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take advantage of a great home that may have presented itself. In short, the balancing act of selection for us and for the handlers is our biggest challenge. Harding: Ah, meeting all my “requirements” and those of the future owners is the biggest challenge! Everyone wants the perfect dog for themselves be it in the family pet arena or the top agility dog arena; and as a breeder, I want to produce the perfect dog for them. Temperament, health, looks, and so on are what I strive for, and meeting that demand can be tough. That dogs turn out to be a reflection of their upbringing and their owners can also be frustrating. The resultant dog is normally a balance of their genetics and their upbringing (they are a result of what we put into them) and I include myself in that! Moureaux: I’m not sure that there are any really difficult challenges. It takes some effort and diligence to screen potential owners and also to stay on top of the health concerns of the breed. I enjoy breeding and raising puppies and any challenges are outweighed by the fun I have when I get to see my pups when they are grown up. It’s always a treat to see the owners and the Contact Point BCs at local and national events. I’m proud of all of my grand-pups. MacVicar: One of the major challenges is understanding the risks involved for the mother and puppies when undertaking a breeding. The actual breeding, pregnancy, whelping, and

eight-week puppy growth period incurs daily risks. Seldom does the whole breeding/whelping process go perfectly. Having a mentor, a great vet, and lots of pre-planning for the unexpected is necessary. Whitney: There are lots of challenges, from trying to find just the right match between dogs, to finding just the right match between pup and person. I think the biggest challenge for me is dealing with expectations. No matter how much people say they understand, it’s been my experience that people think that there really is a perfect dog out there. No matter how well you plan, there is an element of randomness and unpredictability in breeding animals. All dogs have faults, which can (and should) provide an opportunity for learning and growth as a trainer and handler. remember... Our panel of breeders has seen hundreds of puppies grow up to be wonderful agility competitors. But Nina Plail has an important reminder for agility enthusiasts: “As you look for your next agility partner, do not lose sight of why you started this sport in the first place: because you loved your dog and wanted to do more with him. If you get to the point where you want to push your dog aside for a faster, better model, please think twice. Life is short, love is rare. Don’t throw it away to win a ribbon at a dog show.” D

Brenna Fender is a freelance writer with an undergraduate degree in mass communications and a masters degree in elementary education. She lives with her husband, two young children, a Whippet, a Papillon, and a Beagle. Over the years, Brenna and her dogs have earned titles in agility, obedience, conformation, hunting, rally, and lure coursing. The husband and children are far less impressively titled. Contact her at BrennaFender@gmail.com.

March 11

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Clean Run - March 2011

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