Breeders of purebred puppies fight in competitive pageant circuit

Secretive high-security compounds, thinly veiled threats of espionage and imported Eastern European studs — these purebred puppies are born from an industry with plenty of mongrel and destined to be champions.

Jack Morphet

@JackMorphet

4 min read

February 3, 2019 - 12:00AM

The Sunday Telegraph

NSW

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Their breeders are in fierce competition for glory on the canine beauty pageant circuit.

“I was told to install cameras facing my dog-trailer because my competitors are capable of anything, like something out of the movies,” Australian cattle dog breeder Amy Curran said.

“I’ve been warned to stay at home with my ‘pets’, which in the world of show dogs is the ultimate insult.”

Mum Ice, show name, Grand Champion Nahrof Etched in Ice, with her border collie pups. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

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Ms Curran, 39, from Oberon, claims to have ruffled the feathers of the “grey-haired” retirees that rule the kennel because she doesn’t demand her customers sign contracts — or puppy prenups — agreeing never to breed or enter the dogs in competitions.

The Curran family leased a dog from Darwin, the son of a supreme champion, for a 12-month “gigolo holiday” to breed with their own Australian champion, Beccy.

Two weeks ago, Beccy gave birth to seven blue Australian cattle dogs who will fetch at least $2000 each from families who want a pet, breeders or show dog exhibitors.

Beccy roams the Curran’s 400-acre property, where she’s safe from horny bitzers, and is kept away from shows when she’s on heat, “in case another dog decided to jump on”.

Australian cattle dog puppies will fetch at least $2000. Picture: Supplied

At an undisclosed location near Singleton, White Swiss Shepherd breeder Mara Harba keeps her dogs in a 10,000 square-metre compound protected by vibrating snake repellers and a six foot high chainlink fence embedded in concrete, with a hot wire across the top.

“I have to be vague about where we live because you never know who will come and try to find them,” she said.

A Siberian Huskie trainer by trade, whose trained dogs have featured on Bourke’s Backyard, Mrs Harba has turned her hand to breeding White Swiss Shepherds.

Her dog Kora was conceived with semen from the Czech Republic, and gave birth seven weeks ago to two puppies, fathered by a dog called Iron, who was imported from Slovakia at an estimated cost of $15,000.

Two seven-week-old White Swiss Shepherd pups. Picture: Supplied

Their mum Kora can pull a 370kg sled. The dad Iron was imported from Slovakia at a cost of $15,000. Picture: Supplied

The two precious puppies will become show dogs and retire to lives as breeding bitches for a consortium of White Swiss Shepherd breeders across Australia.

“White Swiss Shepherds are such a new breed in Australia, the parents or grandparents of virtually every dog was imported, and people are still importing dogs to diversify the gene pool,” she said.

Mrs Harba and her husband, Richard, are open to selling puppies but are constantly on guard against “ratbags” who intend to breed them with white German Shepherds and diluting the gene pool.

Legendary Border Collie breeder Lauren Somers from Bringelly has bred six supreme champions, which is the highest honour in dog shows, and has four seven-week old puppies.

These pups had to be given birth via caesarean section due to uterine complications. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Two of the puppies will have careers under lights as show dogs or agility competitors, while the other two will be family pets, but their fates won’t be decided for another fortnight.

“Plenty of lovely, sound, well-constructed dogs don’t go on to become supreme champions because the X-Factor is missing or they don’t bond with their handler, in the same way a great horse can lose if it’s ridden by a bad jockey,” she said.

Puppies display the X-factor by acting “cocky” and “arrogant”, standing proudly and showing a curios streak.

Ms Somers kennel, Nahrof, doesn’t require pet owners to sign contracts, but will only sell to people they trust won’t breed the dogs against their wishes.

Their dad Arnie was conceived with imported frozen sperm from Spain and Portugal champion Mad About You De Ria Vela. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

At East Kurrajong, Golden Retriever Bliss gave birth to eight puppies and breeder Debra Stubbings said two will go to show homes, two are staying to show and breed and six have gone to families.

Like her puppies, Mrs Stubbings, 61, was born into the show dog world, as the daughter of two office bearers of the NSW German Shepherd Dog League and started showing when she was 13.

SHOW DOG GENETICS

BORDER COLLIES

Mum: Daily name Ice. Show name Grand Champion Nahrof Etched in Ice.

Offspring of Mig, Supreme Champion Nahrof No More Mr Ice Guy, the highest award given to a show dog.