Brackett Principle #2: Build a Strain!!

1937 & 1938 GV Ch. Pfeffer v Bern


Brackett readily admits to learning by his own mistakes.  He, too, had previously practiced what he estimated that 98% of the average dog fanciers had done—mated the best bitches to the best available males, regardless of bloodlines.  He further indicated that he employed compensatory matings by “using studs strong in characteristics in which bitches needed improvement.”[i]

The strategy in which Brackett would implement to improve his breeding program would center upon building a distinct strain.  This would be accomplished within the breed by using three (3) great males.  Brackett elaborated that this plan produced more that the average number of good specimens.  However, this still did not give him the multiple champion litters, nor establish a definite TYPE which he desired.  His reassessment at that point moved his plan to the necessity of utilizing the power of inbreeding and line-breeding.

Building a strain was achieved through the repeated use of three (3) foundation males:

1.      US CH. Pfeffer v. Bern

2.      US CH. Odin v. Busecker-Schloss

3.      US CH. Arras a.d. Stadt-Berbert

Of interest is the factor that all three of these dogs were “stemmed closely and strongly” from German Sieger Utz von Haus-Schutting.  Pfeffer v. Bern and Odin v. Busecker-Schloss were half-brother by the same sire; while Arras’ dam (Stella) was the offspring of a half-brother-sister mating in which Utz was the sire of the sire and the dam.

Brackett would, in fact, build his strain within the breed by using three males as his foundation stones!  These three males were all closely related!

---

[i] Ibid., page 10.

Brackett Principle #1: Learn What a Good German Shepherd Dog Is!

Lyloak's Sugar Maple, TC, PT

"Let the sire of the sire become the grandsire on the dam's side."

Lloyd C. Brackett

As I have analyzed the writing of Lloyd Brackett by utilizing his booklet entitled Planned Breeding,  I have gleaned ten (10) insights or principles based upon my careful reading and analysis. In this part, I will state and expound upon the first principles.

Learn What a Good German Shepherd Dog Specimen Is!

“To the many, however, who seem sincerely interested in breeding better specimens, to the many who want to know HOW to do it,  I want to stress as strongly as I can:  YOU MUST FIRST KNOW WHAT IS A GOOD DOG OF YOUR BREED.  In other words, know your breed before you try to breed it.”[i]

The genesis of any potential breeding program must be the breed standard.  How can one possibly know what the desired outcome of potential breedings will be without first establishing what is the ideal—the standard of the breed?   An oft repeated statement is made that the perfect German Shepherd Dog has not yet been born!  Obviously, this is true!  Nonetheless, this cannot prevent a conscientious breeder from striving to breed the prefect German Shepherd Dog.

Next, after studying the breed standard, one must place themselves into circumstances to see and evaluate as many dogs as possible.  This might  most easily accomplished today by undertaking the following:

o   Attending dog shows in which your breed is shown and judged; both specialty and all-breed shows.  Evaluate each class of dogs according to the breed standard and rank them within that class and eventually the winners.

o   Finding a regional specialty club, join that club and attend as many functions as possible. 

o   Talking with knowledgeable people in one’s breed—judges, handlers, breeders, and owners who show.

o   Joining the German Shepherd Dog Club of America (GSDCA).

o   Attending seminars and educational programs sponsored by the GSDCA.

o   Reading the German Shepherd Dog Review and other GSD magazines (such as the German Shepherd Quarterly).

o   Referencing the annual Redbook published by the GSDCA and the Bluebook (which has articles dealing with health and genetic issues relative to the GSD).  You will find timely information and helpful interviews with breeders, up-to-date health issues and highlights, as well as shown results, etc… 

Brackett adamantly expressed that the basic perquisite to starting a breeding program is to learn what a good German Shepherd Dog specimen is.  He forcefully stated that it is better not to breed than to breed without knowledge.  Brackett’s own words espouse this foundational principle:

“It is very evident to me now that I have presupposed a greater knowledge of what constitutes a good animal of any given breed than the majority of its fanciers possess.  This  being true, it seems to behoove me now again to warm some of today’s breeders NOT to attempt to do close-up breeding; in fact, not to do ANY breeding until they have a better knowledge of WHAT they want to get FROM their matings.”[ii]

Brackett would advocate that all responsible breeders should be able to recognize a good specimen first and foremost.  Secondly, one must be able to note “any and all faults or shortcomings”[iii]  of the GSD.  Of course, it goes without saying that one cannot know the faults and shortcomings without knowing what the standard is!

---

[i] Brackett, Lloyd C.  Planned Breeding, page 20.

[ii] Ibid., page 19.

[iii] Ibid., page 19.

Understanding Brackett--An Introduction

CH. Lyloak's First Knight

"Let the sire of the sire become the grandsire on the dam's side."

Lloyd C. Brackett

As you move among breeders of the German Shepherd Dog, it is inevitable that you will often hear the name “Brackett” dropped in the conversation.  "Let the sire of the sire become the grandsire on the dam's side" is the single most recognizable Brackett quotation.  However, understanding Brackett goes much deeper than knowing this single foundational principle and striving to apply this axiom to one’s breeding program.

What I will attempt in the articles that follow will be to analyze the writing of Lloyd Bracket by utilizing his booklet entitled Planned Breeding.  Brackett’s booklet is a compilation of articles written for Dog World Magazine in 1960.  These articles won for him the Dog Writer’s Association Award as the best non-professional work in the dog press that year (1960).  Dog World Magazine published these articles in booklet form in 1961 as a result of the hundreds of requests from their readers.  I have gleaned ten (10) insights or principles from Planned Breeding based upon my careful reading and analysis.

As a preface to sharing my summary, I enclosed the following editorial notes about Brackett which are included in the booklet:

“One of the fathers of the German Shepherd in this country and the oldest living continuous fancier of the breed in America (since 1912) his theories on breeding have been more than proven in the Long-Worth Kennels where he established his own strain in the breed and produced more than 90 champions in only 12 years—a world’s record for any breed.”

“Known affectionately as ‘Mr. German Shepherd; he has proven beyond doubt the soundness of his breeding program.”[i]

Carmen L. Battaglia wrote an article entitled Brackett’s Formula in which he noted the following:

“By the early 1950's, Lloyd C. Brackett had become a legend in his own time. In part because of the quality of the dogs he produced and in part because of his candor when addressing problems related to the breeding of canines. He had much to say about the selection of sires, how to correct problems and how to make improvements. . .  Brackett was well read and a quick learner. Through his writings he shed light on the confusion and misunderstandings associated with line and inbreeding.” [ii]

Battaglia espouses Brackett’s breeding program indicating that his methods and ideas were not new. However, he points out that Brackett “combined the study of pedigrees with the results they produced. After years of watching what combinations produced the better offspring he refined his ideas about how to select breeding partners. Out of these experiences came a formula that later would make him famous.”[iii]

The German Shepherd Dog Club of American (GSDCA) has even designated an award (Lloyd Brackett Award) in memory of Brackett’s contribution to the breed.  This award is for a member of the GSDCA whose breeding program exhibits a vision of improvement to the breed, tempered with the wisdom to exhibit strict attention to the standard of the German Shepherd Dog.  The recipient(s) should be someone whose dogs display a consistency of breed type and have created a line of German Shepherds easily recognizable within the breed.

Briefly outlined below are the ten foundational principles which I find within Brackett’s planned breeding program:

#1 Learn What a Good GSD specimen is!

#2 Build a Strain!

#3 Build Your Kennel on the Selection of Bitches!

#4 Linebreed/Inbreed Wisely!

#5 Outcross—But Only for Definite Purposes!

#6 Know What to Expect through Inheritance!

#7 Know Faults for Correction through Physical Compensation!

#8 Use Only Outstanding Studs!

#9 Always Select the Best Bitch Puppies!

#10 Breed Back to Your “Toppers”!

In future blogs, I will elaborate upon these foundation principles.  I conclude this brief introduction with an implied underpinning as we consider applying these principles in future articles:

“Perhaps the easiest fault for a beginner to recognize, as well as the most important in many breeds, is that of temperament (again not the result of a single genetic factor), . . .”[iv]

Lloyd C. Brackett

---

[i] Brackett, Lloyd C.  Planned Breeding, page 2 (Editorial Notes).

[ii] Carmen L. Battaglia, Brackett’s Formula.  Accessed from http://www.breedingbetterdogs.com/bracket.html , January 27, 2008.

[iii] Ibid.

[iv] Brackett, page 27.

10,000-Hour Rule (Part II)

RFB Lyloak's Isn't She Lovely

As we move forward with our dialogue concerning:  What does it take for a breeder, owner, or exhibitor of German Shepherd Dogs to become an expert?  What might the 10,000 hours of intensive practice look like for these individuals?  What will the 10,000 hours resemble in the becoming an expert German Shepherd Dog aficionado utilizing the three pillars outlined in the earlier post?

Achievement is talent plus preparation.  How would the 10,000 hours be calculated?  How does the individual gain breed knowledge and experience?  For some it will be more than, or others less than, the 10,000 hours depending on the type of experience gained and the level of praxis (study, practice, dialogue and reflection, study, practice, dialogue and reflection, etc…).

This calculation, of course, must be individualized.  Does each individual excel—making the most of the time and opportunities presented?  Or do they simply move through the motions at each stage of development?  For some it may take 10 years of experience at roughly 3 hours a day.  However, this just does not seem feasible or practical for most individuals involved in GSDs.  It may, in fact, take a much longer period of time—for most, perhaps more in the neighbor of 20 years.  This would be the result of most people being hobby breeders and exhibitors. 

This experience must be a continuum of intense training and exposure to all elements of the German Shepherd Dog.  Does the experience build upon the prior experience?  Not all experience is equal!

The genesis of gaining knowledge of this breed must be the breed standard.  How can one possibly know what the desired outcome of potential breedings will be without first establishing what is the ideal—the standard of the breed?  How can one know a good German Shepherd Dog when they see one?

Next, after studying the breed standard, one must place themselves into circumstances to see and evaluate as many dogs as possible.  This might most easily accomplished today by undertaking the following:

o   Attending dog shows in which your breed is shown and judged; both specialty and all-breed shows.  Evaluate each class of dogs according to the breed standard and rank them within that class and eventually the winners.

o   Finding a regional specialty club, join that club and attend as many functions as possible. 

o   Talking with knowledgeable people in one’s bred—judges, handlers, breeders, and owners who show.

o   Joining the German Shepherd Dog Club of America (GSDCA).

o   Attending seminars and educational programs sponsored by the GSDCA.

o   Reading the German Shepherd Dog Review and other GSD magazines (such as the German Shepherd Quarterly).

o   Referencing the annual Redbook published by the GSDCA and the Bluebook (which has articles dealing with health and genetic issues relative to the GSD).  You will find timely information and helpful interviews with breeders, up-to-date health issues and highlights, as well as shown results, etc… 

o   Reading as much as possible, not only about the GSD of today, but of yesterday as well.  There are a fair number of older (30+ years) books available.

Opportunity.  Each breeder, owner, or exhibitor is given opportunity to develop.  Is (s)he presented with, or does (s)he seek out, the necessary new experiences while being mentored and coached by a highly functioning, experienced expect—a mentor or coach who will guide, instruct, correct, allow for practice and experimentation during these reality development periods?  A good mentor will not merely instruct the mentee.  They will offer options, advice, and knowledge and allow the mentee to discover through real-life encounters and not simply instruct with the “Do it my way!” mentality.  There is little to be gained with this dictatorial instruction.

James Moses in his interview for The German Shepherd Dog Review (June 2010) stated…  “You need to stay involved with people who are dedicated to the breed and not just what the current fad is.  I hope to learn about this breed until the day I die.  I learn something new every week and hope I never think that I know everything (34).”

Luck.  This involves having the good fortune of everything coming together naturally—being in the right place, at the right time, with the right people.  Nem and Percy Elliott write in the The Complete German Shepherd Dog concerning luck…

“Without this you get nowhere.  You can plan all you want and be correct in all your assumptions but without luck there is nothing.  The more knowledge and common sense that you possess the more you can cut down the odds and not rely on luck so much (82).”

          

So the question is:  Where are you on this continuum of real-life experience in the area of German Shepherd Dogs?  How many hours have you put in?  Are you progressing toward a higher level of knowledge or simply repeating elementary knowledge of the breed?  You might have 20,000 hours of experience, but only in the more rudimentary areas of knowledge within the breed.  Are your experiences building or scaffolding upon prior knowledge?

All the best in the journey!

The 10,000-Hour Rule

A spirited debate has existed among psychologists for at least several generations regarding the question of whether expertise in a given field is gained through innate talent or intensive practice and experience. Malcolm Gladwell in his book Outliers seeks to discover why some people succeed far more than others. Gladwell argues that the true story of success is much more complex than innate talent. He postulates the theory, with abundant supporting research, that one’s rise to top of any given field is determined by what is described as the “10,000-Hour Rule.”

This theory is based largely on a study by K. Anders Ericsson. According to Ericsson, Prietula and Cokely, new research shows that outstanding performance is “the product of years of deliberate practice and coaching, not of any innate talent or skill.” In their article, entitled The Making of an Expert, they outline three key factors that underlay elite performance in a given domain. These factors are deliberate practice; outstanding coaching, feedback and mentoring; and a significant investment of effort over time (typically ten years or more).

Gladwell claims greatness or expertise requires far more than a God-given talent. The 10,000-Hour Rule is centered upon three pillars. The first is that achievement is talent plus preparation. Researchers have largely agreed on what they believe is the number for true expertise: 10,000 hours.

Daniel Levitin in his book This is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession writes: “The emerging picture from such studies is that ten thousand hours of practice is required to achieve the level of mastery associated with being a world-class expert—in anything. In study after study, of composers, basketball players, master criminals, and what have you, this number comes up again and again. Of course, this doesn’t address why some people get more out of their practice sessions than others do. But no one has yet found a case in which true world-case expertise was accomplished in less time. It seems that it takes the brain this long to assimilate all that needs to know to achieve true mastery (197).”

Obviously, ten thousand hours is an extraordinary amount of time that requires an encouraging and supporting team to achieve. 10,000 hours is roughly 3 hours a day times 10 years. Furthermore, not all hours of practice or experience are equal. This level of practice must be deliberate, intentional. It requires not simply monotonously repeating tasks and experiences, but building upon previous knowledge and experience. This is what is called scaffolding in education where strategies are developed and implemented to assist learners to succeed through support and experience by activating prior knowledge, building new experiences based upon past successes and failures, providing clear direction, clarifying purpose and expectations, and establishing momentum. The 10,000 hours must, therefore, be intense moving from one level of understanding to new heights of knowledge and experience at each new level.

The second pillar is opportunity. If one is to achieve the 10,000 hours of intensive practice to become an expert, there has to be some kind of opportunity for this practice to take place. This will often take the form of family or friends who will enable the expert-in-training to be able to escape some of the pressures of every-day life to embark upon a journey toward expertise. Normally top achievers also work closely with teachers, coaches or mentors who have reached high levels of performance themselves. This expertise requires individuals who will give of themselves and share their positive successes and painful failures of the past to motivate and guide.

The third pillar is luck. Gladwell illustrates this point by examining the formative years of Bill Gates and several others. The computer savvy Gates succeeded in part as a result of an incredibly lucky series of events—connecting with the right people at the right time in the right location.

What does this have to do with breeding and showing German Shepherd Dogs? Everything!! The question before us is simply this: What does it take for a breeder, owner, and exhibitor of the German Shepherd Dog to become an expert?? There are a number of stalwarts in the breed today. I can name quite a few and you probably can, as well. How did they become the experts they are?? And who influenced them??

In the next blog, I will seek to contextualize the 10,000-Hour Rule to breeding and showing the German Shepherd Dog. What might the 10,000 hours of intensive practice look like for the breeder, owner, exhibitor of German Shepherds??

Successful Breeding

Last year I purchased an older book (first published in 1961 by Kaye & Ward Ltd, The Windmill Press, Kingswood, Tadworth, Surey, Great Britian with seven subsequent editions) by Nem and Percy Elliott entitled The Complete German Shepherd Dog. This is an entirely revised edition of The Complete Alsatian.

This title had been on a recommended listing of books about the German Shepherd Dog I had found in another book which I had recently read. In addition, I was particularly interested in this book as I had shown several German Shepherds under the co-author, Percy Elliott, while living in Kingston, Jamaica in the mid-1990s. Both Nem and Percy were international judges and recognized authorities on the German Shepherds.

There is much guidance to be found within this book on every aspect of the German Shepherd’s care to the establishment of a kennel and an accounting of training for character, the show-ring, competitive obedience and working qualifications. The novice and inexperienced breeder will find this book helpful. More experienced breeders will find essential information on important bloodlines listed of British, German and American award winning from the first shows ever held.

The contents of this book are presented in six (6) sections:

1. Breed History and Standard

2. Breeding

3. Modern Bloodlines

4. Care and Management

5. Showing and Training

6. Records of Champions (British, German and American)

In addition, you will find a well-written glossary and excellent index.

I would like to highlight briefly three (3) key ingredients necessary to be a successful breeder gleaned from the pages of Chapter 2: Practical Breeding. These elements that constitute a successful breeder are conclusions that the Elliotts have drawn based upon over forty years of breeding. Breeders normally strive to better their breed through the development of a guide or system of breeding which will undoubtedly produce better and lastly results.

The Elliotts postulate that breeders are always looking for a secret to success and that this is, in fact, natural and commendable. Many breeders seek to find  a formula, perhaps even scientific procedure, that they hope will work to aid them in being successful and competitive. The authors state unequivocally that there is no secret formula. Instead they simply outline three (3) ingredients which are necessary to be a successful breeder.

The first is breed knowledge.

“You must know what a good dog or pigeon is like, otherwise how can you hope to produce it (82).”

The second is ‘common sense’.

“If ever there was a misnomer, this is it! When one looks around in many walks of life, this so called ‘common’ commodity is rather rare isn’t it? . . .The ability to see to the core of anything seems to be beyond some rather clever people. I don’t think common sense can be taught, it comes naturally or not at all (82).”

The third essential is luck.

“Without this you get nowhere. You can plan all you want and be correct in all your assumptions but without luck there is nothing. The more knowledge and common sense that you possess the more you can cut down the odds and not rely on luck so much (82).”

Elliott continues to state that “it is my opinion that there is unlikely to be ‘scientific’ breeding in this hobby, and I suppose, to be honest, I hope not too. To breed scientifically one would need to keep many animals to carry through a programme. This would be too many for the good of the breed. Who would ever be able to keep the necessary number and give the correct environment a Shepherd deserves? I believe it is better to proceed in the old fashioned way but with one proviso. That is that breeders and ruling bodies exercise concern for the breed that we all profess to have, be less secretive about breeding results, make known anything of importance, good or bad. If we pool our knowledge and exercise such common sense as we have we ought to improve the ration of good ones. This is what breeding is about not the occasional good one and lots of faulty or insignificant specimens (82).”

Know the breed! Possess common sense! Be lucky! I hope that you have noted that the order of the key ingredients seems to be our importance. If you possess common sense, in general; but lack knowledge of the breed—you will probably fail! If you are lucky; but lack knowledge of the breed—you may obtain or breed a good one, but you will probably not be able to sustain your success in the future! Knowledge of the breed; first and foremost! Knowledge of the breed is at the heart of successful breeding. Knowledge of the breed is the bedrock of successful breeding! Knowledge of the breed must be at the center of your system; coupled with a good dose of common sense; with a bit of good luck and fortune sprinkled about!

This book will be well worth the very meager amount spent. You will be able to find it through Amaxon.com or other online book sellers. Here’s to a good, successful breeding program!!

Principles for Breeding & Showing GSDs by Jason Lyle

Lyloak's Sugar Maple, TC, PT

My introduction to the German Shepherd Dog began in Kingston, Jamaica. My father bought me my first GSD, Hychas Janel. I called her “Beauty.” My family owned a number of German Shepherds and Doberman Pinchers that protected the school compound on which we lived. I began showing dogs in Jamaica and was a junior handler there often showing German Shepherds, Doberman Pinchers and even Rottweilers. When my family moved to New York in 1996, we brought back with us a young German Shepherd which my father had bred and we showed him here.


In 2000, my father purchased a bitch puppy, Signore Amber’s Lucia Mia, for me while I was a college student at the University of Maine. In 2004, I bred that bitch to “Dallas.” From that very first litter I kept the only bitch in the litter, Lyloak’s Sugar Maple TC, PT. “Sugar” has become my foundation bitch. In 2009, she was the number 6 Futurity/Maturity producing bitch in the county. She has already produced three outstanding progeny: BIF CH. Lyloak’s First Knight, BIF CH. Lyloak’s Fresca, and RFB Lyloak’s Isn’t She Lovely. At almost 11 yrs old Lucia Mia has been retired for several years now and is my home protection system. To date, I have owned/breed 4 Champions.

I have learned so much since being in the breed. In the remaining portion of this article, I would like to share a few principles which I have gained from my experience and observations about German Shepherds and applied to breeding and showing of German Shepherds.

#1—I recently heard the following quote; “Just when I thought I knew everything is when I really started to learn.” This is probably the most accurate quote about breeding and showing German Shepherds. One never knows enough—keep striving for a higher level.

#2—Malcolm Willis writes that “an inability to see the faults in your own dogs while seeing numerous (both imagined and real) in everyone else’s dogs is a major failing in some dog breeders.” You need to be your worst (or in retrospect your best) critic.

#3—Don’t get too attached to any dog in your kennel. Too often, breeders get attached to a specific dog or puppy in their kennel no matter how good or poor the dog is. Attachment to mediocre dogs often locks breeders in to mediocre dogs. This results because most breeders have facilities for a limited number of dogs. When the potential for a better quality dog becomes available they have no room in the kennel to add a new dog or grow out a puppy.

#4— Don’t keep males unless they have potential to be a top-quality male. In other words, build your kennel on bitches, you can use any stud in the county on the day you need him for merely his stud fee.

#5—If you are considering adding a dog to your kennel, it is best to add an older puppy or young adult, preferably at least 9 – 12 months or older versus a young pup. The older the pup/young adult the better. With an older pup, you will be able to know the status of hips, elbows, bite, teeth, ears, show attitude, record, etc. This information, of course, is not available when buying a young pup.

#6—Know the Standard and bred to the Standard. Don’t get caught up in fads or trends.

#7—Breeders should want everyone in the breed to bred good dogs. Obviously, I want to be as competitive as I can and breed the very best GSDs I can. However, I want everyone to improve their breeding stock and not fail. Breeders should want other breeders to bred good dogs and improve the gene pool. Breeding good dogs will bring benefit to ALL of us. We all need good studs to go to which are from different lines. Let’s encourage each other and improve the breed!

My wife and I, along with our daughter Selena, enjoy getting together at club activities. It is truly wonderfully that, through the German Shepherd, we can meet and form friendships with such a diverse group of individuals and participate in activities such as herding, obedience, and showing!

My Introduction to the German Shepherd Dog

CH. RMB/BIF Lyloak's Fresca

The ownership of my first German Shepherd Dog (GSD) occurred out of necessity. I had been appointed by The Salvation Army as the Principal and Administrator of the School for the Blind and Visually Handicapped Children in Kingston, Jamaica in August 1992. The school occupies approximately 12 acres in the Havendale section of the city. The compound is comprised of an administrative block, a classroom block, separate compounds for male and female students, a deaf-blind unit, as well as, a kitchen/dining hall and numerous smaller buildings. When I arrived in my new appointment, the school was experiencing a rash of unauthorized individuals who would enter the property and steal anything of value from fruit and vegetables being grown for the school’s consumption to the students’ laundry as it was placed on clothes lines to air and dry.


I purchased my first GSD, a young dog puppy, locally-bred and registered through the Jamaica Kennel Club. “Brutus” would become the first of a number of GSDs purchased to provide protection for our compound and discourage thieves from entering the property. Needless to say, the occurrences of theft diminished rapidly and become non-existent in a matter of months once my GSDs were introduced onto the compound. Not long after the purchase of Brutus, I was introduced to a breeder of GSDs whom I became a close friend. I purchased several puppies from Mr. Hughlet Charles and eventually used his dog, Ch. Kimbo of Hychas, to breed to an adult bitch I had purchased.

Among this very first litter, born under the kennel name of “Gailin,” was a very promising dog that I named Alex the Great of Gailin. Alex won the Best Locally Bred Puppy Award and I received the Breeder of the Best Locally Bred Puppy Award in one of Alex’s first shows in November 1994. Alex continued to be shown in the German Shepherd Club specialty shows (two per year) and the Jamaica Kennel Club all-breed shows (two per year). Alex was shown under a number of judges including Percy Elliott of England, Freddie Christensen of Norway, Fred Lanting and Ralph Ambrosio of the USA.

These shows featured a rather large entry of dogs, normally about 50. Another helpful element was the judge’s critique for each dog which was published with the show results in the club’s newsletter.

During my four years (1992 – 1996) in Jamaica, I bred and showed both GSDs and Doberman Pinchers. I was a member of the Executive and Journal Committees of the Jamaica Kennel Club in 1995 -1996. As I prepared to return to the USA in June of 1996, I contemplated selling Alex in Jamaica and purchasing a show quality puppy once I arrived home. I spoke to Ralph Ambrosio, as he judged Alex’s last show in Jamaica in April 1996, and inquired if he could help find a suitable puppy for me once I returned home. He encouraged me to return to the USA with Alex and show him. At that point in time, Alex had earned 13 points toward his Jamaican Championship (15 points necessary). This was the course of action which I took. Alex was shown in the USA and won Winners Dog in three different all-breed shows. I lost Alex several years ago; but without a doubt, one of the best decisions I ever made was to bring Alex back to the USA. A special thanks to Ralph Ambrosio.

In 2000, I purchased a bitch puppy, Signore Amber’s Lucia Mia, locally for my son who at that time was a college student at the University of Maine. In 2004, he bred that bitch to “Dallas.” I joined the Northern New Jersey German Shepherd Dog Club, Jason joined the German Shepherd Dog Club of Southern New Hampshire, and we both belong to the German Shepherd Dog Club of America.

Lucia Mia has been retired and is the home protection system for Jason in New Hampshire. Lucia Mia’s daughter (from the Dallas litter) is now the foundation bitch for the Lyloak kennel.

We recently (February 2009) completed the championship on our first home-bred champion: CH. Lyloak’s First Knight. Knight is from Lyloak’s Sugar Maple, TC, PT (Dallas daughter) and 2007 GV Ch. Welove Du Chien’s Army of One. Jason also finished (August 2009) a bitch—CH. Look Ma No Hands of Edan. Her call name is Widget. This bitch was purchased from Ann Schultz of Michigan. Widget is out of Select Excellent Ch. Welove Du Chien’s Rollins and I’ve Got It All of Edan. Widget was the Reserve Maturity Bitch in the Mid West Futurity/Maturity in 2008.

The 2009 Futurities/Maturities proved very successful with the following results:

Best in Futurity at the Great Lakes Futurity—CH. LYLOAK'S FIRST KNIGHT, DN203233/08, 12/23/07. Breeder: Jason Lyle. By: Ch Welove Du Chien's Army of One X Lyloaks Sugar Maple,TC,PT. Owner: Jason S. Lyle & Joe Bihari.

Best in Futurity at the North East Futurity—LYLOAK'S FRESCA, DN203233/07, 12/23/07. Breeder: Owner. By: Ch. WeLove DuChiens Army of One X Lyloaks SUgar Maple,TC,PT. Owner: Jason S. Lyle.

2nd Intermediate Bitch at the Northeast Futurity—DEPAHL'S FINESSE AT LYLOAK, DN216560/06, 01/11/08. Breeder: Owners. By: Ch. Marquis Stealing The Show X Ch. DePahl's Brandy. Owner: Jason S. Lyle & Denise Black-Hollister.

2nd Junior Maturity Bitch at the North East Futurity—DO NOT PASS GO OF EDAN, DN193502/02, 09/07/07. Breeder: Ann Schultz. By: Ch. Good To The Last Dropof Edan X You Go Girl of Edan. Owner: Jason S. Lyle & Robin Lyle.