Faye Adcox | FABRAJ Norwegian Buhunds

Interview with Faye Adcox, Breeder of FABRAJ Norwegian Buhunds

Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Where do you live? What is your breed? What is your kennel name? Do you have a website? How long have you been in dogs? How long have you been breeding dogs? Who are some of your best-known dogs?

Faye Adcox: I live in Wyoming, Delaware. I have Norwegian Buhunds, and before them I had Pembroke Welsh Corgis. My kennel name is FABRAJ, which is an acronym for my family as it takes a family to raise a litter of puppies: F – Faye, A – Aaron, B – Brian, R – Richard, A – Ashley, and J is for Jason. These are the names of myself, my husband, and our children. My most well-known Buhund is INTL UKC GCHB Fabrajs Protector Of The Realm By Trollheimen CGC THD TKN CGA CGU. I have been in dogs for almost 30 years and have been breeding for 25 years.

As a Breeder, can you share your thoughts on your breed today? Is breed type strong? Are there things to be concerned about? Are there any health-related issues? Have you worked with breeders overseas? Are pet homes typically available for your breed?

Faye Adcox: Norwegians Buhunds are a hearty breed. We do not have many health issues, with cataracts being the big issue. There are some issues with flat feet in some lines. I have worked with breeders in Sweden, Finland, and Ireland. The Buhund is a breed that is not well-known in the pet world. I think, overall, the breed is heading in a good direction.

As an Exhibitor, can you comment on recent entries in your breed? Are majors available in your area? Does your breed often participate in Companion and Performance events? How can newcomers in your breed be encouraged to join the sport of dogs?

The Norwegian Buhund is a very versatile breed. We have dogs that compete in Dock Diving, Lure Coursing, Agility, Fast CAT, Tracking, and Scent Work. We have Buhunds that are Service Dogs as well as Therapy Dogs. My region’s entries are very low—usually just me. On the West Coast and in the Midwest, entries are much bigger. I usually have to travel for majors or wait till our National Specialty. We hope all newcomers will join our parent club. As part of the parent club, we offer awards for new titles as well as give out Versatility Awards every year at our specialty.

What are the biggest challenges facing the dog show community as a whole and how can we address them? And finally, what are some of the positive changes you’ve seen in your breed and in the dog show community as a whole over the past decade?

There are a lot more shows than a decade ago, so majors are harder to get. For this reason, entries are much lower than a decade ago.