Ironstone Am-staffs Started in 1997 when I began a
co-ownership with a long time family friend, Debra
Hubbenette of Bluessence Am-staffs. Together we co-owned
Isabelle (AKC CH Wood's Forest EZ Bluessence) and Debra
started teaching me how to handle the am-staffs in the
show ring. My first show was the Golden Gate Kennel Club
dog show, where I handled my first am-staff, Bruiser, CH
Bluessence EZ Bentley in the Veteran dog class.
I was hooked from that point on. To give a little bit of
history about my family, we have always been involved in
some kind of training or showing of animals. My Great
Grandfather used to be a Thoroughbred racehorse trainer
and later on a breeding manager for Henry Warner of
Warner Bros. My Grandfather was a Jockey and then Later
on a "Gate Starter" for thoroughbred racing in No. Calif.
My Mother, her sister, and brothers all competed in 4H
showing their Cattle, Pigs, and Sheep. So it was just a
natural thing for me to fall right into breeding and showing.
I bred my first litter of amstaffs in 2001 and since then I
have only bred 3 litters. I plan very carefully every
breeding that does take place. Im proud to say that is has
been almost 15 years since I started in this wonderful breed.
After showing at my first show I couldn't wait to go to more
shows. So I got a regular job and started to compete on a
regular basis. Isabelle was a wonderful dog to show and I
started to finish her championship and compete in Junior
showmanship. After a while I started to show Chesapeakes
for my long time mentor and best friend Kathy Miller of
Sandy Oak Chesapeakes. My mother had shown Kathy's
Quarter horses in halter classes about 20 years previous to
this so it was so cool for me to be able to show her dogs.
Kathy had taught me how to ride horses and I spent almost
every waking moment at her house when I was at my
grandmothers for school breaks. Kathy has taught me a lot
about training and handling and if wasn't for Kathy I might
not be where I am today.
So as soon as I got a taste of what it was like to handle
other breeds of dogs I slowly started to branch out and
learn from other handlers on how to groom and handle other
breeds. I have had the honor to mentor under my best
friend and other mom, Tracy Olson ( Cabaret Beagles) my
friend Marj Brooks ( Manorie Dobermans) Mike Stone, and
a few others. I would like to take this opportunity to thank
these people for all their time and knowledge that they
have given me and Im still learning from them!!
All of this time and effort has been taken to help promote
myself and my dogs. I have had several top wining dogs
that I have owned, bred, or handled for other people.
My Goal for the future of Ironstone Am Staffs is to have
first and foremost tempermentally sound, structurally
sound, and last but not least gorgeous looking dogs because
lets face it who wants to have ugly dogs?? LOL!!
I have spent the last 14 years studying and researching
pedigrees as well as studying proper structure. I like to
believe that I have an eye for proper angles and how well a
dog is put together. I hope I can breed some awesome
American Staffordshire Terriers for years to come.
BREEDING PRACTICES
AT IRONSTONE AM STAFFS WE STRIVE TO PRODUCE AM
STAFFS
WHO POSSESS PROPER TEMPERAMENT BUT WITH A
WORKING DOGS ATTITUDE. WE WORK VERY HARD TO
BREED AM STAFFS & APBT'S WHO CONFORM WITH THE
AKC AND UKC STANDARDS BUT WHO STILL HAVE THEIR
NATURAL QUALITIES. IRONSTONE AND KARMA
AMSTAFFS HEALTH TEST ALL OF OUR BREEDING
DOGS.WE TEST HIPS, ELBOWS, PATELLAS, EYES, AND
HEARTS, AS WELL AS ATAXIA.
THE MAIN FOCUS OF OUR BREEDING PROGRAM IS TO
PRODUCE DOGS THAT CAN HANDLE AND WORK ANY
VENUE, WHETHER IT BE IN THE SHOWRING, OBEDIENCE,
AGILITY, RALLY, OR JUST SOMEONES BELOVED PET WE
WANT DOGS WHO CAN HANDLE ANYTHING THAT THEY
EXPERIENCE.
|
|
