Visa had her first litter last year -- she will have her next and last litter in fall 2009 or spring 2010. I keep changing my mind about which male I want to breed to -- but I know the lines I am breeding to -- they are working lines made up mostly of malinois. Will bring very good nerves, sociability, confidence, and all-around good temperaments -- will also stabilize Visa's drive. Should be a very nice outcross before I cross back into my own lines. For Visa's daughter (I am keeping from the breeding) I want to see what frozen semen I can find that goes back into Visa's pedigree before some certain dogs. There are a couple of dogs in her pedigree that I do not like and so I would like to take the linebreeding further back and accentuate those particular lines. Visa is a dying line and I want to keep it alive, with occasional outcrosses for temperament, health, and type.

Breeding definatly takes dedication. I knew it was hard, going into it, but I didn't know it was an everyday job. I stay up late, researching dogs, lines, pedigrees...I never knew how important a pedigree was before. I can't just look at the dog's health clearances -- I must look at the health clearances of the dog's parents, littermates, offspring, etc. I email breeders on an almost daily basis, trying to gather as much information about certain dogs as I can. I am proud to know Visa's pedigree very well and am still very open to learning anything new. I know some people here have showed interest in a Visa pup in the future; Feel free to ask me about the strengths and weaknesses in her pedigree, as I am very open and honest about any issues. Or if you decide to go with another breeder, still feel free to do the same -- I will not be at all upset to know you are looking elsewhere.

I also agree -- rescuing and fostering is very important. I almost always have litters of kittens for adoption, and I keep momma cats while they are waiting for their spays and transports. I don't often foster dogs, as I don't have the space, but I am moving soon to a bigger house so hopefully that can change. I try to educate people as much as possible about pet shops, puppy mills, backyard breeders, etc. It feels like a wasted effort most times, but hopefully it does make a difference.