Lynne Rehsler
1. My husband, Paul, and I live in Cobble Hill, British Columbia, Canada; on beautiful Vancouver Island. My start in animal husbandry began with Arabian show and racehorses and my passion for animals has never ebbed. After three decades of breeding and raising Banbury Bullmastiffs, my goal remains the betterment of the breed in both conformation, but more importantly, in their health and longevity.
In 2022, I received the CKC Master Breeder Certificate. I am an active member of, and have held director positions in, our local Tyee Kennel Club and the Bullmastiff Fanciers of Canada. I ring steward as often as possible and enjoy my interactions with the judges and competitors. I regularly judge Juvenile and Veteran Sweepstakes and I was thrilled to judge at the American Bullmastiffs Association’s 2015 Top 25.
2. I have been line breeding for many years and always keep a puppy from every litter. When a puppy stands out at a very young age (less than a week old) it’s usually the keeper. Heads are important in the Bullmastiff breed, so it must have a large, square head. Color isn’t very important, except I’m a stickler for white. A very small amount of white on the chest is all I’ll tolerate. I live on acreage with lots of different environments for the puppies to explore. If a puppy with a clear coat and large, square head is outgoing, demonstrates good movement, and has a steady temperament at 8-10 weeks, it will become my next show dog. I have also asked other breeders (not always Bullmastiff breeders) to help evaluate my puppies using Pat Hastings’ method.
Paul takes care of the performance end. Our Performance Bullmastiffs are all generally dual-titled. So, Paul works with my pick show puppies and the ones that also demonstrate a willingness to perform he will trial them.
3. Yes, the breed is in good condition. There are very dedicated breeders in many countries worldwide. The Bullmastiff clubs have developed a Breeder Code of Ethics and breeders are adhering to the required health clearances. My only concern is preserving the “cube on a cube” Bullmastiff head type without trending towards the Mastiff or the Bulldog.
4. I see clubs hiring international, FCI judges to remove any potential bias that Canadian judges might have. However, exhibitors must expect different judging techniques and ring procedures; and remain open to the judges’ interpretation of our Standards based on their background. Overall, I find judging to be fair.
It’s well-known that the entries at many shows has declined. The number of shows is not the only factor impacting entries. Travel expenses, particularly when leaving Vancouver Island, the flying restrictions on a large snub-nosed dog, and the potential impact of the new CDC rules on getting to cross-border shows, all impact my entries. There are also fewer Bullmastiff breeders now.
5. Social media has pros and cons in all aspects of our lives, including dog sports. Live streaming shows, so I can watch my dog win a BIS, advertising our kennel club events, and sharing photos of our gorgeous puppies and dogs are examples of the good aspects. But I also see the harmful side when unsportsmanlike posts or troublesome comments are so easily made public. I’ve been on both sides. I think the positive aspects of social media outweigh the negative ones.
6. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to find suitable and affordable venues for our shows. There are a limited number of venues that accept dog shows. As the costs of these show sites increase, so must the entries, which causes entries to decline resulting in clubs losing money. How long can this last?
A big challenge for my kennel club is the number and age of our volunteer members. It’s important to support Junior Handling, but it is equally or more important to find young, passionate club members to plan and run our shows.
7. It’s good to finish on a positive note. I see clubs taking unsportsmanlike conduct very, very seriously. Related to increasing costs, clubs are working hard to make their shows enjoyable with themes, raffles, potluck dinners, and other fun events. There’s always great participation!
