Peggy Mcdill | Espree Poodles

Interview with Peggy Mcdill, Breeder of Espree Poodles

Where did you grow up?

Peggy Mcdill: I am a second-generation Southern Californian. I attended college in Seattle, and worked for the Port of Seattle in the Trade Development Department for several years.

Do you come from a doggie family and, if not, how did the interest in breeding and showing purebred dogs begin?

Peggy Mcdill: I came from a Thoroughbred horse family. I was always at the barn. I loved being in the company of all our animals. I mucked stalls, cleaned tack, swept the breezeway, and finally graduated to grooming. We had dogs but most of them were shepherd mixes. I loved them all. I met my first Standard Poodle when I was 12. It was love at first sight. Nearly 50 years and 76 AKC homebred champions later, my family is still waiting for me to get over it!

Who were your mentors in the sport? Please elaborate on their influence.

Peggy Mcdill: I was so fortunate to have honorable, caring mentors. Elizabeth Campbell of Dhubhne reg. Susan Marshall North of Darkin reg. The great Helen Lee James of Alee reg. Of course, Allan Chambers of Varsity Kennels guides me through hard cuts and decisions. We were his second client when he went out on his own. They all emphasized the importance of a great bitch. All were breeder/owner-handlers. All insisted on beautiful breed type, health testing, and proper Poodle temperament. They all emphasized the importance of good eating habits in their Poodles, expecting them to live well and long. I also received wonderful advice from Dr. Jackie Hungerland, and Luis and Mary Jo Aizcorbe.

The Espree Poodles are well known and well respected. What breeding philosophies do you adhere to?

Peggy Mcdill: Balance is the key. If the parts don’t match you will not get the “goosebump” moments that correctly moving Poodles “carrying themselves proudly with a light springy gait” present.

Besides taking wonderful advice from my mentors, I also added a little from my horse background. Mr. Darrel Kolkman of Heartland Hackney Farms in Iowa raised and showed Hackney Ponies. His breeding philosophies are interesting and somewhat unique. I encourage everyone to read or listen to his lectures. He was a family man who had a tight budget for his passion. Many breeders are in a similar situation. Poodles are our hobby. We still have careers and family outside the dog world.

Espree Standard Poodles combine Bel Tor and Eaton breeding. We have recently added Bar None and Avatar to our gene pool. I like to linebreed on dogs that I know personally and are bred by people whom I trust and admire. When an outcross is needed, I look to a loose, healthy pedigree whose phenotype is similar to our own dogs. When it comes to the “brownies,” we have only bred brown to brown twice. In both of those instances, all four grandparents were black. I have always felt that you must return the colors to black to keep quality. Every Poodle here has undergone health testing. We use OFA and Pawprint Genetics Standard Poodle panel, plus the ACVO optical test for dogs.

How many dogs do you typically house? Tell us about your facilities and how the dogs are maintained?

Peggy Mcdill: We currently have five Standards at home, and one out with our handler, Allan Chambers. We always have one dog out being shown. I used to show the 6 to 9 Month puppies quite a bit myself. I’ve had two knee replacement surgeries, so I plan to be out annoying my friends in the show ring again very soon.

Our home is on half an acre in the city of Mission Viejo, California. The house is pretty spacious, and we have three large yards that have different levels and surfaces that the dogs run in during the day. We also have a covered patio area that is 50×14, set on brick, and has fans and lights that double for outdoor eating, fun, and rainy day exercise for the Poodles. Show dogs sleep in crates until they are finished. They occupy gated areas in the house, dependent upon their toy and behavioral habits. All my Poodles are groomed by me every three or four weeks. Show coats get weekly baths. We feed twice a day: Purina Sport along with whatever meat or fish I fix for dinner. They also receive coconut oil and a basic supplement.

Puppies are born in my bedroom, and remain with Mom and me for about three weeks. It’s quiet, warm, and secure. This is my favorite time. We handle them constantly. They move to my kitchen/dining room when their eyes are open and they start motoring around (usually about three weeks). They can pop out on their patio while we change the pen, and check out the brick area for new toys and cookies. I start grooming at this time, shaving face, feet, tummy and tail. This is the time they usually get fussy for real food, so I start them on cereal and soaked kibble. I don’t take Mom away until she wants to go. She has so much to teach and offer these babies. Thankfully, all of our girls are good mothers. We temperament test puppies at seven weeks, using the Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test. We also put on leads and start individual training during these early weeks.

Please comment positively on the current state of your breed, and what issues might bear watching. I am hopeful that breeders today are more diligent about health testing. The Poodle Club of America has a comprehensive “best practices” requirement for new members and breeders. I do see corners being cut by inexperienced breeders, and it does make me unhappy. I often become the “Poodle police” and call them out. We are also seeing more entropian eye problems cropping up in Standards, and seizures seem to be popping up again. We need to remember that in Standard Poodles we are probably keeping one or two to show or to give to someone we plan to mentor. What about the other six or eight? They need to go as loving pets to families. I can’t imagine a family dealing with their pet having seizures. The idea of heartbroken children whose pet has to be put to sleep is just too much.

Additionally, we are seeing heavy-boned Standards with flat feet, straight fronts, and sickle hocks. I’m not sure if this is caused by a search for greater genetic diversity or just convenience, but it’s wrong. The Poodle is an elegant breed with a beautiful face and arched neck that holds its topline standing and moving. They should have a lovely chest and round rib, and be well muscled with a short, strong loin, without being heavy. I don’t want to hear those
dragging toes!

Do you wish the AKC were more proactive in educating the public about the pitfalls of “doodles,” and the designer-dog craze in general?

Peggy Mcdill: Wouldn’t it be great to develop a program with both the AKC and our parent clubs promoting the purebred dog? I would love to see our fancy participate in school education projects directed toward the family dog. It’s all about education in the community, with our focus on the grade school children who often drive the choice of the dog. AKC had annual parent club conferences awhile back. I was fortunate to attend two. It would be great to do those conferences again.

Our sport has changed greatly since you first began as a breeder-exhibitor. What are your thoughts on the state of the fancy, and the declining number of breeders? How do we encourage newcomers to join us and remain in the sport?

Peggy Mcdill: I would like to see more emphasis on breeder-exhibitor education. I mentor a few lovely people who are doing a good job with our help. It would be great to see more regionally sponsored education events for new people. I would also like to see beginners take three or more years before they breed their first litter. There is so much to learn about each breed, along with all the whelping and common sense rearing information. I enjoy Myra Savant’s books and seminars. But there is also the Puppy Puzzle and the late Pat Hastings’ books. Claudia Orlandi of Topsfield Bassets had wonderful seminars.

Where do you see yourself in the next decade or two? Have you considered judging? Will there be more Espree litters?

Peggy Mcdill: Applying to judge Poodles is on my bucket list. We still have a litter each year. Our girls generally have eight to 10 puppies which makes for a dedicated four to five months of sorting, training, and making myself available to new puppy owners. I am currently President of Shoreline Dog Fanciers which is a busy and fun all-breed club in Southern California. We hold our all-breed shows over the Labor Day weekend. More recently, I have been appointed the Corresponding Secretary to the Poodle Club of America Health Foundation. It’s a great fit for me to work with that Board of Directors. Of course, we still show our dogs. Finally, tell us a little about Peggy outside of dogs… your occupation, your hobbies. I have a great family along with my dog family. Mentoring my young friends is a blast. We just finished our National Specialty this past week at Purina Farms. Three of the young women I mentor were there and it was a great time. We all came back refreshed and energized!