What happens when a curious teenager falls in love with a pet store puppy and ends up shaping one of the most respected English Cocker bloodlines in America?
In this episode, Lisa Ross of Winfree English Cockers reveals how a pet store Irish Setter sparked a lifelong passion for breeding dogs that are not only stunning in the ring but healthy, happy, and full of heart. She shares her decade-long road to her first points, the mentors who shaped her journey, and how DNA testing and ethical breeding are redefining the future of purebred dogs.
Tune in to discover what it truly takes to build a legacy in purebred dog breeding — and why health, temperament, and mentorship matter more than trophies.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:42 Meet Lisa Ross of Winfree English Cockers
01:42 Getting Started with Purebred Dogs
03:43 Mentors and Early Lessons
05:49 First Breeding and Vision
08:28 Influential Bloodlines
09:21 Pedigrees and DNA Testing Evolution
10:51 Evaluating Puppies and Breeding Type
12:20 Defining the Winfree English Cocker
13:20 Hallmark Dogs and Bloodlines Through Time
19:04 Breeding Challenges and Heartbreak
22:45 Supporting Puppy Buyers & Building Community
24:39 Collaboration and the Future of Breeding
26:44 Reflections on Success & Legacy
27:18 The Impact of Judges’ Opinion
28:05 The Biggest Challenge of the Breed
28:45 The Optimism for the Future of the Breed
29:23 What Should Breeders Focus On
30:55 Breeders Who Lisa Admires
33:02 Advice for New Breeders
33:49 Winfree English Cockers’ Future
34:41 Where to Find Lisa
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