PAL Breeder August 1999

Interview with the Breeder
Jim Grundig

BLACK - To - BLACK
WINNERS

Jim Grundig often has the very blackest of thoughts. But fear not - it merely means that Jim is hard at work planning the next stage in his Lhasa Apso breeding programme. Judy Chapman reports.

Nahemja means "black prince" in Tibetan. Portentous then ( even "spooky", as the late Dame - now Mrs - Edna Everage might say ) that Jim Grundig should choose this as his kennel prefix - for although Jim has had noteworthy wins with Lhasas of both sexes and a variety of coat colours, it is invariably his black males that have brought him his success !

A classic case in point is the kennel's current superstar, International, Nordic, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Finnish Champion, World Winner '98 and Australian Grand Champion Nahemja Dudley Dan. Paul Stanton, who gave Dudley the Group at the Talk To The Animals Show when he was judging in Australia back in 1996, was so impressed with his potential that he took the dog back to Sweden with him - and subsequently campaigned him throughout Europe.

The greatest thrill for Jim was visiting the World Dog Show in Helsinki last year and seeing Dudley take Best of Breed from an international line-up of 45 Lhasas.

All this is certainly a Quantum leap from when Jim purchased his first Lhasa Apso from a pet shop some 21 years ago, for the sole purpose of keeping his pet Great Dane company. Jim had never realy liked small dogs, much prefering breeds such as Boxers, German Shepherds and Danes as his chosen canine companions. Nor was he remotely interested in exhibiting, until he eventually went along to a few shows - and from then on was hooked !

Jim explains his change of heart : "Lhasas are really little dogs trying to be big dogs. In fact they'll bark at the biggest of dogs. They really get you with their personality. And I like the fact that they're such tough, robust, independant little dogs - who do things on their own terms. It suits me that they're the kind of dog that will spend five or ten minutes with you, and then go off and do their own thing." Eleven years ago, when he first met up with Steve Farnham, Jim had four Lhasa Apsos. He says that "if the dogs hadn't approved of Steve, he would have got his marching orders". Fortunately everyone got along famously ! Today Jim and Steve share their home with 20 Lhasa Apsos - while going to dog shows, and trying to breed the perfect pup, have become a consuming passion.

Jim says that Lhasas ( which average four to five pups per litter) are easy to whelp and rarely require a caesarean. Although he has bred numerous litters over the past 20 years, Jim initially sold all black, and brindle, puppies off as pets. The irony of that, of course, is that his "men in black" have now very much become Nahemja's signature trademark. In fact, he and Steve recon they have just about cornered the black market! So, having bred more than 20 Champions (four having come from just one litter) and enjoyed considerable success in the showring, not to mention having Nahemja Lhasas now strutting their stuff as far afield as Canada and New Zealand - to what does Jim Grundig feel he owes his success?

"Breeding to type", he explains, "plus retaining many of the 'old' characteristics that made the breed what it is. It is possible to also breed for pizzazz while still keeping these classic, original traits."

In Jims opinion breeders really need to have a five year plan, in order to follow the progress of pupsthey have bred, and evaluate them - thereby helping to set the future direction of their breeding programme. "You don't feel confident with Lhasa pups until they are around 12 months of age, and even then dogs don't fully mature until they are around five to six years of age. It's not 'til then that Lhasas are really in their prime." He cites the required reverse scissor bite as being one of the hardest features of the breed to perfect.

Novices are advised to "look at all kennels and do your homework before buying into the breed. Check out a puppy's parents - and grandparents if possible. And don't be taken in by the conditions imposed by some breeders."

Jim continues, "start off withjust one dog until you see how well you can manage the coat. With this breed you must make a real commitment to regularly putting aside time for grooming. Be prepared for a massive 'blowing' of the coat - bitches in particular can be almost bald a couple of months after the season. Only when you are sure you can manage the coat should you contemplate getting yourself any more Lhasa Apsos." Jim's grooming regime consists of using "a Mason Pearson brush, then a pin brush and then a comb, but whatever you do, don't groom too hard." He neatly trims the feet and cuts back the body coat to ground length - "anything longer is a waste and distracts from the overall picture, plus dogs with too much coat don't gait as well." He says that it is necessary to "groom at least once a week and shampoo just prior to a show. I use a lanolin shampoo and conditioner but take care not to soften the coat too much as it needs to have a harsh overlay - or else the dog can be penalised in the ring. Make sure that you don't have the dryer too hot, or too close, as it will burn the coat, if not the dog, and the hair will tend to break off."

Jim points out that although it is "the long whiskers and facial furnishings that contribute to the look of an oriental old man" that is so characteristic of the breed, it is incorrect to have a "coat that resembles a Shih Tzu - a Lhasa's coat should not be as thick, nor should there be as much." To further protect the hair, Jim deliberately does not put collars on any of his dogs, as he considers this can damage the coat.

"First and foremost, you must let your lhasa Apso be a dog - and not a robot, if it is to do well in the showring," he advises. "Lhasas are agile little dogs that need to be allowed to run and jump and express their personality, not be wrapped in cotton wool and treated like toys."

Jim prides himself on the temperament of his dogs - both in and out of the ring. To encourage the right attitude for showing, he recomends socialising puppies early on and playing with them both down at ground level and also while getting them used to being up on a table. "My pups are also put through their paces everyday until they get the hang of what will be required of them in the showring. Additionally, I will often put the young ones on a lead and take them along to shows with me, to get them used to being around other people and dogs. I encourage people to touch them, look in their mouths, and play with them," he says. One of the main reasons for Jim's success, however, is undoubtedly correct feeding. He attributes much of the bloom on his dogs to feeding PEDIGREE® Professional Formula. "It certainly gives my dogs much better coats and makes them look a lot healthier." He says, "Babies start off on the new hydrated puppy food, which they love, and then go onto the Growth formula until they are six to twelve months of age. It gives me really good boning on my pups and I don't have to supplement feed - the pups just thrive on it. My adult dogs are fed on Professional Formula Adult Performance dog food, and also do exceptionally well on it.

Meanwhile, it's "black" to the showring for Jim, Steve and their stable of Lhasa Apsos - in a valiant attempt to outdo even Dudley's dazzling deeds !