Current breeders you most admire?
Pat Ciampa & Gina Jaeblon

Will you mentor new breeders? Yes or no? If so, how should they contact you?
Yes - EMail - dmania_5@msn.com

What inherited trait is the most difficult to eliminate from a breeding program?
I don't believe that there is a single most difficult trait to try to eliminate from a breeding program. I think it's important to try to know what problems you have and may be breeding into so you can attempt to not double up on things. Recessives sneak up on all of us all too often.

Health related issues are difficult to eliminate from a breeding program because we either don't have accurate information on the inheritance mode  or limited information on the occurrence in our pedigrees. We don't have accurate tests that can be done early in a pups life to help us 'cull' from our breeding program those dogs that have inherited undesirable or deadly traits. We as breeders don't have a safe and open way of sharing health problems. Breeders still have to worry about ruining their reputation with full disclosure. So, many breedings are done 'blindly' without all the information needed.

Also, we as breeders need to remember that our responsibility is not to just 'eliminate' inherited traits, but to remember not to eliminate overall traits and structure that make our dogs excellent representatives of the Great Dane breed. We need to pay more attention to the overall structure of our dogs. We need to breed away from small, fine boned, poor heads, temperament issues and poor movement that is so prevalent in our breed today.

What is the most important attribute of a stud dog?
The most important attribute that a stud dog can possess is the ability to contribute to a breeding those characteristics that move our breed closer to the ideal Great Dane. I believe a stud dog should look like a male - have good bone, front, solid set down rear and he should pass those things on to his offspring

What is the most important attribute of a brood bitch?
Since a bitch is the back bone of any breeding program it's imperative to have the best quality possible to breed, a person should never start out with a poor or mediocre bitch thinking they can base a program on her, - along with that goes health and temperament. Ideally A brood bitch should be able to whelp naturally and care for a litter.

In every litter I have, I feel if I do not get puppies better than the parents, than I have done something wrong, and if I get less then the parents then I have gone backwards and wasted a breeding.

Best dog you have EVER owned and/or bred? Why?
This is a hard question to answer as I have had many dogs I have liked for different reasons but three in particular, one was the showman, one the producer, another the dog who loved people and the foundation behind the dogs I have today.

For the showdog I would choose Rocket. Ch. Lagarada Reach for the Starz,  Rocket had several titles, BIS, BISS, in the US as well as Canada, CGC, etc. - he won the Top 20 in 2002. Rocket was handled by Cindy Kelly and owned by Carole Brakhage. He was not only a show dog, but a sweet happy dog as well, he has now produced several champion offspring.

My producer would be my AKC BISS/UKC/Int'l Ch. Travis-- (Lagarada's Aspen Gold, ROM) who now is the sire of 44 champions.--he was top stud dog for  2005 for GDCA, won the competetive stud dog class at the national in 2006 and sired the top 20 winner for 2007.

The ambassador was my beloved Timber, Ch. Sunnyside Lagarada Timber, who I bought from Jill Swedlow. Timmy would drag me up to any human just wanting to be petted...he is the grandsire behind all the dogs I have today.

Best bitch you have EVER owned and/or bred? Why?
Another hard question, but I'll chose my Megan - BISS Ch. Lagarada's Megan, who was the dam of the Rocket litter, - she was a healthy dog, had good temperament, showed well, whelped her 2 litters naturally and took care of them...-she produced 9 champions -- and her Granddaughter, Kara, BISS Ch. Lagarada Rocwind XXIV Karat Gold ROM, HOF. Kara was the mother of 10 champions Kara was also the showgirl - she had several group placements as well as her BISS.

Current breeders you most admire?
This is really a tough one to answer as there are so many out there who are doing a great job...People who use health testing and are honest have my vote. Problems come up no matter how much we test or what we try to avoid, but if we have an idea of what we are getting into we can at least have a choice.

Will you mentor new breeders? Yes or no? If so, how should they contact you?
Yes, I welcome mentoring new breeders, -I can be reached at Fran.Lagarada@msn.com

What inherited trait is the most difficult to eliminate from a breeding program?
It depends on the “breeding program”, what stage the program is at and how realistic the breeder’s goals are. Even though there are common areas of weakness in our breed, they are not the same in all breeding programs. So, my answer really is about what virtues and faults you are dealing with regarding two particular dogs and pedigree combinations, therefore it is a difficult answer to generalize. Whichever faults or issues are the most prevalent in your dogs and their pedigrees are obviously going to take more effort to overcome. It takes a step by step plan of execution, a strategy and more than one generation to make lasting gains. Two things I am sure of are, a) short cuts rarely achieve lasting success, and, b) using “bloodline” individuals nearly always leads to achieving deeper, more substantial gains. Bloodline individuals can contribute multiple, complex and lasting virtues, but unfortunately, such individuals have become more and more scarce. However, they can provide huge gains, that you may not even realize at the time as important, gains that you will continue profit from. Also, it is important to realize that once a particular trait is obtained, it takes constant vigilance to maintain it and enable it to be passed on to the next generation. This is where the use of intelligent linebreeding and the philosophy of developing a bloodline becomes so vital. Breeding is about correct priorities, percentages and compromise, while always maintaining a mental picture of what you are working toward. One must always remember that that worthwhile breeding is about honing down and purifying your gene pool to contain the highest concentrations of excellence.

What is the most important attribute of a stud dog?
What is the most important attribute of a brood bitch?
Neither a stud dog nor a brood bitch is more important than the other. Successful breeding is a result of correct combinations, not necessarily just how good the individuals are and surely not just about how much they’ve won. The most important attribute would be that they seriously compliment each other and that would begin with their pedigrees. They also must have breed specific details and “actual excellence” somewhere in their virtues. Unremarkable dogs don’t make good breeding choices. Always ask yourself, “What here, am I trying to preserve?”

Best dog you have EVER owned and/or bred? Why?
Over all, Ch. Rojon’s The Hustler, Ch. Rojon’s Dr. Ly had some of the best parts and Ch. Rojon’s Oh Boy V Mecca Dane was the most beautiful. He was also a superb sire.

Best bitch you have EVER owned and/or bred? Why?
Over all, Ch. Rojon’s Rumor Has It, Ch. Rojon’s Mystify Me was the most stunning and Ch. Rojon’s Please Me was as good as I’ve ever seen. Ch. Rojon’s Rachel Rachel was superbly excellent. Another runner up would be Ch. Rojon’s Daydream Believer. And Rojon’s Daiquiri O Mango was a sensation. Ch. Rojon’s Never Say Never was an excellent producer.

Current breeders you most admire?
Danelane, Elan, GMJ, Giant Step/Rojon (Zanetos), Jerdan, Kochak (Australia), Lost Creek, Maitau, Michaeldane/JayBee, My-Jon and Sandale have been producing high quality Danes over a long period of time. All of these individuals’ sustained success is not accidental and not just good luck.

What inherited trait is the most difficult to eliminate from a breeding program?
a. Commonness - one cannot produce excellence from dogs that don't have it. One can breed away from faults, but a dog without strong virtues can't produce them.

b. Front assemblies, since there are so many components that must fit and work together to have a good front.

c. Lack of unity: Unity (in the standard: 'always a unit') takes balance to the next level. It includes great parts that all fit together well to make a total package - standing and moving.

What is the most important attribute of a stud dog?
Excellence and prepotency, the ability to produce excellence

What is the most important attribute of a brood bitch?
The same as a stud dog. Plus superior health and temperament and the ability to take good care of her puppies.

Best dog you have EVER owned and/or bred? Why?
Ch McEmn Emily's Dickenson CD (Tytus). He was the only male good enough for me to keep. He had excellent breed type, size, substance, and temperament.

Best bitch you have EVER owned and/or bred? Why?
Too hard to pick just one. Best producers were McEmn's Fay Wray and Ch McEmn-Anjari's Ma Belle. Best breed type Ch McEmn's Maggie May, Ch McEmn's Cathryn, Ch McEmn's Olivia, and Ch McEmn's High Maintenance Woman (Cecelia).

Current breeders you most admire?
Whichever ones are producing the excellent Great Danes, and that varies within current breeding programs.

Will you mentor new breeders? Yes or no? If so, how should they contact you?
Yes. My email is nriggsbee@aol.com , and my web site is www.mcemn.com