Kathy & Scott Shifflett | Kurly Kreek Curly-Coated Retrievers

Interview with Kathy & Scott Shifflett, Breeders of Kurly Kreek Curly-Coated Retrievers

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 are the hallmarks of your breed and why are they important for maintaining breed type?
3. In your opinion, are there enough puppy homes to support breeding a litter this year?
4. How have you implemented new technologies in science and communications as a breeder?
5. In your community, have you noticed a change in the public’s perception of purebred dogs?
6. Have you noticed any trends in the sport? Anything to be concerned about?
7. What are some of the positive changes you’ve seen in the sport in recent years?

Kathy & Scott Shifflett

1. We are Kathy and Scott Shifflett and we live in Tracys Landing, Maryland. Scott and I have had dogs our entire lives, along with many other animals. Before breeding and showing dogs, we bred, trained, and showed amateur-owner hunters and jumpers. After much searching, we acquired our first Curly-Coated Retriever (CCR) in 1993 and bred our first litter in 1997. Our first litter produced a Best in Show winner, multiple Group winners, and Group placers. This gave us the “bug” to continue with a breeding program to preserve the breed according to the Breed Standard set by the Curly-Coated Retriever Club of America. Our dogs are registered and shown under the prefix of Kurly Kreek.

2. The hallmark of the Curly-Coated Retriever is the coat. The coat is a tight, crisp curl that is close to the skin. The coat is important, as this breed is used for both upland game and waterfowl. The coat helps to keep the dog comfortable when retrieving birds from the water during hunting season.

3. Yes, there are a lot of people interested in this wonderful breed. Because of our longevity in the breed, we do have repeat puppy buyers. However, because of the activity level of the CCR, these dogs are not suited for all who are interested in purchasing a puppy.

4. We stay abreast of new technologies in veterinary care and breeding. We attend many virtual training opportunities that are offered by the AKC (American Kennel Club), Good Dog, and other avenues. There appears to be more interest in hunting homes recently. We use several social media outlets to talk about our dogs. Clear and open communications are essential with puppy buyer relationships.

5. There are people who are very interested in purebred dogs. The public needs to be educated on why purchasing a purebred dog from a reputable breeder is paramount to the survival of purebred dog breeding. At shows, we find there are a lot of people who may be interested in a certain breed and do attend dog shows in hopes of meeting the breed and breeders.

6. The entries at Conformation shows seem to be declining. I believe part of the reason for this is due to the large number of shows on any given week in the country. Good venues are getting harder to find and much more expensive. The rising costs of everything in general are a hardship on many kennel clubs. It is harder and harder to pass along the additional cost in fees to the exhibitors. Today, judges are put on a fast track to obtain their license. In our opinion, the low-entry breeds are often misunderstood by judges because they don’t see one every week.

7. The addition of the National Owner-Handled Series (NOHS) has brought a positive influence to Conformation showing. With the new addition of the Regional (NOHS) events, it has brought many NOHS participants to a very supportive and competitive environment. Bringing in some of the newer Performance events enables more people to participate, even if their dog is not a registered AKC dog. This helps to bring more people to enjoy fun activities with their dogs.