Meet the Breeder/Owner Handler: Krissy Stanford

Meet the Breeder/Owner Handler: Krissy Stanford

1. How were you first introduced to the sport of purebred dogs? To your breed?

Krissy Stanford: I was originally introduced to the sport of purebred dogs and the American Kennel Club when I was taking Obedience classes and participating in Performance events with my American Pit Bull Terrier. A good friend and Staffordshire Bull Terrier enthusiast invited me to attend AKC Conformation shows with her and participate in Barn Hunt, at which time I became eager to learn more. One AKC event turned into a desire to attend more and learn as much as possible. I was fascinated and had my heart set on a primitive breed, one that was biddable with the right direction but a challenge just the same. After years of attending shows, and a lot of research, I was set on adding a Shiba Inu to the family. At that time, I did my research on breeders, health testing, and lineage; I had notebooks and three-ring binders filled up with pedigrees and the Breed Standard. I researched and watched several Shiba Inu at various shows and through videos, as well as emailed and talked to breeders. I finally acquired my first Shiba Inu and then worked hard to prove myself to a breeder across the United States whose dogs I had admired a great deal. Leslie Ann Engen (San Jo) was instrumental in educating and mentoring me, affording me the opportunity to develop a strong foundation with continued support over the last ten years.

2. How many years in dogs? How many as an Owner Handler? As a Breeder?

Krissy Stanford: I have been showing dogs since I was 17 years of age, but started showing in the AKC a little over ten years ago. I showed my first Shiba Inu a handful of times, but when my nerves got the better of me, I reached out to Arvind DeBraganca to show her to her championship. A year later, when I reached out to Arvind to handle my second Shiba, he firmly told me, as a friend, that I needed to show Flyer from start to finish, that he was a beautiful boy and I was a capable handler. It was through his help and the help of many others that I started to become more active in showing my own dogs. Since finishing my second Shiba, I have finished many more and enjoy the time spent training and handling. Under the guidance of my breeder/mentor turned cherished friend, Leslie Ann Engen, I started breeding approximately seven years ago. There is something so very special about stepping into the ring with a dog you’ve bred, raised, and trained.

3. Do you attend show handling classes? Have you attended in-person handling seminars?

Krissy Stanford: I have attended handling classes over the years, although with a demanding career it is not always possible. However, we do practice and attend when possible. I have not had the pleasure of attending in-person handling seminars, although I find seminars for various dog-related events to be quite beneficial and would absolutely attend should the opportunity arise.

4. Have you found virtual learning tools to be helpful? Videos? Websites? Social Media? AKC Canine College?

Krissy Stanford: Yes, I am very much a student of virtual learning and find that there is a wealth of information available to us through social media, AKC Canine College, and websites. They afford you to learn at your own pace, return to items you may struggle with, and revisit as needed in the future.

5. Do you compete in the National Owner-Handled Series? Are rankings important to you?

Krissy Stanford: I have competed in NOHS and believe the rankings are important. They are a testament to an owner handler’s hard work and dedication. The only area of the rankings that lessens the importance is that someone who competes with competition and wins BOBOH is awarded the same points as one who consistently shows up without competition and collects BOBOH points. I enjoy cheering on friends, and I follow fanciers/exhibitors of the breed who are in the rankings as well.

6. How important is the Bred-By Class to you? How important are Specialties?

Krissy Stanford: The Bred-By class is one of my favorite classes; it is a testament to the hard work and dedication we put in behind the scenes. The class represents the heartbreak, the heart-warming moments, the sleepless nights, and the dedication to health testing and breed preservation. As a breeder, what I produce represents not just my program but those who worked tirelessly to have the breed brought over from Japan and recognized. We owe it to the country of origin, the foundation here in the United States, and to the current/future owners of our breed to be selective. This class is a showcase to the future of the breed and when stepping into that ring; we know that not every puppy in a litter is a show prospect and that we’ve selected the very best to step into the ring with and move forward with as a breeder. Specialties are so very important, and even more so when exhibiting to a breeder-judge.

7. Is it a challenge to compete with your breed as a Breeder/Owner Handler?

Krissy Stanford: We are very fortunate to have a number of owner handlers within the breed. While there are some professional handlers, the majority of those exhibiting are owner handlers, which is great to watch and cheer for one another. I love competing as a breeder/owner handler and have seen some amazing wins over handlers at numerous shows. I respect and will use a handler like Nicki King, Tia McLaughlin, or Arvind who each have a gift with the Shiba Inu when my work schedule does not allow me to attend a show. But some of the most notable wins have been by owner handlers, and I have been awarded Best of Breed and multiple Group placements over handlers. One such win was at a past AKC National Championship under respected judge Dr. Keating who awarded my bred-by and I Best of Opposite Sex from the Bred-By class over specials and handlers for her championship. A dear friend, Leah Crowley, won our parent club National Specialty as an owner handler over handlers, then on to a Group placement and Best in Show Owner-Handled at the same show. (I do believe we all lost our voices that day cheering for her!)

8. Who have been your mentor(s) as an Owner Handler? As a Breeder?

Krissy Stanford: My mentors as an owner handler and a breeder include Leslie Ann Engen, Tia McLaughlin, Leslie Anderson, and more recently, Yumi Hagiwara who has taken the time to educate me on JKC and NIPPO Standards, having been extremely helpful last year when I had the pleasure of attending the NIPPO Grand National with her in Japan alongside friends who are also breeder/owner handlers from Washington State. In addition to mentors within the breed, I have found that mentors in other breeds (Victor Kemp, Susie Keel, and Lynn Caswell, to name a few) serve as great resources and continue to push me to think objectively and be mindful to not become kennel blind.

9. How important is the Breeder/Owner Handler to the future of the sport? To your breed?

Krissy Stanford: Breeder/owner handlers are fundamental to the success and preservation of the breed as a whole. The Shiba Inu gained in popularity, and with that, brought a number of new breeder/owner handlers, which under the right guidance and direction is invaluable to the breed. Sadly, under the wrong guidance, it can be detrimental to the breed, whereby puppies are produced blindly, sold freely on full registration, and the bank accounts get fuller while the breed suffers. There should not be a noticeable distinction in the breed ring whereby it looks as though there are two or even three different types or styles of Shiba Inu.

10. What advice would you give to Owner Handlers who are thinking of breeding their dog(s)?

Krissy Stanford: Ensure you have a knowledgeable mentor within your breed; one who will look at the dogs in your program objectively, who is not kennel blind with the notion that nearly every dog produced is worthy of being shown. Be mindful when placing/selling your dogs; what you put out not only represents you and is your legacy but impacts the breed as a whole. Learn that many can have the same ingredients but not everyone has the right recipe. I have grown as a breeder and as a handler because of my mentors, and to this day, Leslie Ann Engen will ask me questions when I reach out to her with my breeding plans. These questions are always thought-provoking and work to keep me focused on the totality of what I am seeking. Find a mentor who will ensure that you are not just breeding off of convenience, color, or to make puppies to sell for financial gain or to inflate an ego. It is important that you take your ego out of the equation and always refer back to the original purpose of the breed. Look at what you need to improve and what that pairing has to offer. The breed needs responsible owner handlers preserving the breed and helping with the forward momentum while respecting the origin and preserving the breed as intended in the country of origin (for my breed, that is Japan).

11. What are your goals as a Breeder/Owner Handler? Is there a victory that has eluded you?

Krissy Stanford: My goal as a breeder/owner handler is to preserve the legacy entrusted to me by my breeder/mentors. It is also to help defy the color bias within the breed; per the AKC Standard: “Coat color is as specified herein, with the three allowed colors given equal consideration.” There seems to be a perceived bias with more awards and merit given to a red Shiba Inu. Currently, I am elated to be the breeder and co-owner on the No. 2 (all systems) Shiba Inu, GCHG Coquina We’re All A Little Mad Here FCAT3 CA TKN (owned by Glenn and Michi King), who is a stunning black and tan with proper undercoat, handled professionally by Nicki King and given the attention a black and tan Shiba Inu deserves to have. This is the first black and tan Shiba Inu to win Best of Breed at Westminster, and I am very thankful to his owners. I believe as a breeder/owner handler that we continue to add to our goals, both in the ring and in our breeding program. Another of my goals is to continue to produce balanced dogs in each generation, moderate dogs that do not give the appearance of running downhill, and helping to educate on the importance of balanced movement, not overreaching and too much drive.

There are many victories that I continue to strive for, and I believe the victories that have eluded me keep the fire and spark alive, motivating me each day.

12. Is there a funny story that you can share about your experiences as a Breeder/Owner Handler?

Krissy Stanford: My friend, Lynn Caswell, and I drove from Florida to New Jersey to show at the Stafford Specialty. (I was showing my Shiba at the all-breed show). While she was tied up showing at the Specialty, I had to take my boy (our first show and my second Shiba ever) into the ring. We placed First in our class. I thanked everyone (still shaking and adrenaline going) and waved good-bye, when another exhibitor was kind enough to remind me that I needed to take him back into the ring for Winners Dog. The nerves kicked back in as I thanked them and waited our turn. We went in for Winners Dog and won, got our purple ribbon, and I again thanked everyone and went to depart. Again, I was educated on the classes and the need to stay. At this point I was asking myself, how many times do I have to show and can I make it a third time in the ring without passing out? Needless to say, we survived, we won our first major and got many laughs at the experience. Of course, there has been a time or two when I have run myself out of a shoe. (There was a struggle with me and pantyhose and flats a time or two.)