Jennifer Murphy | White Oak Kennels German Shorthaired Pointers

Interview with Jennifer Murphy, Breeder of White Oak Kennels German Shorthaired Pointers

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?

1. My name is Jennifer Murphy and I breed German Shorthair Pointers (GSP) and Dalmatians under the kennel name White Oak Kennels. I got my first show dog in 2005. He was a beautiful Chinese Shar-Pei bred by Brenda Cook with Showbiz Sharp-Pei. In 2011, I started breeding Dalmatians with my Mom, Kathy Wosnak, under Calvary Dalmatians.

I had my first GSP litter in 2021 and my second in 2022. Between the two litters I have produced 10 Champions, including Winners Bitch and Reserve Winners Bitch at the 2021 GSPCA National and Reserve Winners Bitch at the 2022 GSPCA National as well a Top 10 GSP.

2. I work hard to breed to our Breed Standard. Each puppy is evaluated against that Standard as well as temperament tested to be matched with the best family.

3. I feel like in any breed there is always some things we can improve on. I think what we try to avoid is seizures. That is always top of my mind when I breed GSPs. One concern with Dalmatians is the Copper Storage Disease.

4. Our numbers are good at Specialties, but you have to travel for them. At local shows, it’s hard to come by majors. This might be because you can find a show almost every weekend.

5. It’s definitely good and bad. Being able to see a live feed and watch movement on a dog you are thinking about using is amazing. Also, the ability to market your dog online and share exciting wins fast as well, as it reaches so many more people. There are downfalls also, like bullying, people are on their phone so much more instead of enjoying the moment, as well as added pressures.

6. As a Show Chair for Fayetteville Kennel Club, I see how hard it is to keep to a budget that works. Good judges are booked a year or two in advance. Prices keep going up for everything and people also don’t have the money for gas to travel. I feel having a Cluster and splitting everything really does help. The other thing that it takes is volunteers! These clusters are run only on volunteers who love the sport.

As a Show Chair for Fayetteville Kennel Club, I see how hard it is to keep to a budget that works. Good judges are booked a year or two in advance. Prices keep going up for everything and people also don’t have the money for gas to travel. I feel having a Cluster and splitting everything really does help.

7. I see more events happening at Clusters that are bringing more folks out. I also see clubs coming up with great ideas like Junior Scholarships to bring new blood into the sport.