Better Breeder Chronicles

Margery Good of Good Spice Kennel has spent decades proving that great breeding is about far more than winning in the show ring, but also producing happy, confident Companions that are fabulous to live with. Good Spice has produced an incredible family of successful Sealyham Terriers, collaborating with top programs around the world. From her earliest days in dogs to building generations of outstanding Sealyham Terriers, Margery shares the mentors, breeding decisions, successes, and setbacks that shaped Good Spice into an internationally respected program.In this episode, she reveals:Why strong virtues should be bred to strong virtuesHow pedigrees help her preserve type while avoiding faultsThe legendary dogs that defined generations of Good SpiceWhy great companions matter far beyond the show ringThe advice she believes every aspiring breeder needs to hearWith decades of experience behind her, Margery still approaches breeding with the same principle that has guided her career: keep learning, keep improving, and never lose sight of the dogs themselves.Watch the full episode to discover the breeding philosophy and legacy behind Good Spice Kennel.Timestamps:(00:00) Intro(00:34) Meet Margery Good(02:42) How Her Journey in Dogs Began(07:26) The Mentors Who Shaped Her Career(09:02) Breeding Virtues to Virtues(15:06) The Win That Changed Everything(16:24) The Hardest Parts of Breeding(17:49) Building the Good Spice Bloodlines(23:11) How Margery Studies Pedigrees(24:43) Building a Stronger Gene Pool(26:58) Her Vision of the Ideal Sealyham(29:31) The Legendary Dogs of Good Spice(37:56) Chasing the Breed Standard(39:02) Her Most Successful Litter(40:03) Kerry Blues, Airedales & Temperament(42:46) What’s Next for Good Spice(44:02) Protecting the Future of Purebred Dogs(46:16) Supporting Breeders & Puppy Owners(49:30) How Her Breeding Program Evolved(52:03) Don’t Let the Show Ring Decide(53:19) What Breeders Should Focus on Now(54:14) What Matters More Than Winning(55:26) The Legacy of Good Spice(55:54) Margery’s Advice to Breeders(56:46) A Master Breeder to Know(57:31) Finding Good SpiceThis episode is brought to you by:EZWhelp — https://www.ezwhelp.com/Take Our Quiz: Build Your Whelping Setup in 60 SecondsWith additional support from:Ororo — https://www.ororowear.com/Cherrybrook Pet Supplies — https://www.cherrybrook.com/Revival Animal Health — https://www.revivalanimal.com/#PurebredDogs #BetterBreederChronicles #PreservationBreeder #ConservationBreeder #BreedStandard #AKCDogShows #Westminster #WestminsterDogShow #BestInShow #WestminsterKennelClub #NationalDogShow #MargeryGood #GoodspiceKennel #SealyhamTerriers #SealyhamTerrierBreeder #GoodSpiceSealyhams #CharminSealyham

Cherie Hunchak of Elance Borzoi has spent decades pursuing one goal: breed dogs that are strong where the breed is weak.In this episode of Better Breeder Chronicles, Cherie shares the philosophy, breeding decisions, and bloodlines behind Elance Borzoi and the dogs that have influenced pedigrees around the world.You’ll discover:How learning to truly see structure transformed her breeding programWhy pedigrees are a roadmap, and the dog in front of you never tells the whole storyHow she uses linebreeding and carefully chosen outcrosses to build consistencyWhy collaboration and sharing quality stud dogs will strengthen an entire breedWhy her proudest achievement isn’t ribbons, but seeing other breeders succeed with Elance bloodlinesWatch the full episode for an insightful conversation about breeding with purpose, building better pedigrees, and leaving a lasting legacy in the Borzoi breed.Timestamps:(00:00) Introduction(02:09) Falling in Love With Borzoi(04:02) Starting as a Borzoi Breeder(07:48) Early Mentors and Lessons(09:55) Understanding Structure and Pedigrees(12:02) Why Front Structure Matters(13:39) Developing the Elance Type(14:49) Reading a Pedigree(15:45) Linebreeding and Outcrossing(18:40) Overcoming Breeding Setbacks(20:07) Sharing Stud Dogs(23:45) The Ideal Borzoi(24:53) Why Movement Matters(26:08) The Dogs That Built Elance(31:14) A Bloodline-Changing Breeding(35:04) The Future of Elance(36:25) Conserving Purebred Dogs(37:29) Collaboration Over Competition(43:40) Mentoring Young Breeders(44:34) Challenges Facing Borzoi(46:50) What Borzoi Breeders Should Improve(47:54) More Than Ribbons(49:17) The Elance Legacy(50:10) Chase Excellence, Don’t Settle(50:34) Breeders Worth Learning From(52:16) Where to Find Elance BorzoiThis episode is brought to you by: EZWhelp — https://www.ezwhelp.com/ Take Our Quiz: Build Your Whelping Setup in 60 SecondsWith additional support from: Ororo — https://www.ororowear.com/ Cherrybrook Pet Supplies — https://www.cherrybrook.com/ Revival Animal Health — https://www.revivalanimal.com/#PurebredDogs #BetterBreederChronicles #PreservationBreeder #ConservationBreeder #BreedStandard #AKCDogShows #Westminster #WestminsterDogShow #BestInShow #CherieHunchak #ElanceBorzoi #BorzoiDogs #BorzoiBreeder #BorzoiPedigree #BorzoiBloodlines

Robert Urban of Foxfire Black and Tan Coonhounds knows that great breeders build more than winning dogs. They build a kennel with a type, a philosophy, and a legacy.In this episode, Bob shares the lessons behind decades of breeding, showing, and working with Black and Tans, from the breed-founding mentors who shaped him to the dogs that defined Foxfire.You’ll hear:How Foxfire developed a recognizable breed typeWhy temperament should never be compromisedWhy breeders must be their own toughest criticsHow shrinking gene pools are changing breeding decisionsThe advice Bob believes every aspiring breeder needs to hearIt’s a candid conversation about breeding with purpose, learning from every litter, and making the hard decisions that create a lasting program.▶️ Watch the full episode and discover the story and philosophy behind Foxfire.Timestamps:(00:00) The realities of breeding(02:15) Getting started in dogs(07:30) Mentors who shaped Bob(12:21) Early breeding challenges(15:22) Building the Foxfire bloodline(17:25) Pedigrees and genetic diversity(19:40) The Foxfire ideal(22:24) Show dogs that can work(26:10) The dogs that built Foxfire(33:21) Today’s breeding challenges(36:27) Why breeders need to collaborate(39:25) How Bob’s breeding evolved(40:20) Be your own worst critic(44:24) What breeders should prioritize(46:27) The Foxfire legacy(48:08) Bob’s advice for breeders(50:52) Breeders Bob admires(52:00) Where to find BobThis episode is brought to you by:EZWhelp — https://www.ezwhelp.com/Take Our Quiz: Build Your Whelping Setup in 60 Seconds With additional support from:Ororo — https://www.ororowear.com/Cherrybrook Pet Supplies — https://www.cherrybrook.com/Revival Animal Health — https://www.revivalanimal.com/#PurebredDogs #BetterBreederChronicles #PreservationBreeder #ConservationBreeder #AKCDogShows #BestInShow #BreedStandards #MasterBreeders #BlackAndTanCoonhound #FoxfireCoonhounds #BobUrban #FoxfireBlackAndTanCoonhounds #CoonhoundBreeder

Sylvia Hammarstrom of Skansen Kennels has spent more than 70 years breeding, raising, and learning from Schnauzers. What began as a childhood passion in Sweden grew into a Giant Schnauzer breeding program that has produced close to 2,000 American champions.In this episode, Sylvia shares the experiences, dogs, and lessons that shaped Skansen, including:How working in European kennels shaped her as a breeder.What she looks for in the ideal Giant Schnauzer.The legendary dogs that shaped Skansen.Why health and temperament became more important than winning.What more than 70 years of breeding taught her about raising great, healthy dogs.At 87, Sylvia still spends hours at the kennel every day. Her advice to breeders after a lifetime with dogs is simple: listen to your dogs.Watch the full episode to discover Sylvia Hammarstrom’s remarkable story and the lessons behind Skansen Kennel.Timestamps:(00:00) Intro(02:24) Sylvia’s Early Love of Dogs(08:02) Learning from European Kennels(13:12) Lessons from Breeders and Handlers(15:50) From California Kennels to TWA(19:20) From Dobermans to Giant Schnauzers(24:29) Building the Skansen Breeding Program(26:44) Developing Her Ideal Giant Schnauzer(31:37) Breeding for the Perfect Family Pet(32:45) Breeding Strategies and European Bloodlines(35:08) Health, Exercise, and Conditioning(40:00) The Importance of Health and Character(45:06) Gentleman Thief and Other Dogs That Shaped Skansen(50:27) I Have a Dream and Skansen’s Successes(57:21) The Dogs Closest to Sylvia’s Ideal(59:47) Managing a Large Breeding Program(01:02:00) Sylvia’s Approach to Nutrition(01:08:02) Advice for Today’s Breeders(01:09:41) Breeding for Healthy, Happy Families(01:10:30) Sylvia’s Breeding Legacy(01:11:45) Listen to Your Dogs(01:18:01) Sylvia’s Advice and Reflections(01:19:46) Finding Skansen and Choosing the Right Puppy(01:21:23) Final ThoughtsThis episode is brought to you by:EZWhelp — https://www.ezwhelp.com/With additional support from:Ororo — https://www.ororowear.com/Cherrybrook Pet Supplies — https://www.cherrybrook.com/Revival Animal Health — https://www.revivalanimal.com/#PurebredDogs #BetterBreederChronicles #PreservationBreeder #ConservationBreeder #AKCDogShows #Westminster #WestminsterDogShow #WestminsterDogShowWinner #BestInShow #SylviaHammarstrom #Skansen #SkansenGiantSchnauzers #GiantSchnauzers #SchnauzerBreeder #GiantSchnauzerBreedStandard #GiantSchnauzerBloodlines #GiantSchnauzerBreeding

Great breeding programs are built on the mindset of the breeder behind them.In this episode of the Better Breeder Roundtable, Kathy Rust is joined by Jamie Hubbard (Clussexx Kennels) and Spenser Hardin (Longview Collies) to talk about how a breeder's mindset can either propel a program forward or quietly hold it back for years. Together, they explore what it really takes to think in generations rather than litters, how to overcome the “I'm just a little speck” feeling at the start, and why heart and head both have to be at the table when planning a breeding.Jamie and Spenser share how their own visions have matured over time, why co-breeding and networking have become essential in an era of smaller kennels, and how to stay grounded in your own vision when the ribbons pull in a different direction.Here's what this conversation covers:Overcoming the “little speck” mindset when starting outApproaching experienced breeders and nationals with confidenceBuilding a long-term vision that stays consistent across generationsBalancing heart and head when evaluating your own dogsWhy the biggest winners aren't always the strongest producersReproductive health, temperament, and numbers as part of the planBuilding male lines that truly earn their place in a breeding programNetworking, co-breeding, and elevating the breed by elevating othersThe truth about first litters and what makes them worth the effortWhether you're contemplating your first litter, refining your vision, or rethinking the direction of an established program, this episode offers a grounded, honest perspective on the mindset it takes to build something that lasts.Timestamps:(00:00) Intro(00:38) Welcome to the Better Breeder Roundtable(01:25) What Mindset Really Means in Breeding(02:30) You Are Not Just a Speck in the Sport(04:21) How to Approach Your First National(06:17) Getting Hands-On with Dogs and Studying the Standard(07:46) Why Judges' Education Isn't Just for Judges(09:57) Building a Long-Term Vision for Your Kennel(11:42) When Emotion Becomes the Killer of a Program(16:08) Thinking in Generations, Not Litters(18:41) Fixing the Overall Dog Before the Details(21:31) How Long Until You Truly Know Your Genepool(23:52) Making Progress with Small Numbers Through Co-Breeding(27:08) Don't Let Fads Distract from Your Vision(29:28) Measurable Strength vs. Ribbons(31:16) Why Reproductive Health Belongs in the Vision(35:46) Keep the Best Puppy(37:47) Breeding Littermates to Compare What They Produce(42:55) Why First Litters Are Rarely Good Enough(44:44) Building a Male Line With Purpose(49:12) Knowing When You've Found the Right Stud(52:21) Elevating Other Breeders Elevates Your Own Program(59:13) Handling Health Issues With an Open Book(01:02:09) Final TakeawaysThis episode is brought to you by:EZWhelp — https://www.ezwhelp.com/Take Our Quiz: Build Your Whelping Setup in 60 SecondsFollow the full Better Breeder Roundtable series here:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDjcPjyNN2ik#PreservationBreeder #ConservationBreeder #AKCDogShows #BetterBreederRoundtable #KathyRust #BreedStandard #BreederMindset #JamieHubbard #SpenserHardin #LongTermVision #BreedingProgram #BreedingDecisions #BreederEducation #ResponsibleBreeding #PurebredDogs