Upcoming SWD Litters

I am a founder of the breed in the USA and the breed’s first and longest AKC Breeder of Merit. I am a serious- but not prolific breeder, perhaps producing a litter every 1-2 years and generally for my own needs. Breed type, conformation, health, temperament, work ethic: I want it all! Pups are living-room raised and provided with daily of socialization before they go to their new homes. This year’s litters are co-bred with my wonderful friend and sister-in-dogs Colleen Nolan who has put an impressive number of titles on our co-owned girls including Obedience, Rally Obedience and coursing.  –Lisa Harper

Planned 2019 Spanish Water Dog Litters

I’ve been an AKC Breeder of Merit since the program’s inception in 2010. Unlike other breeders, my girls have rich and full lives before they are bred bringing maturity and confidence to the whelping experience. Not only does this give the girls time to completely grow up (not babies having babies), but they pass their smarts and confidence on to their pups.

Westminster2 Litter due mid-November!  5 pups seen on Ultrasound.

This is a very exciting litter for Ariosa kennel between the 2018 (dam Kai) and 2019 (Sire Hudson) Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show winners. Scroll down for information on how to contact us.

BISS SWDCA National Specialty 2019, Judge Ms. Marie Ann Falconer

Lisa and Kai enjoying the limelight at Madison Square Garden, Judge Peter Green

Dam: GCHS BISS BISOH CH Angel Kiss the S’Kai de Ariosa CD BN RE CAA CGCA, National Specialty BISS 2019, Westminster BOB 2018 — “Kai” 

• Eyes: OFA SWD-EYE35/22F-PI “Normal”
• prcd-PRA: OptiGen SWD-PRA104/23F-PI-CAR “Carrier”
• Hips: OFA SWD-107G24F-VPI “Good”
• Thyroid: OFA SWD-TH59/24F-VPI “Normal”
• See Kai’s family health history here

This may well be the premier litter for 2019/20, blending our wonderful Kai with an international star of similar type and temperament. Pups in this litter will likely all be solid brown, although we might see some surprise white patterns. Kai is lovingly co-owned by Lisa Harper of Connecticut and Colleen Nolan of West Virginia. Lisa (that’s me!) does the showing and breeding. Colleen puts all those wonderful and diverse titles on the the girls.

Sire: GCH (CKC) Zorrazo Xplorer RA AGN AGNJ, Westminster BOB 2019 — “Hudson”

   

• Eyes: SWD-EYE71/29M-VPI “Normal”
• prcd-PRA: OptiGen SWD-PRA99/7M-PI “Normal”
• Hips: OFA SWD-127E24M-VPI “Excellent”
• Thyroid: OFA SWD-TH69/24M-VPI “Normal”
• See Hudson’s OFA records here

Hudson is owned, trained and shown by Marnie Harrison of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He’s a lovely boy with a strong, easy stride, and with just as easy a character. Now retired from the show ring, Hudson enjoys a full and active life of agility, herding and hiking in beautiful Alberta.

Generally, I breed for my- or my co-owner’s own households. We are definitely not prolific puppy producers. Matches are selective and often entail international travel.  Last year, Kai was campaigning in conformation before winning Westminster and our National Specialty. Now we have a break, and it’s time to bring forth the next generation.

To inquire about a puppy from this litter, please send an email of introduction to me!

My standard intro questions are:

1. How did you decide on a Spanish Water Dog? Have you managed to meet one yet?
2. What sort of activities are you and your family into?
3. What is your dog experience?

Scroll down to the very bottom to see the process for getting an Ariosa Spanish Water Dog.

Spanish Water Dog Litter: born February 2019. These pups are thriving in their forever homes.

Dam: “Z” (Ariosa Fundy Bay It’s A Wonderfullife UD BN RAE2 CAX FCAT2 DS DJ CGCA TKI)

• CHIC: 115629
• Hips: OFA Good

• Eyes: OFA Normal
• PRA: Normal
• Thyroid: OFA Normal
• CHG: Normal

See Z’s family health information on OFA here

Sire #1: Ariosa Francisco RRey de Bostón CM (sired two puppies)

• CHIC: 90629
• Hips: OFA Good
• Eyes: OFA Normal
• PRA: Carrier
• Thyroid: OFA Normal
• CHG: Normal 

Sire #2: Concurrido Impavido SSB, FCI Agility Level 3 (sired 3 puppies)

• Hips: A/A
• Elbows: 0/0
• Eyes: Normal
• PRA: Normal
• Thyroid: OFA Normal

The spring 2019 litter had two sires, and each sire produced pups!  The dam, sires and puppies were all paternity-tested prior to puppy placement and registration. Dual-sire breedings are not common, and often one sire will hit the sweet-spot and produce all the pups. Why try? In this case, Z has an ambitious competitive obedience schedule, and we didn’t know if we would have the chance to breed her more than once. Our lucky result was several fine pups from two unrelated sires.

Each of my litters has specific goals in mind. We are hoping to produce a great all-around puppy in this litter. Puppies in my home are always raised in the living room, in the middle of the action.

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The Process to Owning an Ariosa puppy

Pups are assigned to families according to each family’s lifestyle. Pups are evaluated for temperament at 7 weeks and conformation at 8 weeks. Competition, working, and 4-H homes are given top priority. Homes willing to keep their dog intact for possible inclusion in my show/breeding program are also given higher consideration.

1. The process starts with an introduction email from you. Tell me what you are looking for in a pup, where you are located, and what your timeline is. That will get the ball rolling. Email address: ariosaswds@gmail.com .
2. Next, fill out a questionnaire. Most breeders will have a questionnaire of sorts. Mine is designed for me to learn more about YOU, your dog experience, your household dynamic, what you do and don’t want in a companion. Some people go to town on these with photos and stories. I love that!
3. Non-refundable $500 deposit. This tells me you are committed to getting an Ariosa pup. If you decide after making your deposit not to get a pup, the deposit is non-refundable. If, however, I don’t have a pup appropriate to you, then the deposit is fully refundable.
4. Pups are assigned to families after their conformation evaluation at 8 weeks of age. Unfortunately, yearning for a particular pup from pictures does not greatly influence my placement decisions.
5. Pups cannot be shipped cargo. Puppies are to be picked up by their new family at my farm in central Connecticut when they are 9 weeks old.
6. All pups will have docked tails. This is performed by an experienced veterinarian before the pups are 5 days of age. At that time, puppies are not capable of forming memories.
7. All pups will be micro-chipped and registered with the American Kennel Club.
8. The puppies are sold with sensible contracts which we review together before signing.