Marty Greer & Dan | Griffiths Double G’s

Interview with Marty Greer & Dan, Breeders of Griffiths Double G’s

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?

Marty Greer & Dan

1. We are Dan Griffiths and Marty Greer and have lived in Lomira, Wisconsin, for the last 44 years. We’ve been practicing veterinarians since 1981 and own four practices in Wisconsin, working extensively with competition breeders. We have been in dogs since 1982, Pembroke Welsh Corgis (PWC) since 1988 and Danish-Swedish Farmdogs (DSF) since 2014. We breed both PWC and DSF under the kennel name Double G’s.

2. Currently, our breed has great genetic diversity, which bodes well for great health but is a little more challenging for judges to find “breed type” in the ring. That will come with time, hoping we can retain great health.

3. Absolutely. Many people are attracted to this versatile breed. DSFs are quiet in the house, have an off-switch, are small and easy to travel with, and are competitive in all dog sports.

4. We stay cutting edge as practicing veterinarians and use all these skills as breeders as well. Progesterone testing, assisted breedings, frozen semen use, pregnancy monitoring—all of these are opportunities to bring more live pups into this world.

5. Yes, purebred dogs are no longer as favored as in past decades. I hope to see the American Kennel Club (AKC) and other organizations turn this around. In my mind, the predictability of purebred dogs is important at all life-stages as owners select new dogs to bring into their families.

6. We now see many more options for dog sports, which are opportunities for people of all ages to be active in a sport. Some sports are limited to those in younger age groups, but everyone can be involved with their dogs.

7. I would like to see our seasoned breeders start taking new breeders under their wings, helping them by handing off their excellent genetics and lifetime of experience to develop a new and stronger, more collaborative group of breeders.