Janet L. Wright shares her journey with Tibetan Spaniels, focusing on breeding for health, temperament, and preserving the breed.
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Janet L. Wright
1. Hello, my name is Janet L. Wright, also known as Jan Wright. I have been a dog lover all my life and have been involved with many different breeds throughout my 87 years. My first show dogs were Boxers, hence my kennel name of GEMBOX. Before Boxers, I was involved with my then husband in training hunting dogs, such as Labrador Retrievers and Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. I have always loved the Boxers and still do, but when the time came to search for a smaller breed to show I came across the Tibetan Spaniel, also known as a Tibbie, and they stole my heart. In doing extensive research on pedigrees, I planned my first litter and have been very fortunate to have been able to breed some top-quality dogs that have gone on to win the Breed at National Specialties with Owner Handlers and other prized shows such as Morris and Essex.
2. I believe the hallmark of our breed is their lovely personality. They keep you entertained constantly with their cute antics. They are a small, 9 to 15-pound active little dog and I feel it’s important to maintain that size. It’s also very important for breeders to keep the Tibbie’s happy temperament. A bad-tempered dog should not be bred, in my opinion.
3. I myself no longer breed, but I think if a breeder has homes already in place then breeding a litter this year is fine. We must keep this lovely little breed alive, but do it to preserve the breed, not to make money, and do it with the intention of having healthy dogs from year to year.
4. The best way to communicate is by going to dog shows and welcoming and mentoring anyone who is interested in our breed. Make sure your dogs are tested for everything that the Breed Standard feels is needed and beyond to have healthy dogs.
5. Yes, I certainly have. There are many so-called backyard breeders breeding what are called “designer dogs,” implying that these mixed breed dogs are much better than purebred dogs due to being healthier, which, of course, is not true!
6. I think there are more breeders hiring professional handlers instead of showing their own dogs. There seems to be a lot more dogs now being imported also. This has some good points as well as some to be concerned about.
7. I feel there are a lot more venues that our dogs can now enter to prove their being used for what they were actually bred for.
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