Join us for an interview series where we get to know some of our most successful breeder-owner-handlers in purebred dogs.

How did you get started in the sport of purebred dogs, and did you have any mentors? 

In 1987 I purchased a Pet quality Min Pin and read about obedience training.  Took her to a class thinking it was Obedience and turned out to be Conformation.  She had a great time and even got a Group 2 in a match.  I met some nice people who encouraged me to enter regular shows.  Although she (Taffy) was pointed, I quickly noticed she was not up to par with the competition.  I was smitten with the shows, so began my search for my first show quality min pin and read everything available about the breed and breeders.  Eventually, I was so lucky to hook up with one of the top Min Pin breeders ever, Ann Dutton (Sanbrook Min Pins).  I waited a year to get a puppy from her, meanwhile spent lots of time helping and learning from her.  She was the best mentor ever as she shared her knowledge and encouraged me always to develop my own vision with her guidance. My first show dog from Ann was Ch Sanbrook Silk Electric who ended up WD & BOW as a puppy at the MPCA National, and proceeded to win Best Of Breed at the National 3 times!  I had the best mentor, unlike many other knowledgeable people who want to dictate to those new and learning, rather than share knowledge and enourage learning and decision making.

What dog has been most influential in your breeding program? Was this dog campaigned past its CH or did it find future success in the whelping box?

There have been quite a few, starting with my own Ch Sanbrook Silk Electric who sired 75 champions, his daughter who was my foundation bitch Ch Sanbrook Swept Away (produced 9 quality champions), my first homebred bitch Ch Marlex Electra Madness (produced 10 quality champions).  Other Sires of distinction I have used were Ch Carlee Nubby Silk (118 champions), Ch Redwing’s On the Cutting Edge (47+ champions and I credit him for complementing my program with better lift & bend), my Ch Pevenseys Wild N Bold ROM, Ch Altanero Barnstormer ROM, Ch Marlex Mariachi ROM, BIS BISS Ch Marlex Mister Chips ROM, and many other quality sires bred by others and/or by me.  I always bred my bitches to the dog who I thought best complemented her in both phenotype and genotype, regardless of who the owner was (afterall, not breeding to the owner).

Do you show your dogs yourself or do you use a handler? Do you place puppies in show homes? 

I have been a breeder/owner/handler from the start.  I have been able to maintain a quite successful breeding program with limited number of dogs and limited breedings.  My focus on quality and not breeding for convenience has proven to be the right approach for me.  From time to time, I do have show puppies available to fully vetted Min Pin show people and friends.  I always ask myself before a breeding if I am ready to keep all puppies if right homes don’t come along.  If the answer is yes, then I go for it.  Otherwise, if you breed a lot without a vetted wait list, you may be overwhelmed with puppies and make the mistake to lower your vetting standards, selling to lesser quality homes.   .

Do you use limited registrations? If so, would you change anything about it? 

 Yes I use Limited Registration for any Pet Quality min pin who should not be shown and/or bred.  This designation should remain under the sole control of the Breeder, period.

 Tell us about your favorite win or memory in the sport of dogs.

There are so many memorable wins & recognition spanning 37 years active in the Breed.  Of special significance as a Breeder & Exhibitor is holding the record for the Most MPCA National Specialty Wins with 15 Annual National BISS wins!  At individual dog level, no other Min Pin in the world surpasses our “Classie” (GCHP Marlex Classic Red Glare) who is the Top Winning Min Pin of All Time with 133 Best In Shows, and was the Top Winning Toy Dog of All Time as well, holding that title for 11 ½ years until a couple of months ago when Luke’s Shih Tzu broker her toy record.  Classie made history at all levels, including the whelping box, having whelped 7 puppies, all quality champions, including her last daughter Fina (GCHP Marlex Classy Finale) who won the National Specialty twice and was a multi BIS winner herself.   Classie gave us (Leah Monte, breeder Carole Rio and I) a ride of a lifetime.

 What advice would you give to someone else in the sport?

I so enjoy meeting a serious newcomer who loves the Breed, is eager to learn and welcome sharing of knowledge.  For these people, I do whatever is necessary to help them succeed in Min Pins.  We must nurture and encourage the future protectors of the Breed.  Unfortunately, many of the youth today just want to win and not necessarily learn about the history of the breed, the intricacies of dissecting the Breed Standard and its application to breeding and showing.  But there are always Gems, and one must encourage and support them.

As to specific advice, seek advice and observe the breeders and handlers/owners who have a track record of success in the whelping box and in the ring.  Those are the ones to seek advice from and/or observe.  If you find a mentor or someone giving advice and they infer that only their own dogs are the good ones and all others lack quality, walk away or better yet, run away from those folks.  You’re not going to learn anything from them.

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Posted by Liz on Dec 20 2025. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.