Barbara Heidenreich: Fernhill Scottish Deerhounds
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.
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Season 1 Episodes
Kimm McDowell: DerHagen Rottweilers
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.
Watch Now Kay Peiser: Kaylen Standard Poodles & Chinese Cresteds
Kay Peiser of Kaylen didn’t just breed dogs, she built a legacy of champions from the ground up.
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Meet Karen Fitzpatrick: Meadowlake Border Terriers
Karen shares how she went from fox hunting in the UK to building one of the most dominant Border Terrier breeding programs in the world, producing record-breaking dogs and setting a new standard for the breed.
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Meet Sarah Murphy: Abbaio Ibizan Hounds
Sarah shares the real story behind building a successful breeding program in a rare breed, from early struggles to producing elite champions.
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Meet Lou Ann King: Loteki Papillons
Lou Ann King shares the full journey, from handwriting letters to top breeders as a child to creating one of the most recognizable and successful Papillon breeding programs in the world.
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Meet Diane Baker: Sandbar Chesapeake Bay Retrievers
Diane of Sandbar Chesapeakes shares the story behind her legendary program, from early lessons with horses to producing record-breaking champions and leaving a lasting mark on the Chesapeake Bay Retriever world.
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Meet Doug Johnson & Jamie Hubbard: Clussexx Clumber Spaniels – Part 2
Doug and Jamie share decades of hard-earned insight on what it truly takes to build a sustainable, future-proof breeding program in today’s world, and impact your breed long after your last litter is born.
Watch Now Meet Doug Johnson & Jamie Hubbard: Clussexx Clumber Spaniels
Doug Johnson and Jamie Hubbard, of the renowned Clussexx kennel, don’t just breed top champions; they have preserved four rare breeds.
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Pam Lefever: Brasswinds English Cockers & English Setters
Tricia shares the story behind her breeding journey and the mentorship that shaped it, especially from Jennifer Johnson of the influential Posey Canyon kennel, whose bloodlines became the foundation of the Classic program.
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Tricia Stanczyk: Classic Parson Russell Terriers
Tricia shares the story behind her breeding journey and the mentorship that shaped it, especially from Jennifer Johnson of the influential Posey Canyon kennel, whose bloodlines became the foundation of the Classic program.
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Justin & Cheslie Smithey: Pinnacle Whippets
Justin and Cheslie Smithey bred Whiskey and Bourbon, two of the most successful Whippets in modern history.
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Stacy Able: Ginkgo Barbets
With over 20 years in the breed, Stacy walks us through the journey from Foundation Stock Service to full AKC recognition and what it takes to develop a bloodline in a small, growing genepool.
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Kathy Lorentzen: Ocoee English Springer Spaniels
Learn the mindset behind more than 50 years of intentional, disciplined breeding. From her foundation dogs to creating her own bitch lines, Kathy Lorentzen explains what it takes to protect a breed.
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Lori Pelletier: Avalon Norfolk Terriers
Lori Pelletier didn’t just build a successful breeding program. She shaped an entire breed’s future. Learn the real story behind Avalon Norfolk Terriers that turned early dreams into a lasting legacy.
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Amy Kiell-Green: Pebbles’ Run Samoyeds
Amy Kiell-Green shares her story developing Pebbles’ Run into an incredible family of Samoyed, including the first to win the Working Group at the Westminster Dog Show.
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Janice Hayes: Stellar PBGVs
Janice Hayes shares the hard-earned lessons behind her journey from junior handler to handling assistant to Westminster Best In Show-winning handler, and now a world-class breeder.
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Armando Angelbello: Marlex Miniature Pinschers
Armando Angelbello shared his journey to a record-setting 15 National Specialty wins and the creation of a recognizable Marlex breed type known around the world.
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Bill Shelton & Steve Leyerly: Coventry Pembroke Welsh Corgis
With generations of National Specialty, Westminster, and Best in Show winners, Bill Shelton & Steve Leyerly share the story behind Coventry’s success beyond trophies and accolades.
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Karen & Clint Livingston: Trio Brittanys
Karen & Clint Livingston share how mentorship, discipline, and long-term thinking shaped their approach to breeding Brittanys that succeed in both the ring and the field.
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Lorrie Carlton: Belle Creek Bichon Frise
Lorrie Carlton shares the development of her breeding program that would culminate in GCHP Belle Creek’s All I Care About Is Love, the 2018 Westminster Best in Show winner.
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Susan LaCroix Hamil: Quiet Creek Bloodhounds
Susan LaCroix Hamil’s story is one to inspire all purebred breeders. She is a role model for how to proud of your role as a conservation breeder and be proud of it.
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Paul & Kelley Catterson: Bobcat Brussels Griffons & Alnair Australian Shepherds
What does it take to rebuild a breeding program and recapture your breed type? Paul and Kelley Catterson share their story after taking a break from breeding.
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Jim & Ann White: Cambria Dobermans
Jim & Ann White talk honestly about selecting dogs, building consistency, dealing with setback when trying to do things the right way in a purebred breeding program.
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Tim Terella: Snoebear Siberian Huskies
Tim Terella (Snoebear Siberians) shares the real foundations of great breeding: balance, correct movement, functional structure, and honest evaluation.
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Bill McFadden: Random Wire Fox Terriers
Bill McFadden has spent a lifetime shaping excellence as the master breeder of Random Wire Fox Terriers.
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Grace Fritz: Good Fortune Chinese Shar-Pei
Grace Fritz (Good Fortune) shares how careful selection, sound structure, and genetic insight built her Good Fortune bloodline into one of the most admired Shar-Pei programs in the world.
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Meghen Riese-Bassel: Renascent Welsh Springer Spaniels
Meghen Riese-Bassel (Renascent Welsh Springer Spaniels) shares shares how a childhood surrounded by dogs and great mentors transformed into a lifelong mission to breed with purpose.
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Jere Marder: Lambluv Old English Sheepdogs
Jere Marder (Lambluv) reveals how passion, perseverance, and an eye for excellence shaped Lambluv Old English Sheepdogs.
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Kristi Libertore: Whiskeytown WPGs & Whiskey Hills Bracchi
Kristi Libertore (Whiskeytown & Whiskey Hills) shares how she built world-class bloodlines in two breeds.
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Lisa Ross: Winfree English Cockers
Lisa Ross (Winfree) shares what it truly takes to build a legacy in purebred dog breeding — and why health, temperament, and mentorship matter more than trophies.
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Mary Nowak: Honeygait English Setters
Mary Nowak (Honeygait) shares her story developing her Honeygait English Setter breeding program and producing several prominent dogs in breed history.
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Kristi Green: Knockout Chihuahuas
Kristi Green (Knockout) share insights into how she developed her Chihuahua breeding program and developed it into one of the most successful programs in the modern breed.
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Patricia Princehouse: La Brise Pyrenean Shepherds
Patricia Princehouse (La Brise) share insights into how she brought Pyrenean Shepherds to the USA, established the breed here, and became the premier breeder in American breed history.
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Dennis & Katey Brown: Solivia Pointers
Dennis & Katey Brown (Solivia) share insights into how they took Katey’s mother’s Solivia breeding program and developed it into a powerhouse family of Pointers.
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Carol Fellbaum: Hallmark Bichon Frise
Carol Fellbaum (Hallmark) shares how she took a lifetime of learning from expert mentors to develop her Bichon Frise breeding program and produce a breed icon.
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Tonya Struble: Rush Hill Golden Retrievers
Tonya Struble (Rush Hill) shares how she built one of the most successful Golden Retriever breeding programs in breed history.
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Colton Johnson: Bugaboo Old English Sheepdogs
Colton Johnson (AKC Breeder/Handler) shares his insights into their family’s success breeding historic OESs, including linebreeding strategy, community outreach, and collaborations with other partner breeders.
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Kathy Rust: Kizmar Vizslas
Kathy Rust (AKC Breeder/Judge/VCA Delegate) shares her journey and why tail male line theory and breeder circles are critical to the preservation and advancement of purebred dogs.
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Dale Martenson: Touche Japanese Chins
Dale Martenson (AKC Breeder/Judge) shares his journey that led to over 500 homebred champions. Learn why honesty builds better bloodlines and why your “why” matters more than any ribbon.
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Guy Mauldin: Kismet Shetland Sheepdogs
In the premier episode of the Better Breeder Chronicles, master breeder Guy Mauldin (Kismet Shelties) reveals insights behind the creation and development of one of the longest and most successful Shetland Sheepdog breeding programs in breed history.
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Welcome to Better Breeder Chronicles
Welcome to the Better Breeder Chronicles. Hear the stories of master breeders – told in their own words.
Watch NowWelcome to the Better Breeder Chronicles where we meet the finest purebred dog breeders in the world. We spotlight these master breeders, hearing their stories in their own words—including their beginnings, their challenges and heartbreaks, and ultimately, their climb to the top and their determination to breed a better dog. We share their journeys to inspire all purebred conservation dog breeders to pursue their dreams for their breeding programs!
Behind every great dog is a great breeder, and the are often the ones who exist in anonymity and whose stories remain untold. On the Better Breeder Chronicles, host Matt Stelter – AKC Breeder/Judge – shares their legacies with the purebred dog fancy and preserves them for breed history. Learn the theory, strategy & story behind National Specialty and Best In Show winning AKC/CKC breeding programs.
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