PJ Carter | MMW Bull Terriers & Chihuahuas

Interview with PJ Carter, Breeder of MMW Bull Terriers & Chihuahuas

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?

PJ Carter

1. Hello! My name is PJ Carter and I’m the owner of MMW Bull Terriers and Chihuahuas, located in Colville, Washington. I’ve been breeding dogs for 18 years, showing for nine.

2. Bull Terriers are known for their egg heads and their personalities. Being a preservation breeder means keeping those attributes, but also developing a dog to fit modern society, as the high-drive terrier breeds do not typically fit into modern homes anymore. Though we are a head breed, that can’t be the only goal, as we need to keep the breed healthy and as functional as possible to have a longer lifespan.

3. I believe there are enough good homes to support breeding efforts of ethical breeders. Being in the Pacific Northwest, I have people all over the US contact me, but I personally do not like to ship dogs or place them in homes far from me in case something were to happen. This year, I’ve placed dogs in Delaware, New Jersey, Colorado, California, North Carolina, and Tennessee. The US is big, and I wish there were more preservation breeders on that side of the country that I could refer people to.

4. Embark has been amazing, cost for quantity. Our breed does not recommend color testing, but we also have incorrect information on our color breeding chart due to this. We have the tools and I believe they should be used. LP (Laryngeal Paralysis) is not a recommended test, but I’m thankful I chose to do it as I’ve seen affected dogs in the breed when we are told it doesn’t exist. I also have LP carriers, so this has allowed me to make educated decisions while pairing dogs. The Internet has so many resources for my buyers. I give links to training videos, food recommendations, and more. I video chat to do training sessions for my buyers.

5. People who come to me know they want quality looks, health, and temperament for what our breed is supposed to be and are supporting an honest person. People take pride in having well-bred dogs, as they should. Once I educate a buyer on why they should want an ethically-bred dog, they usually save and come back later to avoid heartache of what could be.

6. Inflation is causing issues within the dog sporting world; costs are going up, but income isn’t. I’m asking the same amount for a puppy as I did five years ago, but the cost of an entry fee for a show has almost doubled. This will potentially make the dog sports disappear. Also, there is a huge shortage of veterinarians, which is making pet care harder to find and more expensive. Emergency vets have gone corporate, which isn’t good for anyone except the corporations.

Issues I have seen in the past of unfairness or favoritism in the Conformation ring are being brought to light.

7. I have seen great changes overall with judges being fair, honest, and open. The Internet has brought many issues forward and people are talking. Change is happening and we are coming together as a community, seeing that the majority has power. One thing stays the same—our love for dogs.