Today's Breeder - Issue 107 - 20

THE ATTRACTION OF
OPPOSITE DOG BREEDS
M
Most breeders profess that the joy of breeding lies in their passion for a particular
dog breed. Imagine adding a second breed, one that is polar opposite in size, temperament
or purpose. Today's Breeder interviewed breeders whose breed pairings offer a glimpse
of how contrasting breeds may complement each another.
ost lazy summer afternoons at
Dick and Kendall Herr's house
Border Terrier " Fendi "
(CH Dickendall Spensive)
romps with a Labrador
Retriever puppy.
at Main River Ranch in Gainesville, Texas,
a boisterous bunch of Labrador Retriever
show dogs and their sidekick Border Terriers
are taken out for a pond swim to cool off.
Border Terriers " Fred " (GCH Fred CD BN
RE SE CA TKA) and his mom, " BB " (Dickendall
Copperstill Blueberry Buckle JE), wear orange
life vests so they bob up should they get kicked
under the water by the strong-swimming
Labrador Retrievers.
" Labrador Retrievers have amazing temBest
friends taking a
pond swim are Labrador
Retriever " Heath " and
Border Terrier " Fred. "
perament and are so biddable, " says Kendall,
who began with the most popular breed in
the country 58 years ago and with Border
Terriers 48 years ago. " Labradors are devoted,
always seem to know what you are thinking,
and are easy to live with. Border Terriers are
pretty much the same, except they have a
little more energy. "
When Dick and Kendall got their first
Labrador Retriever, a black female named
" Hobie, " in 1964, they were seeking a companion
and duck hunting dog for Dick. Living at
Willow Brook Farms in Catasauqua, Pennsylvania,
where Dick was the stallion manager,
they fell in love with Hobie and were sold on
the breed's A-list virtues.
Their start as breeders of Labrador Retrievers
under the Dickendall prefix - a combination of
their first names - was inspired by a neighbor,
Margaret Crothers. She had advertised in the
newspaper a litter sired by ENG/AM CH
Sandylands Midas WC from the famous Sandylands'
kennel of Gwen Broadley in the U.K.
" Margaret's Labradors were really pretty,
and I ended up buying my first show puppy,
Gairloch's Sandy Leo, " Kendall says. " She
encouraged me to attend obedience class,
and that eventually led me to showing in
obedience and conformation. While 'Leo' did
20 | ISSUE 107
https://www.dickendall.com/
Today's Breeder - Issue 107

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Today's Breeder - Issue 107
