Best dog you have EVER owned and/or bred? Why?
Ch. Avanti's All For One Elan is a delight to own. His is intelligent, entertaining, beautiful to look at, and most importantly healthy. To
his credit he had a successful show carrier, and has produced 30
champions.

Best bitch you have EVER owned and/or bred? Why?

What inherited trait is the most difficult to eliminate from a breeding program?
Straight fronts and steep croups are definitely a issue in the breed. I also see many dogs with loose eyes. I have not had that and stay away from it.

What is the most important attribute of a stud dog?
A good stud dog must be able to produce quality dogs when bred with many different pedigrees.

What is the most important attribute of a brood bitch?
A good bitch must be able to produce better than she is and be a wonderful
mother.A bitch that produces well but is a lousy mother is not worth the trouble.

Best dog you have EVER owned and/or bred? Why?
There are two dogs that come to mind.The first was our dog BISS Ch. BRF's DNBDG Beenthere Donethat AOMx2.He was in the Top 20 for 2 yrs and a great show dog and a wonderful example of the breed.

The other dog is CH. Windy Hill's Kodak Moment. As most know, he is a fantastic stud dog. He has been able to produce beautiful individuals from many different pedigrees. He also has a wonderful temperament and is very healthy at 8 1/2 yrs.

Best bitch you have EVER owned and/or bred? Why?
We have 2 bitches that have been very special to us. The first was BISS CH. BRF's Danebridge Shawnee AOM. She was a beautiful bitch that loved to show and was our 1st Top 20 dog. She was also very sound and won a Specialty with Betty showing her at almost 9 yrs of age.

The other bitch is one we have now, CH.BRF's The Lucky One. She has beautiful size and breed type and we look forward to breeding her. She is our first CH from the BBE class.

Current breeders you most admire?
There are a few breeders who have consistently been able to produce quality,healthy dogs and these are the ones I admire most. One of these is Pat Ciampia and Helen Cross of Maitau Danes as well as Mary Barnett of Windy Hill.

Will you mentor new breeders? Yes or no? If so, how should they contact you?
We are always willing to help out newcomers to the breed. The best way to contact us is by e-mail brf10@sbcglobal.net

What inherited trait is the most difficult to eliminate from a breeding program?
Based on what I’m seeing in the ring these days, I would say poor top lines/croups.

What is the most important attribute of a stud dog?
That he is pre-potent. That he produces fairly consistently at least as good, if not better than he is. That his get are long lived and healthy.

What is the most important attribute of a brood bitch?
Basically the same as the stud dog plus, being a good mother.

Best dog you have EVER owned and/or bred? Why?
I’ve been blessed to have owned 3 outstanding stud dogs. First there was BISS Ch Rojon’s Don-Sue Luke v Lost Creek. He was our first champion and a very popular producer in his day. He produced over 20 champions and was GDCA Top Stud Dog in 1993.

Secondly, there was Ch Rojon’s Lost Creek Revelation. “Preacher”, also, produced over 20 champions, several Top 20 competitors, and won the GDCA Stud Dog class in 2000.

And finally, there was BISS Ch Lost Creek’s Joseph Dane Lane that I owned and bred with Sue Mahany. “Joey” exuded breed type, and especially appealed to breeder-judges. He won over 15 specialties from coast to coast and border to border. I felt especially honored when, in a recent interview, the legendary breeder Hazel Gregory, named Joey as one of her top 5 all time favorite Great Danes. He, also, was an excellent producer. Joey was my all-time favorite male Great Dane from an appearance stand point.

Best bitch you have EVER owned and/or bred? Why?
This would be BISS Ch Lost Creek’s Candle N The Wind. I co-owned Diana with Sue Mahany. Diana competed in the Top 20 in 2005 but her most amazing fete was in producing 12 champions, which earned her GDCA Hall of Fame status. She was a double “Luke” granddaughter and a “Preacher” daughter, and was “Joey’s dam, which kind of tied up our breeding program in one neat package..

Current breeders you most admire?
My top two are Ray Cataldi, Jr and Hazel Gregory.

What inherited trait is the most difficult to eliminate from a breeding program?
I think that health problems are the most difficult traits and most important to eradicate with autoimmune being the most difficult and cardio problems being the second. In conformation incorrect neck set and fronts are probably the hardest to improve with croups being second.

What is the most important attribute of a stud dog?
Temperament, health, longevity, type and soundness. Who would want a typey dog who is always sick, has a terrible temperament and lives forever? A good stud dog must be able to not only produce his good traits, but help improve on the bitches. His get should be consistently better than himself.

What is the most important attribute of a brood bitch?
Same as the stud above, in addition to being an excellent mother.

Best dog you have EVER owned and/or bred? Why?
Ch. Sunnyside Lagarada Timber. Timmy typified what the breed should be in size, type, temperament and produced excellent get. Besides that he had outstanding littermates. The quality has continued on through his grand kids and great-grand kids. (Of course with lots of help from the bitches!)

Best bitch you have EVER owned and/or bred? Why?
Ch. Sunnyside California Poppy, CGC. Poppy was very typy and correct, funny, happy and outgoing. She also produced a beautiful litter that has in turn, continued the high quality from generation to generation.

Current breeders you most admire?
Those who are willing to tell the truth, both positive and negative, about their breeding stock, who take responsibility for the pups they produce throughout the lifetime of the pups, who are there for those who purchase from them and who are willing to mentor, help and support all owners of Danes because they love the breed.

Will you mentor new breeders? Yes or no? If so, how should they contact you?
Absolutely! Email preferred at jill@sunstrike-great-danes.com or jillswedlow@mac.com