In 2000, I finally gave up corporate life and a decent salary
to dedicate my life to dogs and the people who love them. Together with
a new business partner, I opened Pup-A-Razzi, a dog training, grooming
and self-serve dog wash facility in Beaverton, Oregon, USA. We've never
looked back.
Spanish Water Dogs
first caught my eye in 1999, meeting
two pups imported from Spain by a friend. From the moment I laid
eyes on them, their intelligence and incredible working drive struck me
square in the face. One of
those pups "Tia" (Bruma de Benamaina),
here playing keep-away with brother Boqueron de Benamaina (now a
multiple Champion in Europe), joined my household.
Until then, I had been solely a Portuguese Water Dog aficionado, training my
PWDs in water work
and agility.
Now my SWDs have joined in the fun. The
Spanish Water Dog in this country is about in the same place as its
Portuguese cousin was 30+ years ago. We have a limited gene pool
(although not nearly as limited as the PWD had it), health issue
knowledge is in its infancy, and there are some temperament issues that
need to be addressed.
I have been very fortunate in having strong mentors in my life. I owe
a great deal to Judy Seibert (Piedelai
Portuguese Water Dogs) and Sebastian Alonso Jimenez (Benamaina
Spanish Water Dogs) for their knowledge, libraries and advice. I studied
the color genetics of dogs. My personal library of
show, competition and breeding books outgrew the bookshelf. I investigated
diseases that related breeds shared and
traveled to seminars on breeding and conformation. Finally, I began
planning a long-term breeding program, focusing on health, conformation,
working drive and temperament.
There are several breed clubs in the US dedicated to the Spanish Water
Dog. However, the Spanish Water Dog
Club, established in 2004 and incorporated in 2005, is the first and
most active club working with the
American Kennel Club towards recognition of the breed in this country.
