The Wolfhounds are absolutely thrilled with the colder weather and the little dogs just hang out in the house. Fortunately, the AmStaff did not embarrass her. We will celebrate our 55th wedding anniversary this coming April 23rd. Limerick Irish Wolfhounds | Linda Souza: Our breeding philosophy was always to practice limited breeding with the highest quality possible and with consistent results, because we do not want to feel like we are exploiting these wonderful animals in any way. Although Allan Reznik has worn many hats in the dog show world over the past 50 years, he is probably best known as an award-winning journalist and broadcaster. I was smitten with the breed from pictures I had seen. Its perfect, and the dogs love sleeping there at night in their Kuranda dog beds with cushy pads. We grew together, always sharing the same goals in life. You can create a Wolfhound with lots of bone and substance, but he or she still needs to be able to move actively and easily with some enthusiasm! Purebred Irish Wolfhounds Breeder Linda Souza Limerick Irish Wolfhounds interview by Allan Reznik. It has been a serious concern of mine ever since the Internet and social media have come into the picture. Finally, tell us a little about Linda outside of dogs your profession, your hobbies. The Limerick Irish Wolfhounds are widely known, highly successful and well respected. We have campaigned many dogs to the Number One ranking in the country during the past 50 years and mentored both owners and the public about our breed while waiting all day for Group competition. The duplex was owned by my husbands parents and this is where my friendship blossomed with my mother-in-law, Janet Souza. In return, they have given us love, devotion, and joy beyond all description. For the few serious, quality breeders we have in this country, I feel our breed is in fine condition. It turns out that 1975 was a very special year for my husband and me. We have an 80 x 80 airplane hangar where they sleep at night. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. We know how important the tail female line is in breeding, but we lost our tail female line about 14 years ago (the risk of doing limited breeding). Limerick Irish Wolfhounds | Linda Souza: The sport has become very competitive and very expensive. We were informed by my doctor in May that we had a baby coming in December. We have also owner-handled three different related Wolfhound males to all-breed Bests in Show. In 2019, I was knocked off my chair at the Purina Pro Plan & Dog News Show Dogs of the Year gala dinner in New York when they announced I had won the Owner Handler of the Year Award, which is voted on by your peersanother night I will never forget. Do You Believe Your Dog Is Entitled to Win ? They exercise so much more willingly here. He takes fantastic care of the dogs when Im on the road for dog shows. The Wolfhounds think they died and went to heaven with the cold temps and snow. We are loving our new home in Idaho (yes even the average snowfall of 100 inches per year). My biggest concern for our breed is that we have too many Internet breeders who have a negative impact on some of the poor people getting their first hounds. How many Showsight Magazine's Allan Reznik talks with Margaret Peat of Pramada Dachshunds, on her history From the September 2019 Issue of ShowSight. Janet enjoyed showing Roaree for about a year when she realized she kept going Best of Opposite with her beautiful, smaller bitch. We lived there for eight years, then moved into the second, larger home that we built in June 1984. Im fortunate to have a daughter and two granddaughters who are committed to carrying on the Limerick legacy, but these situations are few and far between. We had no idea how lucky we were with that first delivery. He is also a dog lover but is not interested in attending dog shows. This is how Im trying to help continue to bring our breed forward even though I am no longer breeding under my roof. There was lots of ugly crying from me that night! By 1971, Janet decided she liked watching the Irish Wolfhounds at the dog shows because of their calm demeanor and commanding size. Kaelyn Gabardine of Limerick, Ch. In 2013, the AKC awarded us Hound Group Breeders of the Year. Limerick Irish Wolfhounds | Linda Souza: I have very little life outside of my dogs, my family, my dog friends, and my wonderful husband, Cliff. We also broke ground on the first of two houses we built in bucolic Woodside, California. We married after high school graduation in 1967. All four publications received national honors from the Dog Writers Association of America while under his stewardship.Reznik appears regularly on national TV and radio to discuss the dog show sport as well as all aspects of responsible animal ownership.He has bred and shown champion Afghan Hounds, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Tibetan Spaniels. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Aramedia Group Inc. All during the past 50 years, we showed our Irish Wolfhounds consistently and bred our dogs infrequently. We still miss her very much. We also feel it is best to not let your numbers get out of control with this giant breed. Janet also had a Chihuahua, Poms, and a Miniature Poodle while she was raising her three children. Click to subscribe. He was sired by the 1967 IWCA National Specialty winner, Irish import Ch. Taryn Tate of Limerick SC, GCH Cash of Limerick, GCHG Limerick Frosty the Showman, and most recently, GCHG Khaleesis Drogon of the Seven Kingdoms. She then decided that instead of trying to find a male to buy, she would breed her own male to show. We have always taken the choosing of stud dogs very seriously, never taking shortcuts to save money, and it paid off. We run the Wolfhounds in pairs, boy/girl. The duplex had a fenced yard and I immediately wanted to get an Old English Sheepdog. Janet was still alive to attend Orlando with us and receive the honor, since she was the one who started it alla night we will never forget. She will be set to do some great breedings down the road. It is a joy to see my protgs having success with their breedings in the whelping box and in the show ring from my breeding guidance. Breeding Wolfhounds has also become extremely costly and it is difficult to find young people who want to put in the time and have the passion, patience, and finances to breed IWs. He was the Editor-in-Chief ofDogs in Canada, Dog World, Dog FancyandDogs in Reviewmagazines. Janet and Suzanne became the dearest of friends. Required fields are marked *. He is my live-in dog sitter when I attend dog shows. Janet was a dog lover all her life, but was never allowed to have a dog until she left home. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. She was pure luck for us and lived to be eight years old, with a temperament to die for. Hence, Limerick became our kennel name. How do we encourage newcomers to join us and remain in the sport? This was the same year the Old English came into my life and we were all living next door to each other. The little dogs have a doggie door which goes out to a covered area with faux grass. Janet passed in 2016 at the age of 89. We have survived nicely using our male line instead as the emphasis in our breeding selections. They spend all day out in the paddocks, with short visits in the house (they must stay out to get adequate exercise) unless the weather becomes too harsh. We have two large running paddocks, for the Wolfhounds. She is already AKC approved for Irish Wolfhounds, Whippets, Afghans, Salukis, and Junior Showmanship. Where do you see your breeding program in the next decade or two? Both have covered areas for them to get out of bad weather. Limerick Irish Wolfhounds | Linda Souza: Our most significant mentor in Irish Wolfhounds was Suzanne Tierney McCombs (Destiny Irish Wolfhounds). She has already judged in several countries besides the US, including Australia, Wales, and Italy. We have given our lives to promoting, protecting, and improving the quality and health of our magnificent breed. Who were your mentors in the sport? Hopefully that will be way off in the future. This is why the all-breed shows are so important, because the public often attends these shows. I have not bred a litter in nine years, but I mentor a wonderful village of people who are passionate about our breed and are willing to listen, learn, and take my suggestions in order to breed better Wolfhounds. I will continue my mentoring until I am unable. That could turn into a coursing event if the little dogs start running in the wide, open spaces! Some are not doing preliminary health checks or supporting the new owners properly when issues arise with their puppies. Do You Give Up Just When Youre About to Succeed ? In 1973, Roaree produced her one and only litter of 12 puppies, free-whelped. The Limerick in her registered name did not refer to an Irish kennel name but rather to her place of birth in Limerick County, Ireland. We have also won many, many BOBs at regional specialties around the country. We always got a kick out of that story, but it was actually a sign of things to come. Limerick Irish Wolfhounds | Linda Souza: Our breeding program is with my daughter, Jamie, who has plans to start breeding under her roof in the years to come when she is permanently living in Wyoming. Roaree of Limerick. Roaree of Limerick, Ch. Suzanne had some lovely dogs, good breeding instincts, and a fantastic eye for a wonderful dog. My husband fully retired in 2012 and I retired in 2008. Its the perfect place for them. Dog Show Handling Classes Can Make or Break the Owner Handler, ADWERA Rhodesian Ridgebacks | Breeder/Owner Handler Deborah Ahern-Ridlon, The Owner Handler Jamie Riley Purebred Great Dane Dog Breed, Considering a New Dog Breed From a Judges Perspective. He was 16. What are your thoughts on the state of the fancy and the declining numbers of breeders? Submit an Advertisement to Showsight Magazine, Breeder Interview: Christine Nethery, Boxwood Poodles. Grianan Ladd of Limerick, Ch. They were the only wildcard team to advance this We started out in an apartment in San Bruno and then moved to a duplex in Millbrae, the next town south. Showsight may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. My dear friend, Bill McFadden, was the MC that night. After the obedience competition had ended, we drifted over to see what this thing called conformation was all about. Our daughter Jamie arrived at Stanford University Hospital in December 1975 and we moved her into the first Woodside home in February 1976. She was far from a big girl but about as perfect as we could have asked for as a foundation bitch. My hobbies are mentoring my village of enthusiastic and passionate Wolfhound people, and following football. We challenged ourselves to put as few puppies as possible on the ground with the highest possible consistency of quality. Halle of Limerick, and Ch. The bitch had already been registered and named by the breeder in Ireland. I grew up in Brooklyn, New York, on Interview with Working Group Breeder Angela Ferrari - Where do I live? As luck would have it, Janet found an 18-month-old Irish import bitch with 10 points, including one major, owned by an attorney in Santa Rosa. She was Roaree of Limerick, and Janet took possession of her at the Santa Clara Valley Kennel Club in February 1972, exactly 50 years ago. Im very proud to say that I think we were very successful in this effort. Ballykelly Colin, bred by Sheelagh Seale and owned by Mrs. H. Sheppard Musson. Please elaborate on their influence. Noinin Cnoc Noll of Limerick, Ch. Many hours were spent assessing dogs and their pedigrees. The second home in Jackson is only 35 miles from our new home in Idaho. She is 27 years younger than me, so she and her daughters who are coming up behind her have many more years to continue our line. These are not acceptable practices if you are representing yourself as a breeder of integrity. They spend all their summers and holidays there, so we felt we wanted to spend that time near them. We were thrilled. I can also use the hangar during the day if the weather turns too harsh. Each issue reaches a global audience dedicated to preserving the history and health of purpose bred dogs. UrLimerick of Kilmara, Ch. She began an extensive search for a grown bitch because she had already learned that purchasing a puppy for show came with risk and it might not turn out. I never had any interest in becoming a judge, but Jamie loves judging. His wife decided she didnt want that big dirty dog in her house anymore. We have had many amazing breeders over the years producing beautiful Wolfhounds. We were so happy he chose the wife over the dog and we got the dog. ENCOURAGE them! Our very first breeding was to a handsomemale who resided with her. Also, my beautiful granddaughters, Ella and Tatum, are handling dogs whenever they get a chance and are becoming quite proficient presenting many different breeds, including Wolfhounds, at 16 and 13 years old. The top producers from these males, so far, are Ladd, UrLimerick of Kilmara (Ricky), and Tate, totaling close to 100 champions among the three boys. Limerick Irish Wolfhounds | Linda Souza: Some of our most significant winning dogs in the show ring have been Ch. Did you come from a doggie family? The hangar is fully insulated and heated. And no fleas or foxtails! I have good semen stored for Jamie from all of our best dogs and from some fantastic out-blood. Limerick Irish Wolfhounds | Linda Souza: We currently house two Irish Wolfhound males and two Irish Wolfhound bitches, a 15- year-old Whippet, an 11-year-old Cavalier, and a 5-year-old Frenchie. We have spent thousands of hours over the years answering questions from the public. What breeding philosophies do you adhere to? Limerick Irish Wolfhounds | Linda Souza: I was born on the peninsula south of San Francisco in San Mateo, California, in 1948 and grew up in the suburban city of San Bruno, between San Mateo and San Francisco. My father was from Richmond, Virginia, and my mother was from San Diego, California. We could not imagine life without them. She was raised by her grandmother in a small house in San Francisco. Where did you grow up? Limerick Jingle All the Way. And so it began. We sold that house after Jamie went off to UC Berkeley, and my husband and I decided to downsize and move south of San Jose into San Martin, where we resided for 24 years. There were only three puppies in the litter and he was the only male. My fear is that we are all aging, and I dont feel we have enough new people coming up with the passion and finances it takes to advance our breed. Our best producers in the whelping box were Ch. Cliff and his mom surprised me with a puppy on my 20th birthday. Every toy-breed lover agrees: TNT Magazine is THE PLACE for the Toy dogs. We need to nurture and mentor young people who have passion for our breed, and help them in any way we can. She was two months old. Where did you grow Wayne Ferguson: We had dogs growing up for as long as I can remember, Showsight Magazinethe world's most influential purebred dog publication since 1992. We have bred, owned, and handled National Specialty BOB and BOS recipients, and one of our dogs sired the BOB winner at the largest IWCA National ever (close to 500 Wolfhounds entered) in 1995. Shaw of Limerick, Ch. They hated the triple-digit heat of the California summers. These bitches produced 19 champions all together, only having one litter each. year! The altitude is 6,200 feet. In April 2020, because of COVID, my daughter Jamie and her husband (of 17 years), Will Bartlett, purchased a second home in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to get their three children out of San Francisco until they could return to the classroom. We moved to Driggs, Idaho, in June of 2021. This was just as thrilling and gratifying for me as it was for them. He is currently an approved AKC judge of all three breeds, as well as a provisional/permit judge of 11 additional breeds. One of the couples I have been mentoring over the last eight years whelped their first litter in 2017 and produced the Number One IW in the country, breed and all-breed competition, for the past three years. In June of 2021, we left California and moved to 10 acres in the Teton Valley on the eastern border of Idaho/western border of Wyoming. Woohoo! We house our vehicles there along with a Cessna and big dogs! No question should be considered ignorant. I retired in 2008 from a family business, owned by my sister and her husband. Also, we have a lot of foreign dogs being exported to the US with no vetting of the homes here. We had also had some minimal mentoring from Renee Poston of the Apple Arbor Kennels in Santa Rosa. She was actually the agent for the purchase of our first Irish Wolfhound, Ch. ANYONE showing genuine interest in our breed should be welcomed with open arms. We have been blessed with some particularly good-producing males over the years, but we have also imported semen to bring in some different blood which is something we will continue to do. We always kept a puppy from every litter, so we only bred on the average of once every three years or so. Limerick Irish Wolfhounds | Linda Souza: I feel the only place you can assess the current condition of your breed is at a National Specialty where you have a large entry and a cross-section of dogs. He was then 20 and I was 18. The sport has changed greatly since you first began participating. The Internet can be very good for sharing information, but it is not good because of the ease of selling puppies indiscriminately and not taking responsibility.

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