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Expert Advice: Dog Breeding
AKC Breeder of Merit: Gayle Watkins, Golden Retriever Breeder
Meet Gayle Watkins, breeder of over 100 titled Golden Retrievers that have excelled in multiple sports and co-founder of Avidog International. A Gold-level AKC Breeder of Merit, Gayle Watkins of Highlands, North Carolina, puts the “purpose” in multi-purpose dogs: Her Gaylan’s Golden Retrievers have earned more than 140 American and Canadian conformation, obedience, tracking, Rally and agility championships, as well as Master Hunter titles. Dozens […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeding/akc-breeder-merit-gayle-watkins-golden-retriever-breeder/
| June 22, 2019
![](https://www.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/rhodesian-ridgeback-puppies-running-400x267.jpg)
Expert Advice: Common Conditions
Pet Insurance Discounts for Breeders: Providing a High-Value Benefit at a Low Cost
Breeders want their puppies to live the best lives possible, which is why they take great care to raise each puppy right. From infancy, breeders provide their puppies with high-quality nutrition, socialization techniques, and – eventually - the best home. Breeders choose to invest time, love and resources, so why not invest a little extra protection during the time in a puppy’s life in which he’ll find the most trouble? Breeders are discovering the advantages of enrolling their puppies in pet insurance before they even leave for their new […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/pet-insurance-discounts-breeders-providing-high-value-benefit-low-cost/
| June 10, 2019
![](https://www.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/spotlight_breeder_puppy-400x267.jpg)
Expert Advice: Responsible Breeding
AKC Breeder Spotlight: Beth Lilly of Safari Schipperkes
AKC Breeder of Merit and Bred with H.E.A.R.T. breeder Beth Lilly, owner of Safari Schipperkes, fell in love with her first Schipperke, Smokey, more than 30 years ago. At first, she was “just your average pet owner.” But with encouragement from a friend, she became a dedicated fancier and in the past 23 years has produced 38 champions and had well over 100 health tests performed on them. Smokey passed away at 19 years of age, and Beth said she still misses him. […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeding/akc-breeder-spotlight-beth-lilly-safari-schipperkes/
| June 10, 2019
![Bonnie Threlfall dog breeder](https://www.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Bonnie-2-400x267.jpeg)
Expert Advice: Dog Breeding
Breeder of Merit: Bonnie Threlfall
People in the sport of dogs can wear many hats, and Bonnie Threlfall of Cary, North Carolina, has pretty much donned them all: Born into a dog-show family, she has been breeding her Edgewood English Cocker Spaniels for more than 40 years. After a decade-long stint as a professional handler in the late 1970s into […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeding/breeder-of-merit-interview-bonnie-threlfall/
| March 26, 2019
![](https://www.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Giant.Schn_.pups-in-wagon1-400x267.jpg)
Expert Advice: Dog Breeding
AKC Breeder Spotlight: Mary Falls of Classic Giant Schnauzers of Easentaigh
Mary Falls, an AKC Breeder of Merit, has bred and shown Giant Schnauzers for 28 years under the kennel name Classic Giant Schnauzers of Easentaigh (Gaelic for “Falls House”). She lives on the Bluffs of Baraboo in Wisconsin. She began her work life as a certified veterinary technician and now holds a doctorate in nursing practice. She also bred, raised, trained, and showed Morgan Horses for 20 years. AKC: How did […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeding/akc-breeder-spotlight-mary-falls-classic-giant-schnauzers/
| March 13, 2019
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Expert Advice: Dog Breeding
AKC Breeder Spotlight: Linda Jarvis of Lynaire Airedale Terriers
Linda Jarvis, an AKC Breeder of Merit, started breeding Airedale Terriers in 1984. A resident of New Bern, NC, Linda is a past president and current board member of the Airedale Terrier Club of America and is very active in the sport of dogs, attending seminars and judging. AKC: How did you get started in […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeding/akc-breeder-spotlight-lynaire-airedale-terriers/
| January 9, 2019
![](https://www.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Red-with-Dulce-puppy-training-5mos-400x267.jpg)
Expert Advice: Dog Breeding
AKC Breeder of Merit: Red and Denise Tatro
Harold (“Red”) Tatro III and Denise Tatro of Redglen Lakeland Terriers and Whippets value versatility in their lives as well as their dogs. In the fancy for more than a half-century, this couple from Crowley, Texas, has spanned multiple groups and events with their interests and breeding activities, from conformation to earth dog trials to […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeding/breder-of-merit-red-tatro/
| December 12, 2018
Press Releases
The American Kennel Club Announces 2018 AKC Breeder of the Year Group Honorees
The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to recognize breeding programs from the Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding groups as 2018 AKC Breeder of the Year group honorees. “The individuals that make up these breeding programs have dedicated their lives to the advancement of their respective breeds, producing dogs that are true […]
https://www.akc.org/press-releases/american-kennel-club-announces-2018-akc-breeder-year-group-honorees/
| October 3, 2018
Pages
Advanced Recognition Breeders of Merit
The following breeders have met the requirements for the Breed and Levels recorded at the time of the application. The American Kennel Club is pleased to recognize these breeders for their contribution to the sport and maintaining the tenets of the Breeder of Merit program. (current as of 7/15/24, last updated 7/17/24) [accordion] [accordion_panel title="Platinum"] […]
https://www.akc.org/breeder-programs/akc-breeder-of-merit-program/advanced-recognition-breeders-merit/
| September 25, 2018
![Breeder Cocker Spaniels Puppies](https://www.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Lisa-Gaertner-of-Pinecliff-Cocker-Spaniels-Puppies-400x267.jpg)
Expert Advice: Dog Breeding
Breeder Spotlight: Lisa Gaertner of Pinecliff Cocker Spaniels
Lisa Gaertner of Pinecliff Cockers is a lifelong New Jersey resident and has owned Cocker Spaniels for the past 30 years. She is an AKC Breeder of Merit, member of the American Spaniel Club, treasurer of the Keystone Cocker Spaniel Club, and board member of the Cocker Spaniel Club of New Jersey. In addition to […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeding/breeder-spotlight-lisa-gaertner-pinecliff-cocker-spaniels/
| September 21, 2018