Dogs have been a major part of my life since the day I was born. I am a second generation Pharaoh Hound breeder and dog sport enthusiast. My mother began breeding Pharaoh's in the early 2000s under the prefix Desert Phoenix, and naturally I followed in her footsteps.. When I was a baby and young child my mother took me to all of the dog sport events with her. As I grew older I knew I wanted to show dogs. Thus, I made my dream into a reality, turning my passion into my profession.
I fondly remember being young, getting into the show leashes and taking one of the dogs into the backyard pretending to "show". I wanted so badly to do it myself. Eventually, when I was old enough my mom entered me in junior showmanship. My first juniors dogs were Emma "DC Sunwind's Alluring Siren SC" and her daughter Arielle "CH DesertPhoenix Emerald Oasis JC". However, being young and showing sighthounds was no easy task. Pharaoh Hounds are independent thinkers and are notorious for challenging young or new handlers. Often this was what I was met with and I became frustrated. My mom told me, "If you can show a Pharaoh Hound, you can show anything." Little did I know that exact quote would impact my life forever.
At around 8 years old my mom imported me my first Pharaoh Hound Violet. Violet became a significant part of my life. At first my mom had been showing Violet because she was quite a handful, extremely high drive. I begged to show her myself, soon my mom caved. Violet and I went on to finish her championship completely myself over professional handlers when I was just 9 years old. Violet became "GCH Farao Anubis I'm All Ears SC".
Soon we built a mutual relationship with our now Co-Breeder kennel Hallam Hounds. We decided to do a breeding of GCHG Hallam's Jake of Arolet "Jake" to our Violet. This cross ended up producing Shelby who is the most titled bitch in Pharaoh Hound breed history! Shelby went on to produce our current stars GCHS Hallam Desert Phoenix Bakhu's Max One In A Million "Max" (Multi Group Winner, Multi National Specialty Winner, Multi Specialty Winner and Reserve Best in Show winner) and CH Hallam Desert Phoenix Bakhu's Marea "Marea" (Multi Best in Field winning).
Meanwhile, I was also upholding a successful juniors career and setting myself up to eventually handle dogs as a profession. I finished numerous championships on several breeds and I apprenticed under many top breeders and handlers for over a decade. I utilize the invaluable knowledge I learned from them collectively to help dogs in my care to reach their full potential. However, one thing I have learned in my lifetime is that you never stop learning. I always open my mind to educating myself as much as possible. Eventually, I hope to retire as a handler and judge dogs internationally. Currently, for the time being I am working on my Junior Showmanship Judging License.
CH Sunwind's Alluring Siren "Emma" and Kendra
Wrote by our Mentor/Co-Breeder Dominic Carota
It is always good to self-reflect especially when assessing decisions related to one’s breeding program. I remember making the recommendation back in 2014 to breed my National Specialty Winning Male (Jake) to a Bitch from Sweden (Violet) who lived here in the United States and who was also out of a Bitch I bred and sent to Sweden in 2005. I made the decision after careful consideration and review of the Pedigrees. Both the Sire and Dam passed all their Health Tests and were assigned a CHIC Number. I was hoping to help my co-breeders with their breeding program and work with this newly created pedigree moving forward once the puppies were on the ground and old enough to properly assess. During the time of the Bitch’s pregnancy and once the puppies were initially on the ground I received such immense negative push back I was honestly quite taken aback…most people who know me realize this in itself is a feat to accomplish. The breeders who came at me with such vitriol were people who I had respected in the breed with two having a modicum of success over the years and one I had deep respect for who produced decades of litters abroad steeped in quality. Although my respect for them diminished in light of their commentary, they are entitled to their opinion whether solicited or not. The litter was not huge and as most litters in my experience (if you are being honest with yourself) you have a few that rise to the top, a few that are "finishable" and those that are clearly companions. Fast forward to this year. The bitch that rose to the top from that litter was bred in 2019 and went on to produce the PHCA’s 2021 National Specialty Winner (Max) as well as the Winner of the 2021 PHCA National Lure Coursing Event (Marea). It takes a village to create these dogs and great co-owners and co-breeders who are amenable to taking on the risks and responsibilities of breeding a litter not to mention the cost and countless hours involved in having one's dog participate in Conformation, Performance and Companion Events.
The moral of story for me was to use the tools you have learned, respect those that disagree with you but forge your own path, take negativity in stride and reach for the stars.
Not all decisions are a home run but in this case it was.
The home run in this case was a great breeding bitch and bitch who is one of the most titled Pharaoh Hound Bitches in Breed History who now is also a Veteran!
Her name is Shelby:
NFC GCH DC DSRTPHNX HALLAM SWEET CHILD O MINE RE MC LCX2 MX MXJ CGC TKN
Loved, co-owned, co-bred and trained by Luciane Terra and Andre Magni
Co-owned and Co-bred by Laura Hughes, Kendra Williams and Myself (Dominic Carota)
Sapphyra Hounds
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