Mandy Halsey
1. My name is Amanda Halsey, and I live in rural Ohio. I have been showing and breeding Toy Fox Terriers for 23 years under the kennel name DynAsty Toy Fox Terriers. I have been an animal lover all my life. In my childhood and teenage years, I rode and trained horses and enjoyed my dogs as pets. I bought my first canine show prospect when I was 19 years old.
2. Toy Fox Terriers are such a wonderful little breed. They are a great combination of terrier attitude in a trainable and loveable package. They want to be where their people are and do what their people are doing. That might mean one day they are happy and have the energy for a long walk, then a boat ride, and finish the day accompanying you to a dog-friendly restaurant. On the other hand, if you feel like not leaving the couch and binge-watching television all day, your TFT will be eager to be your couch-potato buddy, sitting under the blanket with you all day long.
Breeders need to consider temperament when making breeding decisions to keep the proper breed type. It is important to not just look at the outside of the dog when making breeding decisions. Breeders must also consider the health and temperament of the dogs as well. A beautiful show dog with a terrible temperament and/or awful health conditions is not valuable to any breeding program!
3. There is not a big market for TFT puppies, and some breeders do get stuck with puppies for months while trying to find them a home, but there are enough homes for me to breed a litter this year. I always have a waiting list of people wanting one of my TFTs. I think there are multiple reasons why I generally do not have trouble placing my puppies. The first factor in this is people can tell when speaking with me that I have a genuine love of the breed, and I am not raising dogs for selfish reasons like trying to make money or trying to turn out as many puppies as possible. A second factor is that my puppies are raised in our home with us and our children. Another factor is that the health of my puppies and adult dogs is a top priority.
4. I utilize DNA testing to identify any of my dogs who are carriers of genetic diseases. I also have my veterinarian perform blood tests at a young age (between five months and one year) to assess and get a baseline of each of my dog’s health. My puppies are vet checked before leaving for their new homes, and my adult dogs are health checked annually by our veterinarian to identify any health issues that arise during a dog’s life, give any needed vaccinations, and do other diagnostic testing that is warranted. Early detection of health issues and elimination of those dogs from my breeding program is so important in keeping my dogs as healthy as possible. Along with using technology to help with the health of my dogs, I also use it to showcase and share information about my dogs. I have a website, Facebook page, YouTube channel, and more recently, I have tried Instagram and TikTok. I also have a short podcast series called Diary of a Dog Breeder, where I talk about some of the behind-the-scenes parts of breeding and my thought process as a breeder.
5. I have noticed that it seems more people are attracted to the health tests that seem to come with purebred dog breeders as well as the want for consistency in one dog to the next that you get in purebred dogs.
6. I have noticed that dog show numbers seem to be continuing to decline. I think there are many factors that are causing this, but the main reason seems to be the costs involved in showing. Everything costs more money (entry fees, travel, lodging, food, etc.). Not to mention the added costs of having dogs at home, like vet bills, dog food costs, stud fees, etc.
7. Due to declining entries at shows, I think it has caused some people to be more open and willing to help newcomers to the sport. Each new person who comes to a show is so valuable and vital to the sport.
