Interview with Christina Ulberg, Breeder of 2Infinity Rottweilers
- 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?
- What is your “process” for selecting show puppies? Performance puppies?
- In your opinion, is your breed in good condition overall? Any trends that warrant concern?
- 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?
- In your opinion, is social media good for the sport? Is it harmful?
- What are the biggest challenges facing the dog show community as a whole today and how can these be addressed?
- What are some of the positive changes you’ve seen in the sport over the past decade?
Christina Ulberg
1. My Husband (David Bert) and I (Christina Ulberg) have been in Rottweilers formally since 2004. I chose a chubby, slow one called Don Diago Vom Neuenschloss, call name “Diago,” and started our journey. I worked for the State of Oregon for years and balanced showing our dogs with work. We live on the outskirts of Dallas, Oregon, and have space to allow them to run. We had our first litter in 2011 and established dogs under our kennel name of 2Infinity Rottweilers. I am excited we are having our 20-year anniversary in Rottweilers this year.
2. Selecting puppies is unique; however, not an exact science. We look at the whole puppy picture. Structure/temperament of each puppy is rated and ranked. Each home has its own needs. Each puppy is evaluated for placement in the perfect home combination. Show puppies should have a spark, with the structure and drive to want to be flashy. Performance puppies should have the drive to work and please, with a willingness to adapt. Temperament must be good in all situations!
3. The Rottweiler belongs to a rather strong and tight-knit community. The American Rottweiler Club (ARC), which we are members of, is constantly trying to encourage the positive vision of the breed as well as the education for owners to ensure they are choosing the right breed for them. The current trend that is sparking debate is the change in head type to almost a Boxer-style muzzle. This will make our strong breed present as if they are brachycephalic and no longer will be able to perform the function they were bred for. ARC is again working on education to ensure that we encourage breeding practices to strive for our Breed Standard.
4. 2infinity is always excited to showcase what we have bred to judges. As a Professional Handler, I sometimes take the opportunity to show my own dogs that I have taken for granted and have rediscovered the joy of winning with a “home-grown” dog at the end of my leash. I think we need to encourage more people to come to the shows and bring back the family atmosphere ringside. 2Infinity has created an amazing community at the shows that keeps a positive environment and tries to inspire fun. I believe others would greatly benefit from finding a great group of people. As a Professional Handler, I have been fortunate enough to be in front of some amazing judges. In Rottweilers, I greatly appreciate judges who let the handler show the bite. This allows the handler to maintain control and decrease disease transfer. My preference would be to have the bite examined right after the physical exam. The shows have had a decrease in numbers, but this is where that family atmosphere comes into play. Rally the troops and create those points!
5. I have found that social media can be used for good or evil. 2Infinity has only one social media presence through Facebook; one page for our Rottweilers and then another for the handling. I focus on posting positive things surrounding success and encourage those around me. I also do not “feed the fire” on negative posts by encouraging unprofessional acts at dog shows or with judges. I think that if you continue to encourage, others will follow—be the change!
6. I am confident to say that a big challenge we face moving forward with the breed and the sport is encouraging and drawing in our Juniors! We need to find ways to inspire the drive in Juniors to continue our pedigrees and breeding practices. Additionally, showing them that dog shows as a sport is rewarding. Mentorship within our breed should be encouraged, especially with Juniors. Teach them structure, what health testing is needed, how the dog they show came to be, and most of all, how to professionally present the dogs at shows. Yes, we have handling clinics, but we should consider breed seminars for Juniors, similar to those offered to judges. We need to include the parents in the sport, showing them that this is a structured environment worth encouraging Juniors to follow.
7. Within the last decade, one “moment” of awareness was after the COVID scare; we all were in a dark place. I was excited to see how the sport positively showed resilience and a fight for survival. This really helped people take the time to be home and evaluate their breeding stock. Once shows started, I saw some REALLY nice dogs come to the ring. People could really focus on their breeding programs, providing the excellence that breeders strive for. Additionally, from the COVID scare, a pilot program was created to allow Juniors to use dogs they did not co-own. This is a parallel to Canada and how they encourage Juniors to expand their skills. I was excited for the change as it has allowed our Junior assistant to really explore different breeds and create a style that is amazing. This kind of change, to help teach Juniors, is exactly what can keep Juniors coming back! I am excited to see how the Juniors surpass my skill set and knowledge.
