REPLICATING LARGE KENNEL BREEDING PROGRAMS

by Julie Brown and Lynnel Jones in consultation with Jane Yates

Pat Trotter sets the scene:  "For centuries, great kennels of the world developed quality lines of dogs and provided foundation stock for generations of dog breeders who followed them….  Because of their expertise in (the) selection of breeding stock and their ability to house large numbers of dogs, knowledgeable owners were able to develop quality lines of dogs…lines that could be depended upon to breed true.  The great improvement seen in numerous breeds during the first half of the 20th century was a fitting testimonial to the positive influence of  (these kennels).  AKC Gazette Mar. 2005, p.20

Peter Green states the problem:  "To be successful and continue breeding good dogs you have to have enough numbers of dogs, and you have to breed numbers of litters each year.  Nowadays not only is it difficult financially to keep enough dogs to produce a good supply of puppies all the time, but everything discourages you from doing it - the local authorities discourage you from having a large kennel of dogs, and if you do, the breed clubs will say you're a puppy mill - so I don't know where it's all going to end up.  It's all beyond me." Dogs In Review" Feb./Mar. 2006 p. 166.

Pat Trotter suggests a solution:  "…replicate the role once assumed by large kennels…(with) a massive cooperative effort on the part of dedicated breeders." p. 21
Trotter notes that this approach has in fact been used successfully by Bulldog and Otterhound breeders.  It has also been successfully used for nearly twenty years by the authors of this article.  As "newbies" in Bullmastiffs, it didn't take long for Julie Brown, Lynnel Jones and Jane Yates to realize breeders who wanted to work cooperatively for breed betterment were scarce and the national organization quick to brand people with emerging breeding programs "puppy millers".  

Julie Brown tells a part of our cooperative story:  Little did I know when I called Lynnel in response to a Dog World ad, looking for a Bullmastiff, this would be the start of a wonderful adventure. I told her I had been breeding and showing various breeds for years and I was now looking for a show dog. Actually Lynnel was the only breeder I contacted who made time for me, who answered my questions and asked me what characteristics were important to me. She suggested a pick puppy out of Andalusias Last Laugh and a bitch, Andalusias I'm Ms Twinkleton, sold as a pup to her handler/friend Jane Yates. Over the next several weeks Lynnel and I exchanged calls and I received some photos. When Major arrived early in 1993 I was thrilled. His conformation and temperament were superb.  Actually I was quite surprised; he was so much nicer then the puppies I had seen from local breeders. I couldn't wait to get him into the show ring. 
Major's first show came just after he turned 6 months; he went Winners Dog and Best Of Breed over Specials for a 4 point major. The funny thing was some of the breeders at ring side who had been so nice to me and complimentary to Major before his win were not so nice to me after it -- or ever again. Although there are a few breeders who have remained friendly over the years, my experience is this is a rarity. But that kind of jealousy has never bothered me. The way I see it, these aren't the type of people I want to be around anyway. 

Lynnel and I kept in contact as I continued to show Major. He and I traveled to Canada where we had equal success in the ring. Ultimately Major was triple-titled, obtaining American, Canadian and International championships. 

In 1994 I again called on Lynnel, this time looking for a bitch. Although Jazmin didn't turn out to be a "show girl", she produced several champions and was a foundation bitch for me. In subsequent years the breeding relationship between Raintree and Andalusia grew as we traded a number of puppies. In 1996 Lynnel sent me my next stud dog AM/CAN/INT'L Champion Andalusias Lars Of Raintree. Lars was out of her British import Lombardy Red Rose. Lars, a totally different looking dog then Major, did just as well in the ring as well as giving me more genetic diversity. 

Beginning in 1992 Lynnel and I had frequently spoken on the phone and written letters but our friendship really jumped forward when I visited her in Philadelphia in1998.  We had a great time; it was so nice to see all her dogs, talk about what we had learned and deepen a growing friendship that would be tested in the coming years.  The first test came from a fellow breeder in Canada who both Lynnel and I had done business with. Jealous of our friendship and growing success in the breed, she did her best to break us up through a campaign of lies.  It didn't work; in fact Lynnel and I had more then a few laughs over the whole situation.  

Unlike the Canadian breeder, both of us have consistently gone out of our way to help puppy buyers/incipient breeders get a start in the Bullmastiff world. I've heard the average for most newbies to this breeding is 5 years before packing it in. Why so short?  Although breeding Bullmastiff puppies and selling them for $2,000 may seem both lucrative and easy, we know in actuality breeding is expensive, physically and mentally demanding and too often heartbreaking.  It's easy for people new to the breed to be influenced by folks who don't necessarily have their best interest at heart - or people who just flat out don't know what they're talking about.  We are always sad for these newbies - and especially sad for their dogs - when poor choices are made.  

Now with more than 40 years of combined experience between us, Raintree and Andalusia have moved through the imports, the outcrosses, the generations, the feeding and health care programs and are reaping - and passing on -- the benefits:  health and longevity are improving before our eyes; structure and soundness are well established.  We're at - or darn close to -- breeding our idea of The Ideal Bullmastiff.  Of course it's particularly devastating when buyers don't follow up on health and rearing practices we know work and our puppies suffer as a result.  That has always been much harder to take than the ego stuff like show dogs sitting in someone's back yard, politics in the ring, bashing on the internet, judges who've enhanced their employability by casually picking up Bullmastiffs and people we've helped who suddenly don't know us.

Although, like any people working together for many years, we've had disagreements and misunderstandings, our common joys and struggles and our commitment to the breed have kept us going.  We've seen each other through children growing up and on and marriages beginning and ending. Our friendship has only become stronger. There have been so many benefits.  Within the breed, we have encountered and resolved so many problems. Together we have puzzled our way through sick puppies, genetic anomalies, difficult buyers, computer pedigree programs and the rise of inter net websites. We share a friendship and a working relationship that is rare and precious. 

Lynnel adds her two cents worth:

	When Julie sent me CH Raintree Andlusa Shinin' Thru, "Trooper", I instantly fell in love!  Currently we have pups from the seventh generation of "the shine line" and are still celebrating Trooper's soundness, her gorgeous head and her spectacular personality.  Julie and I now have the privilege of helping Heidi and Kas McManus of Kilronan Bullmastiffs use the line as part of their own emergent breeding program. Jane Yates of Luck's Kennels is also involved in that endeavor.  Her CH Luck's Infinit Venture is the sire of my young brindle out of Trooper's line, Andalusias Smarty Jones, who Kas and Heidi plan to use in their breeding program.  
	Last fall Raintree N Andalusias MixMaster, "Whipper", a long planned-for boy out of CH Andalusias Raintrees Glint and Raintree's Just Plain Fancy, arrived at Andalusia.  Also out of Trooper's "shine line" on his sire side, Whipper is everything we'd hoped for and more!  Jane Yates, one of his co-owners, will lend her prodigious handling skills to further Whipper's breed ring carrier and if all goes well with him also as a special.  At about the same time "Whipper" made the flight from Seattle to Pennsylvania, two pups went from here to Raintree to diversity the Raintree gene pool and expedite the incorporation of my recent outcrosses into our co-operative breeding programs.
	Jane Yates and Andalusia have breed together for over 20 years.  I treasure not only the dogs we've shared and her handling talent but also her knowledge of structure and movement.  She is so wonderfully willing to share her dogs, her knowledge and her skills - whether via pictures and instructions on the internet, showing dogs or making the long trek from southern Virginia to the Pocono's. 
	Of course not every relationship works long haul or meets all of anyone's needs. I can't believe it worked any differently in the big kennels of old. But then life is a lot about taking what you can get and making the best of it! For example my relationship with Sarah Lewis of Crane Creek Bullmastiffs was one of mentoring on my part and sharing dogs.  Although the personal relationship has not survived, I am tremendously grateful for the two Crane Creek dogs I own. Unlike what Julie and I recently determined is 90% of the dogs we've tried to bring into the breeding program, the son and daughter I own out of Sarah's Lucky Jade and Andalusias Sirius Star, are sound, healthy, stable Bullmastiffs who have made significant contributions to our breeding programs.  

As with every outcross we incorporate, Raintree, Luck and Andalusia continue to work with the good and strive to eliminate the not-so-good.  Because we share the belief that not every dog in our kennels needs to be in the ring, or dragged around until it finishes, we can expedited and enhance the incorporation process.  We hope that the Bullmastiff breed will be (and perhaps is now being) enhanced by long standing cooperative endeavors like ours.  We see it as the best alternative to the quandaries Pat Trotter and Peter Green - and many other experienced dog people - so skillfully bring to the attention of the canine community.