Larry & Katerina Rekowski
1. We, Larry and Katerina, are a married couple living in Macomb County, Michigan, on seven acres of land, surrounded by 55 acres of lake and woods. We do not consider dog breeding as our source of income; therefore, we are extremely selective in our breeding practices. We will only offer dogs and puppies for sale from matings that are well planned out.
Katerina holds a Master’s of Science Degree in economics. She is a Certified Dog Trainer and owns a successful dog training business. Her love for Central Asian Shepherds began in her teenage years when her family owned their first Central Asian in 1992. Our kennel name is Guardian Dog and our kennel website is: guardiandog.net.
Ours is the only kennel in North America that is a member of International Association Turkmen Alabay dogs. The mission is to breed Central Asian Shepherd Dogs of true temperament and structure, producing a few litters of purpose with puppies that have stable temperaments, clear-thinking minds, intelligence, confidence, and free from genetic defects. It takes time and selective breeding for generations to produce consistent litters, but with intelligence in breeding practices and a keen eye this can be achieved and put a reverse on the deteriorating canines that are now present in modern times. Dogs will only be sold to responsible owners, and we can assist in training. All of the dogs are interacted with on a daily basis and don’t sit in a kennel. In order to educate about this ancient breed, I published two books which are sold all over the world: Central Asian Shepherd by Katerina R. Rekowski; and I also published a new book a year ago: How to Raise a Central Asian Shepherd.
2. I am concerned about breed quality and the wrong advertisement in the Western world nowadays. Giant dogs are advertised as superior; a lot of crossbreeding was done, and bloodlines were infected with behavioral and physical faults thanks to people who only look at this ancient breed as a source of income.
3. I was involved in showing for a long time, but I’ve noticed a lack of education in the majority of judges, and judging breeds as just a way to give a ribbon rather than to improve the breed quality and educate the public.
4. Unless judges will get into detailed research about the rare breed they judge, I see no positivity to visit shows anymore. As an example, I was invited to show a “Corso,” but I had to tell the judge that they’re not Corsos. And one judge asked me to stack my dog in a German Shepherd Dog stack. When I said it’s not a GSD, he got upset and said it’s still a shepherd.
5. Social media can be good and bad, and it’s up to breeders as to how they should portray the breed they own.
6. I’ve been going to dog shows as an exhibitor for over 20 years. I’ve shown my dogs in different countries. I see that dog shows have become a way to get a ribbon, and everyone nowadays can become a champion. It wasn’t this way in the late 1980s.
7. The comfort for exhibitors has definitely improved. I remember myself showing my dogs in a dusty big yard under a scorching sun.
