Clara Brown of Santa Rosa, California, has been involved in showing and breeding purebred dogs for over 50 years. She has bred and shown many champion dogs and obedience titles, starting with Belgian Tervuren and Golden Retrievers. She has been breeding and showing Australian Shepherds since 1993. In 2008, she fell in love with the Tibetan Spaniel and began her quest for Tibbies of exceptional quality. She shares her home and life with her five Tibetan Spaniels and several Australian Shepherds and also breeds and shows Windrift Llamas. She is a retired veterinary pharmacist.
AKC: How did you get started in dog breeding?
Clear : My aunt gave me the AKC Complete Dog Book for my sixth birthday. From that point on, I was immersed in all things dog. I started by researching the breeds extensively, studying the bloodlines and learning as much as I could about the breed by talking to different breeders. My first purchase was a show quality Belgian Tervuren puppy from a well known breeder (Hi Time) in Michigan. At the time, I was a teenager living in Goleta, CA, and I arranged for the puppy to be shipped to LAX. I contacted the local kennel club, the Channel City Kennel Club, learned to show my own dog and reached the first of many breed championships. I was addicted to the sport of show dogs and eventually breeding!
It wasn’t until 2019 that I found the first two Tibbies, which became the basis of Windrift. I only started breeding dogs when I felt I had proven that my dogs and I were “worthy” of producing quality offspring. For me, proving one’s worth includes being an active member of my breed’s parent clubs, the Tibetan Spaniel Club of America and the US Australian Shepherd Association, attending and exhibiting in national specialties, showing in conformation and obtain titles. Health clearances and compliance with the AKC breed standard are of the utmost importance. Reproduction should not be taken lightly; it involves passion and dedication. I consider myself a steward of my chosen breeds.
AKC: What is the most important thing to know about Tibetan Spaniels?
Clear : Tibetan Spaniels (Tibbies) are a delicious breed! This is a healthy, durable breed that can live happily in an apartment or country house. Tibbies are sturdy, compact dogs that are confident and simply love life! They are easy to live with, very clean and require minimal maintenance. Tibbies are naturally alert dogs and love to perch on a wall or the back of a sofa to watch over their territory; however, they are not nuisance barkers. In the show ring, they are an excellent breed for the newcomer, as most are owner-managed, low maintenance, and require no special grooming.
AKC: What is your favorite question to ask potential puppy buyers?
Clear : What qualities are you looking for in your companion? What is your experience with the breed? What qualities do you appreciate in the breed? I believe dogs are an amazing gift and I strive to find the right breed and dog for them.
AKC: What are the main qualities you look for in potential owners?
Clear : A strong desire to make the puppy or dog a full member of the family. I am looking for people who are committed to lifelong ownership and are willing to put in the time and work to make this a wonderful human-dog relationship and partnership.
AKC: What is the best advice you would give to beginning breeders?
Clear : Start with the best representative of the breed you can find. Have a plan. You should have your masculine and feminine ideal in mind. Obtain all health authorizations and only breed quality dogs that meet the breed standard. Participate fully in breed club activities. Find a mentor; their knowledge and love for the breed is priceless. Raising good dogs is both an art and a science. Work tirelessly to create the masterpiece!
AKC: Do your dogs participate in AKC sports?
Clear : Yes, mainly in conformation with Tibetan Spaniels. I have competed and excelled in various other venues besides conformation with my Australian Shepherds.
AKC: What is your favorite thing about breeding dogs?
Clear : The people I met and the many lasting relationships that resulted. There are many wonderful people with diverse backgrounds and experiences that I would never have met without this common interest.
AKC: Do you have a favorite breeding story?
Clear : I once sold three puppies from the same litter to neighbors: three individual families on the same street!