Better Breeder Chronicles

Erin Kerfoot of Wynmoor English Springer Spaniels built her small kennel into one with a big legacy, and some of her best decisions meant trusting her eye when others disagreed. In this episode, Erin joins Host Matt Stelter to share her journey from junior showmanship success, to the mentors who shaped her breeding philosophy, and the choices behind generations of distinctive, versatile Springers....

David Samuelson of Dashing Whippets chose to start over rather than continue with a line with a serious health issue. In this episode, David joins Matt Stelter to share how that decision, using strong female lines, and building lasting partnerships shaped his breeding program. From discovering the thrill of racing to living with 5 Best in Show winners, his story centers on preserving everything a...

Linebreeding is one of the oldest tools in dog breeding for establishing and maintaining quality, but many people misunderstand it as simply breeding related dogs. In this episode, Kathy Rust is joined by Andrea Jordan-Lane (Jordean Brittanys), Lexa Richmond (Hialeah Dachshunds), and Lisa Braun (Mischief Papillons & Miniature American Shepherds) to discuss how intentional linebreeding can help...

Jessica MacMillan of Paisley Dalmatians has spent a lifetime building a breeding legacy spanning 13 generations. In this episode, Jessica shares the defining decisions, painful setbacks, and uncompromising standards that made Paisley an influential name in the Dalmatian world. You’ll discover: The crucial difference between a showable dog and one that should be bred How Jessica preserved her progr...

For more than 50 years, Susan Giles of Ta Sen Lhasa Apsos has built a breeding program known for consistency, breed type, and generations of remarkable show dogs. Ta Sen has produced an incredible family of successful Lhasas, with the pinnacle being “JJ,” GCHP. Ta Sen Westgate Jingle Juice, 2025 AKC National Championship Best in Show & 2026 Westminster Kennel Club Non-Sporting Group winner. In...

Margery Good of Good Spice Kennel has spent decades proving that great breeding is about far more than winning in the show ring, but also producing happy, confident Companions that are fabulous to live with. Good Spice has produced an incredible family of successful Sealyham Terriers, collaborating with top programs around the world. From her earliest days in dogs to building generations of outsta...

Cherie Hunchak of Elance Borzoi has spent decades pursuing one goal: breed dogs that are strong where the breed is weak. In this episode of Better Breeder Chronicles , Cherie shares the philosophy, breeding decisions, and bloodlines behind Elance Borzoi and the dogs that have influenced pedigrees around the world. You’ll discover: How learning to truly see structure transformed her breeding progra...

Great breeding programs are built on the mindset of the breeder behind them. In this episode of the Better Breeder Roundtable, Kathy Rust is joined by Jamie Hubbard (Clussexx Kennels) and Spenser Hardin (Longview Collies) to talk about how a breeder's mindset can either propel a program forward or quietly hold it back for years. Together, they explore what it really takes to think in generatio...

Robert Urban of Foxfire Black and Tan Coonhounds knows that great breeders build more than winning dogs. They build a kennel with a type, a philosophy, and a legacy. In this episode, Bob shares the lessons behind decades of breeding, showing, and working with Black and Tans, from the breed-founding mentors who shaped him to the dogs that defined Foxfire. You’ll hear: How Foxfire developed a recogn...

Sylvia Hammarstrom of Skansen Kennels has spent more than 70 years breeding, raising, and learning from Schnauzers. What began as a childhood passion in Sweden grew into a Giant Schnauzer breeding program that has produced close to 2,000 American champions. In this episode, Sylvia shares the experiences, dogs, and lessons that shaped Skansen, including: How working in European kennels shaped her a...

For nearly 60 years, legendary breeder Andrew DiGiorgio has built Foxhollow into one of the most successful and respected Wire Fox Terrier breeding programs. Andy shares the philosophy, breeding decisions, and unforgettable dogs that shaped a world-class breeding program and left a lasting mark on the breed. In this episode you’ll discover: How Andrew learned to recognize great dogs Why quality ma...

Every breed standard was written with a purpose—but understanding why those words matter is what helps breeders make better decisions. In this episode of the Better Breeder Roundtable, Kathy Rust is joined by Kristi Libertore (Whiskey Hills Bracco Italiano & Whiskeytown Wirehaired Pointing Griffons) and Anne Phillips (Fernhill Brittanys) to explore how breeders can use the Breed Standard as mo...

Learn how Stephanie Hentschel of DarRight Pomeranians built a highly-respected Pomeranian breeding program in the breed. In this episode, Stephanie shares the breeding philosophy, mentorship, and life lessons that have shaped her success, including the importance of sharing their bloodlines with others. She explains why breeding is about much more than winning in the show ring, but about preservin...

Chris and Tom Levy of Abiqua Pumik didn't just breed exceptional Pumis. They helped build the breed's foundation in the United States. In this episode, Chris and Tom share the journey, years of study, repeated trips across Europe, and a deep commitment to preservation breeding. What you'll discover: Why the world's best breeders study dogs, not just pedigrees. How to balance geneti...

Learn how Valerie Nunes-Atkinson, along with partner Yvonne Hassler-Deterding, built VJK-Myst Kennels into one of the most respected German Shorthaired Pointer breeding programs in the world. Valerie shares the breeding philosophy, mentorship, and long-term vision that shaped generations of top-winning dogs. In this episode, you'll learn: The importance of linebreeding and judicious outcrossin...

Outcrossing is one of the most talked-about and misunderstood topics in dog breeding. In this episode of the Better Breeder Roundtable, Kathy Rust is joined by renowned master breeder Bill Shelton (Coventry Pembroke Welsh Corgis) and Lisa Braun (Mischief Papillons & Miniature American Shepherds) for a practical discussion on when, why, and how breeders should use outcrossing to improve their p...

This is the story of how Lindsey Cook took Kaska English Setters from humble roots and built it into a program that consistently produces some of the breed’s finest, most dominant dogs. She shares her journey from junior handler to respected breeder, the mentorship that shaped her program, and the dogs that helped define the Kaska legacy. You'll learn: The lessons she learned from legendary br...

How did Lexa Richmond of Hialeah Dachshunds build a small breeding program that produced DCA National Specialty and AKC National Championship winners and generations of top-producing Dachshunds? In this episode, Matt Stelter sits down with Lexa to share the story behind one of the most successful Dachshund kennels in the country and the lessons learned over 25 years of breeding. Learn how she foll...

How did Patti Strand and Merry-Go-Round Dalmatians build one of the most influential Dalmatian breeding programs of the past half-century? In this episode, Matt Stelter sits down with Patti Strand to uncover the dogs, decisions, and breeding philosophy that helped shape a lasting legacy in the Dalmatian. Patti also shares her deep involvement with the National Animal Interest Alliance (NAIA). Patt...

How did Allison Sunderman turn Sun Oak Welsh Terriers into a highly-respected breeding program while forced to take a backseat to Allison’s handling career? In this episode of Better Breeder Chronicles , Allison reflects on 50 years in Welsh Terriers, the legendary dogs and mentors that shaped her program, and the hard lessons that come with preserving type, temperament, and quality over generatio...

How did Donna and Mike Beadle build Eclipse Berger Picards into one of the most accomplished Berger Picard breeding programs in the country? In this episode, Matt Stelter sits down with the team behind Eclipse Berger Picards to talk about legendary dogs, heartbreaking losses, Westminster & AKC National Championship wins, and the reality of preserving a rare breed. Key insights from this episod...

Andrea Jordan-Lane of Jordean spent decades building one of the most influential Brittany bloodlines in the sport and forever changing what a top-flight Brittany looks like, and this episode reveals exactly how she did it. From showing a non-show-quality dog as a teenager to producing generations of top-winning Brittanys, Andrea shares the mentors, bloodlines, and breeding decisions that shaped th...

Barbara Heidenreich of Fernhill Scottish Deerhounds has spent over 50 years preserving one of the world’s most historic and elegant dog breeds, and her story is unforgettable. From cycling alone through Scotland in the 1960s and falling in love with her first deerhound at a small roadside hotel, Barbara shares the journey that built Fernhill into one of the most respected Scottish Deerhound kennel...

Kimm McDowell of DerHagen Rottweilers went 5 years without winning a single point… then turned an overlooked dog into a Best in Show champion. Kimm shares the real story behind her decades in the ring and the whelping box, shaped by persistence, hard lessons, and a clear focus on breeding better dogs, not just chasing wins. Here’s what you’ll learn: How going 5 years without a single win pushed he...

Kay Peiser of Kaylen didn’t just breed dogs, she built a legacy of champions from the ground up. In this episode, this widely respected breeder in the sport shares a lifetime of experience shaping Standard Poodles and Chinese Cresteds at the highest level. From early setbacks to producing 100+ champions, Kay reveals what it really takes to succeed with no sugarcoating. Here’s what you’ll learn: Wh...