sport over the past decade?

Charina DeFur:

1. I live in Indianapolis, Indiana, and have been breeding Neapolitan Mastiffs since 2007 under the kennel name “Corrado.” I have been involved in Conformation in some aspect since my teens: ringside help, kennel help, assisting, and eventually, helping to show and showing my own dogs.

2. Picking the perfect show puppy from a Neapolitan Mastiff litter can be tricky and you hope that you pick the right one. I start stacking my pups at around 5-6 weeks old on a grooming table, taking pics as well and comparing them weekly. I also have a few friends in other breeds who I have come over and help me evaluate and maybe see things I don’t, or help me decide between my favorite pups.

3. Overall, the breed is better than where it was 10 years ago; however, there’s so much room for improvement, like health testing. More people need to jump on the bandwagon and be serious about the dogs they’re breeding as well as future puppy buyers. Breeding the freakishly overdone dogs is just irresponsible, as they tend to not have very long lives and are riddled with problems. And who wants to get a second Neo when your first one made you bankrupt?

4. I think getting into the ring myself is still fun, but nowadays, I really like to watch my dogs perform and let the pros do their jobs. I still think there needs to be more judges’ education for my breed, but in the more recent years I’ve shown to more judges who LOVE the breed; excited to have an entry and get to put their hands on them. I love when I have a judge who enjoys the breed and when the dogs act goofy in the ring or shake their head and fling a glob of drool that you somehow missed. They just laugh it off. Much more pleasant than the judges who are totally grossed out by the breed.

I love when I have a judge who enjoys the breed and when the dogs act goofy in the ring or shake their head and fling a glob of drool that you somehow missed. They just laugh it off.

5. Social Media? Well, it’s good and bad. Good that you get to see more dogs and show off your dogs to a much bigger audience than 20 years ago. Bad because it seems like when people are in a bad mood they turn to social media and take it out on everyone, and no one is safe.

6. Probably the biggest challenge is being a parent to children and young adults in the sport with all the recent controversy. The Juniors are our future handlers.

7. Some of the positive changes are being able to take a regular Group placement and also earning a major if you have no other dogs to show against. NOHS.