Kristi & Tony Libertore of Whiskey Hills breed versatile Bracco Italiano—field-proven, family-ready, and AKC-focused since 2010.
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Kristi & Tony Libertore
1. My name is Kristi Libertore and my husband is Tony Libertore. My original kennel, Whiskeytown Sporting Dogs, started in 2008, focusing on Wirehaired Pointing Griffons. My husband was a NAVHDA (North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association) Judge and had Feather Hills Kennel, focused on GSPs (German Shorthaired Pointers) originally, then the Bracco Italiano, starting in 2010. He has been involved as a judge, professional field trainer, and breeder for 25 years. We met in 2016, and he helped me fall in love with the Bracco Italiano. Together, we formed Whiskey Hills Bracco Italiano to focus on bringing the breed to the AKC (American Kennel Club).
2. To see Bracchi in the field is simply amazing! They work at a powerful, ground-covering trot. This is a unique hallmark of the breed, as most field dogs work at a gallop. The Bracco Italiano Breed Standard calls for an extended and fast trot, with powerful reach and drive. In addition, the head should be raised, with the nose held higher than the topline as if pulled along by the nose. This large, powerful trot should always be seen, and there is no such thing as too fast or too big. Second, the breed should have ample skin that is tough and elastic. The word “elastic” is often used to describe their movement, but that is incorrect—in fact, elastic is only used to describe the skin. Ample and elastic skin does not mean wrinkles. Excessive skin with exaggerated wrinkling is actually listed as a fault. These features, combined with a beautiful headpiece to include ears that reach the tip of the nose, and divergent planes, are what make the breed unique. They are not Bloodhounds, these are pointers! This is a critical difference to remember.
3. We enjoy a long wait list and have no issues placing puppies. We can support multiple litters per year. We love showing and have done very well, but we are more diverse than that. Our top prospects go to show and breeding homes. We are also hunters, and all of our dogs come from hunting dogs. Not just “hunting lines” but true hunting dogs that are worked and shot over. Because of that, many more of our dogs are placed in hunting homes. I think doing both is not only healthy for the breed but also healthy as a breeder. I see other breeders unable to sell puppies, and that isn’t our situation. I also think the new import laws have made it much harder to import dogs, which is forcing more buyers to look in the US. Luckily, our breed is growing and isn’t as rare here as it once was.
4. Definitely, especially with partnering overseas to import frozen semen. We have had good luck getting pups on the ground using top reproductive vets. I build relationships with European breeders via Facebook. I am very lucky to be respected overseas and have made many friends. Facebook also allows me to see other Bracchi in other countries, both in the ring and in the field. We use Facebook to promote our dogs and kennel, even more than our website.
One simple addition of technology as a breeder is using baby monitors for puppies. Life changing! So nice to sleep at night, seeing all, hearing all, and even knowing the temperature.
5. As hunting, especially wild birds, becomes more challenging, we see more people wanting family dogs that are sometimes hunters. I think the perception of a dog in a kennel to be pulled out just for hunting is becoming less and less. That’s a good thing, as our dogs must live in a home. Bracchi don’t do well without human interaction. As breeders, we try to breed for these all-around dogs with solid temperament and the on/off switch to hunt hard but relax at home. Too much drive can be a bad thing.
6. Too many judges rely on who they think they should pick, and not their confident knowledge in the Standard. A good judge knows the Standard and studies each detail and talks to successful breeders. A great one does that, but is also unafraid to put up the best dog of the day, not the one that won big yesterday. There are just too many shows, and it’s diluting the pool of truly great judges. Poor judging discourages people.
7. I love all of the new sports and activities and how they have grown. We have seen a lot of Bracchi excel in Scent Work and Scent Trials, Fast CAT, Barn Hunt, etc. It gives the non-hunters a chance to work with their dogs in different venues.
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