BREEDER’S FORUM with Kyle potts chihuahua
1. what are three characteristics critical in your breeding program? Legs, eyes and bite. Our breed has long been considered a “head breed” and I have often heard breeders or judges pro- claim that the Chihuahua is a Toy dog and was bred to sit on our laps, therefore the head is the most important asset. My response is that at some point in time, that dog has to get down off your lap and go to the food bowl or go outside to the yard. It must be able to move swiftly, alertly and with a saucy attitude as our standard calls for. 2. what dog that you have bred have you been most excited about? It would be a toss up between Gold GCH Flo-Davi ‘N Time- less Creating Havoc and Gold GCH Timeless N Cottondale Pink Champagne. “Havoc” has the most breathtaking side gait and stallion-like body of any dog I have bred. His reach and drive make him so very valuable to our breeding program. He has a stunning headpiece and perfect scissors bite, all attri- butes that I highly prize. Havoc has consistently produced those attributes in his offspring as well. “Pinky” never met a stranger in her life. She is the darling of her co-breeder and handler, Sharon Boyd, and is the center of the universe wher- ever she goes. Pinky absolutely drips in breed type and has the outstanding temperament that we strive for. Her saucy attitude just added to the lovely total package in the ring. 3. what are your thoughts on importing and exporting? Why not? I have formed a wonderful friendship and work- ing relationship with a Japanese breeder. He has sent quality dogs here for me to show and breed, and I have sent quality dogs to Japan for him to use in his breeding program as well. The place of birth of a dog makes no difference at all to me. If the quality is high, and the owners can afford to import/ export, good for them! 4. to date, what has been your high point as a breeder? Without a doubt, winning Best of Variety at the Chihuahua Club of America Nationals under Mr. Edd Bivin. I have the utmost respect for Mr. Bivin and his eye to judge a dog. Seeing his finger point at Pinky was my breeder’s dream come true. 5. what is your pet peeve in the show and breeding world? The overgrooming being done to the Chihuahuas in the ring today. I see dogs with shaved out ears, painted in mark- ings, darkened eye rims and noses and sculpted outlines. Our breed is to be trimmed to neaten only. Shaving out the ears does not make the ear appear larger, it simply points a
big screaming sign at the judge that says, “Look how small my ears are!” 6. do you inbreed, line breed or out- cross and why? I do all three. I don’t often inbreed, but when I do, it is after a total outcross, and if I have gotten a trait I would like to cement into my line, I will do a father to daughter or mother to son breeding to see if I can get what I am looking for. I always keep in mind that when I do that, I am doubling up on the possibility of bad traits as well. I like to line breed. I have two main lines that I can easily weave back and forth into my program right now and I am getting great results with that. 7. do you think your current standard is adequate? I do. I would like to see one line addressed in the propor- tion section. It clearly says that the body is to be off-square, slightly longer than tall. That should pertain to all Chihua- huas. However, our standard then goes into the next sentence that states, “Somewhat shorter bodies are preferred in males.” This has led many to interpret the standard as males should be square. 8. where do you house your dogs and whelp your bitches? In our home. We do not have a kennel facility and I like it that way. The dogs are always within earshot and view and I can easily see when something needs to be addressed. 9. at what age do you determine a puppy to be show quality? I begin evaluating at birth, make my initial decisions at 12 weeks and then my cuts at 16 weeks. I won’t guarantee a show puppy until it is 6 months old, permanent teeth are in and it’s ready for the show ring. Any puppy younger than 6 months can only be considered a show prospect or hopeful because we all know anything can happen. 10. what is the greatest health concern for your breed today? Two years ago I would have told you patellas or syringo- myelia were great concerns. Today I worry that we have an increasing number of Chihuahuas with heart murmurs and/ or heart disease showing up at a younger age than before. 11. if you were not involved with showing dogs, what would you do? I love to grow plants. At home, after a long hard day of work, my happy place is my greenhouse, fertilizing, water- ing, pruning and transplanting all my plants.
5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 4 &15&.#&3 t
Powered by FlippingBook