Podcasts · Kids & Family

Better Breeder Chronicles

Better Breeder Institute

65 episodes

Welcome 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!

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  1. Meet Gloria Birch: Master Breeder of Covy-Tucker Hill German Shepherds

    · 56 min · S2 E60

    Gloria Birch of Covy-Tucker Hill German Shepherds bred a Westminster legend, but she has never let winning ribbons guide her breeding decisions. In this episode of Better Breeder Chronicles, Gloria shares how she and…

  2. Meet Erin Kerfoot: Master Breeder of Wynmoor English Springer Spaniels

    · 56 min · S2 E59

    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…

  3. Meet David Samuelson: Masteer Breeder of Dashing Whippets

    · 54 min · S2 E58

    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…

  4. Linebreeding: Carefully Connected, Thoughtfully Bred

    · 1 h 18 min · S1 E4

    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…

  5. Meet Jessica MacMillan: Master Breeder of Paisley Dalmatians

    · 58 min · S2 E57

    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…

  6. Meet Susan Giles: Master Breeder of Ta Sen Lhasa Apsos

    · 49 min · S2 E56

    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…

  7. Meet Margery Good: Master Breeder of Good Spice Kennel Sealyhams Terriers

    · 58 min · S2 E55

    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…

  8. Meet Cherie Hunchak: Master Breeder of Elance Borzoi

    · 53 min · S2 E54

    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,…

  9. Elevate Your Mindset

    · 1 h 08 min · S1 E3

    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…

  10. Meet Robert Urban: Master Breeder of Foxfire Black and Tan Coonhounds

    · 53 min · S2 E53

    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…

  11. Meet Sylvia Hammarstrom: Master Breeder of Skansen Giant Schnauzers

    · 1 h 18 min · S2 E52

    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…

  12. Meet Andrew DiGiorgio: Master Breeder of Foxhollow Wire Fox Terriers

    · 51 min · S1 E51

    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…

  13. Form & Function: More Than a Checklist

    · 1 h 05 min · S1 E2

    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…

  14. Meet Stephanie Hentschel: Master Breeder of DarRight Pomeranians

    · 55 min · S1 E50

    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…

  15. Meet Chris & Tom Levy: Master Breeders of Abiqua Pumik

    · 59 min · S1 E49

    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…

  16. Meet Valerie Nunes-Atkinson: Master Breeder of VJK-Myst Kennels German Shorthaired Pointers

    · 1 h 17 min · S1 E48

    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…

  17. Outcrossing: Not Just One & Done

    · 1 h 19 min · S1 E1

    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…

  18. Meet Lindsey Cook: Master Breeder of Kaska English Setters

    · 42 min · S1 E47

    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…

  19. Meet Lexa Richmond: Master Breeder of Hialeah Dachshunds

    · 1 h 28 min · S1 E46

    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…

  20. Meet Patti Strand: Master Breeder of Merry-Go-Round Dalmatians

    · 1 h 10 min · S1 E45

    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,…

  21. Meet Allison Sunderman: Master Breeder of Sun Oak Welsh Terriers

    · 47 min · S1 E44

    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…

  22. Meet Donna & Mike Beadle: Master Breeders of Eclipse Berger Picards

    · 49 min · S1 E43

    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…

  23. Meet Andrea Jordan-Lane: Master Breeder of Jordean Brittanys

    · 1 h 28 min · S1 E42

    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…

  24. Meet Barbara Heidenreich: Master Breeder of Fernhill Scottish Deerhounds

    · 1 h 01 min · S1 E41

    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…

  25. Meet Kimm McDowell: Master Breeder of DerHagen Rottweilers

    · 1 h 05 min · S1 E40

    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…

  26. Meet Kay Peiser: Master Breeder of Kaylen Standard Poodles & Chinese Cresteds

    · 44 min · S1 E39

    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…

  27. Meet Karen Fitzpatrick: Mater Breeder of Meadowlake Border Terriers

    · 1 h 01 min · S1 E38

    Karen Fitzpatrick of Meadowlake Border Terriers didn’t just breed winners. She redefined what a Border Terrier should be, and in the process, developed an incredible bloodline with triumphs at Westminster, the AKC…

  28. Meet Sarah Murphy: Master Breeder of Abbaio Ibizan Hounds

    · 1 h 04 min · S1 E37

    Sarah Murphy of Abbaio Ibizan Hounds started with showing a pet-quality Pug to becoming a top breeder, turning passion into a Best in Show–winning legacy. In this episode, Sarah shares the real story behind building a…

  29. Meet Lou Ann King: Master Breeder of Loteki Papillons

    · 39 min · S1 E36

    How did Lou Ann King of Loteki Papillons build a bloodline so powerful it dominated the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show year after year? In this episode, Lou Ann shares the full journey, from handwriting letters to…

  30. Meet Diane Baker: Master Breeder of Sandbar Chesapeake Bay Retrievers

    · 1 h 33 min · S1 E35

    Sandbar breeder Diane Baker didn’t just build a breeding program. She developed a bloodline that helped shape an entire breed and earn new respect from the entire purebred world. In this episode, Diane of Sandbar…

  31. Meet Doug Johnson & Jamie Hubbard: Master Breeders of Clussexx Clumber Spaniels - Part 2

    · 1 h 28 min · S1 E34

    Doug Johnson & Jamie Hubbard of the world-renowned Clussexx Kennel return for Part 2 of our conversation, and this time, they challenge everything you think you think about about how to breed purebred dogs successfully…

  32. Meet Doug Johnson & Jamie Hubbard: Master Breeders of Clussexx Clumber Spaniels

    · 1 h 40 min · S1 E33

    Doug Johnson and Jamie Hubbard, of the renowned Clussexx kennel, don’t just breed top champions; they have preserved four rare breeds. They are premier preservation breeders of Clumber, Sussex, Welsh Springer &…

  33. Meet Pam Lefever: Master Breeder of Brasswinds English Cockers & English Setters

    · 59 min · S1 E32

    Pam Lefever of Brasswinds built distinctive bloodlines in both English Setters and English Cocker Spaniels. Pam has bred National Specialty & Westminster Best of Breed winners, as well as all-time top producers in both…

  34. Meet Tricia Stanczyk: Master Breeder of Classic Parson Russell Terriers

    · 55 min · S1 E31

    How did Tricia Stanczyk of Classic Parson Russell Terriers go from knowing nothing about dog shows to producing multiple National Specialty, Westminster, & Best in Show-winning Parson Russell Terriers? In this…

  35. Meet Justin & Cheslie Smithey: Master Breeders of Pinnacle Whippets

    · 45 min · S1 E30

    At Pinnacle Whippets, Justin and Cheslie Smithey have bred two of the most successful Whippets in modern history, and they’re sharing exactly how it happened. The powerhouse duo behind Whiskey and Bourbon reveals the…

  36. Meet Stacy Able: Master Breeder of Ginkgo Barbets

    · 32 min · S1 E29

    From an early import to the AKC National Championship stage, Stacy Able of Ginkgo Barbets shares how she helped build the Barbet breed in the United States from the ground up. With over 20 years in the breed, Stacy…

  37. Meet Kathy Lorentzen: Master Breeder of Ocoee English Springer Spaniels

    · 1 h 02 min · S1 E28

    Kathy Lorentzen of Ocoee English Springer Spaniels shares the mindset behind more than 50 years of intentional, disciplined breeding. From her foundation dogs to creating her own bitch lines, she explains what it…

  38. Meet Lori Pelletier: Master Breeder of Avalon Norfolk Terriers

    · 1 h 10 min · S1 E27

    Lori Pelletier of Avalon Norfolk Terriers didn’t just build a successful breeding program. She shaped an entire breed’s future. In this conversation, Lori shares the real story behind Avalon Norfolk Terriers: the…

  39. Meet Amy Kiell-Green: Master Breeder of Pebbles’ Run Samoyeds

    · 1 h 04 min · S1 E26

    Pebbles Run Samoyeds and master breeder Amy Kiell-Green built a world-class breeding program by prioritizing the dog, the breed, and long-term integrity over trends, titles, and quick wins. In this episode of Better…

  40. Meet Janice Hayes: Master Breeder of Stellar Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen (PBGVs)

    · 2 h 07 min · S1 E25

    Behind every great Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen is a keen eye, endless patience, and a breeding plan. Janice Hayes of Stellar PBGVs shares the hard-earned lessons behind her journey from junior handler to handling…

  41. Meet Armando Angelbello: Master Breeder of Marlex Miniature Pinschers

    · 1 h 03 min · S1 E24

    What did it take Armando Angelbello of Marlex Miniature Pinschers to build a legendary breeding program? It’s a story shaped by mentorship, vision, and decades of disciplined decision-making. Armando reflects on how a…

  42. Meet Bill Shelton & Steve Leyerly: Master Breeders of Coventry Pembroke Welsh Corgis

    · 1 h 59 min · S1 E23

    What does it really take to build a legendary bloodline and sustain it for decades? In this episode of Better Breeder Chronicles, Matt Stelter sits down with Bill Shelton and Steve Leyerly of Coventry Pembroke Welsh…

  43. Meet Karen & Clint Livingston: Master Breeders of Trio Brittanys

    · 1 h 10 min · S1 E22

    What separates breeders who last from those who chase the moment? In this episode, Karen and Clint Livingston, master breeders of Trio Brittanys, share how mentorship, discipline, and long-term thinking shaped their…

  44. Meet Lorrie Carlton: Master Breeder of Belle Creek Bichon Frise

    · 1 h 16 min · S1 E21

    Great breeding isn’t luck. It’s decades of discipline, loss, and vision. In this episode, Lorrie Carlton of Belle Creek Bichons opens up about a lifetime in purebred dogs, the hard lessons behind elite breeding, and…

  45. Meet Susan Lacroix Hamil: Master Breeder of Quiet Creek Bloodhounds

    · 56 min · S1 E20

    In this episode, we talk with Susan Lacroix Hamil of Quiet Creek Bloodhounds, one of the most respected modern Bloodhound breeding programs. She shares her journey from 4-H to producing Best in Show dogs and dedicated…

  46. Meet Paul and Kelley Catterson: Master Breeders of Bobcat & Alnair Brussels Griffons and Aussies

    · 41 min · S1 E19

    What does it really take to rebuild a dog breeding program and recapture your breed type? In this episode, Paul and Kelley Catterson share the inside story of their work with Brussels Griffons and Australian…

  47. Meet Jim and Ann White: Master Breeders of Cambria Dobermans

    · 1 h 04 min · S1 E18

    Behind some of the most influential Dobermans in history are two breeders who spent a lifetime advancing the breed. In this episode, Jim and Ann White of Cambria Dobermans open up about how their program started, what…

  48. Meet Tim Terella: Master Breder of Snoebear Siberian Huskies

    · 1 h 07 min · S1 E17

    What does it really take to breed a Siberian Husky that’s both beautiful and built to work? In this episode, master breeder Tim Terella shares the real foundations of great breeding: balance, correct movement,…

  49. Meet Bill McFadden: Master Breeder of Random Wire Fox Terriers

    · 1 h 20 min · S1 E16

    From his first Rough Collie to building the world-renowned Random Wire Fox Terriers, Bill McFadden has spent a lifetime shaping excellence, one breeding at a time. In this episode, he shares how Random Wire Fox…

  50. Meet Grace Fritz: Master Breeder of Good Fortune Chinese Shar-Pei

    · 36 min · S1 E15

    A LIFE Magazine cover changed everything for Grace Fritz, inspiring a journey that would redefine the Shar-Pei breed in America. From her early National Specialty wins to producing the top-winning Shar-Pei in breed…

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