BREEDER’S FORUM with MICHELLE HEROD CHIHUAHUA
1. TELL US THREE CONFORMATION CHARACTERISTICS YOU CONSIDER CRITICAL IN YOUR BREEDING PROGRAM. I have to have good patellas, a good head and a good top line and tail set. Patellas, are imperative for our little dogs to move swiftly, correctly and painlessly. A good head, which I feel is the hallmark of the breed and a correctly placed and carried tail on a solid top line creates a picture of a Chihua- hua for me. 2. WHAT DOG THAT YOU HAVE BRED HAVE YOU BEEN MOST EXCITED ABOUT AND WHY? I have had several, but today it has to be my H&H Hotrod. He is a true showman, a great representative of the breed, he is kind, he is well trained and he is proud and confident and his overall carriage is impeccable. 3. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON IMPORTING AND EXPORTING? I think it is good to import and export—keeps the blood- line stronger through diversity. 4. TO DATE, WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR HIGH POINT AS A BREEDER? Training, showing and handling my own bred-by dog to a top position. It is an accomplishment that has taken years to achieve and I am grateful to all who have helped me get to this point. 5. WHAT IS YOUR PET PEEVE IN THE SHOW/BREEDING WORLD? Negativity and complaining about things. I think we all need to be more humble and kind. 6. IS THERE A GROOMING SECRET YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE? I try to do as little as possible to have the dog looks its best. I love to tell people that Chihuahuas are a wash and go kind of dog, and truly I believe they are. 7. DO YOU INBREED, LINE BREED OR OUTCROSS AND WHY? I have done all three. I have found, through experience, that in order to produce a set type of dog in size, head, bite, body structure, color etc., it can take several years to get what you want and by line breeding you can gain consistency, by out crossing a line bred dog you can improve on specific qual- ities and by inbreeding you can set a type that may be present phenotypically, but not genotypically.
“I LOVE TO TELL PEOPLE THAT CHIHUAHUAS ARE A WASH AND GO KIND OF DOG, AND TRULY I BELIEVE THEY ARE.”
8. DO YOU THINK YOUR CURRENT STANDARD IS ADEQUATE?
I think our standard is like a great canvas to aid in creat- ing a beautiful Chihuahua portrait. The decision to have blue eyes as a serious fault seems inadequate as it does not allow for all our dogs that are of blue shading or merle marked to have a fair chance in the show ring. 9. WHERE DO YOU HOUSE YOUR DOGS AND WHELP YOUR BITCHES? Our bitches are whelped in our bedroom. All of our dogs live in our home. All dogs have access inside to a bedroom or enclosed patio and outside access to a grassy run during the day and at night are locked safely inside. 10. AT WHAT AGE DO YOU DETERMINE A PUPPY TO BE SHOW QUALITY? It is a process, but I generally know by about 12 to 16 weeks. 11. WHAT IS THE GREATEST HEALTH CONCERN FOR YOUR BREED TODAY? Chihuahuas are an overall very healthy breed. I think there greatest health concern is decaying teeth and risk of heart problems when the teeth are not taken care of properly. 12. IF YOU WERE NOT INVOLVED WITH SHOWING DOGS, WHAT WOULD YOU DO? When I am not showing dogs, I am raising, training and showing my Arabian horses and enjoying my time on H&H ranch with my husband.
70 • T op N otch T oys , O ctober 2016
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