Even as a small child I was obsessed by animals! I would spend hours on the "Pony rides" at fairs any time I could. I would attend the Circus, read "Lad" books, watch Lassie & Flicka/Rin Tin Tin movies...
 

As a little girl, after attending the local "Bench show" (Golden Gate KC), I would train my old little poodle (with her little bonnet) and my dad's  hairy German Shepherd dog "tricks" to display to my parents! Oh, were those Poor doggies ever Patient with me.  I would put on a little 'show' of sorts, jumping gates, sitting, doing tricks ... anything for a 'cookie' I think. I guess I was Hoping my parents would see enough "talent" in me to buy me a Collie just like Lassie.
 

To occupy my little mind until I was big enough to handle a large dog (or until my poodle passed on) my parents engaged me in 4-H rabbit breeding and showing and in English Horse riding lessons.  Eventually, I was ready to move on from rabbit breeding to sheep raising. I just couldn't handle thinking of a poor little lamb going to the local fair "market" however and I couldn't sleep with a horse so, at 14+ years of age, my parents were somewhat coerced into buying me my long awaited Collie.
 

As my mother began taking me to Fun matches and Conformation classes she decided it was time for her to get her life-long desire, a Doberman. She had had two when my brother and I were tykes in 'the 60's, but as they bit most of the neighborhood kids she was forced to place them.
 

During this time I also volunteered at the Local Humane Society in the Vet Department. I took Vet Technician preparatory classes in High School and worked for a local Vet clinic to gain experience. In my late teens I was eventually employed by the Humane Society as their Primary Vet Tech. In 1979 my mom purchased our 'Baby Doe' as she was affectionately known to the neighborhood.  Eventually Pele matured into the foundation of Foxfire, Am. Ch. Janric's Zerlina V Davanti, WAC. This wonderful bitch is behind just about Every Foxfire Doberman today. (spanning about 5 or 6 generations)  I didn't handle "Pele" to her Championship, Gene Haupt did, but I did put her first two points on her in the 9-12 class (my first points on any dog). Although I wasn't  a good enough handler to finish Pele, that moment made me vow to finish ALL the succeeding generations and with a lot of studying and some GREAT mentors I finished a great many of her progeny.

Starting with Pele's kids (transgressing into client dogs as well, including many other breeds) I finished two from her first breeding. She eventually had a total of six champions out of 10 pups, the first of the Foxfire champions so to speak. I've finished some good (probably 70 plus Foxfire Champions to date and at least as many client Dobermans. Added to that total are four Foxfire-bred Dobermans handled by myself in the DPCA Top Twenty over a total of nine years, numerous DPCA Award of Merits, a DPCA Grand Prize Futurity winner and a BOB from the Veterans Class at Our National Specialty in 1998 with Am. Ch. Foxfire's Devils N Demons (Demon), Pele's grandson.
 

So, all this brings us to the present day where I feel compelled to give 'something back'.  My forte is teaching/writing my 'Conformation Tips' which can be found on the DPCA Breeders Education web site as well as the DPCA web site but I am also open to questions at any time.
 

Judy Doniere has enlisted me for support with the DPCA Breeders Education Committee and I have been asked to head the DPCA Exhibitors Education  Committee as well. (I will head a seminar each year at our National Specialty). Through this I hope to be of help to Breeders and Exhibitors alike, that are starting out as I did, with a single goal in mind -- to preserve and protect the integrity of the Doberman Pinscher!
 

Michelle Santana
Foxfire, USA

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