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| Spaniel Breeding| By Lynn Winchester, North Bend, Washington
36 YEAR OLD SPRINGER SIRES LITTER
( published in Spaniels In The Field - Spring 1996)
The dream is alive! The sire is 36 years old born November
21, 1959. An, English Springer Spaniel was bred to a six generation
grand daughter. It is believed that he is the oldest dog on record
to sire an AKC litter and that this is the oldest semen on record
to produce an AKC litter.
When freezing semen was in its infancy, Dr. S.W.J. Seager DVM of the
Seager Canine Semen Bank did the collection and freeze in Oregon while
performing research on the freezing of dog semen supported in part
with financing by the AKC. That was in 1972 when Chief was 13 years
old. The semen was frozen in pellets and used for the first time 24
years later in 1995.
Am. and Can. Ch. Geiger's Chief Geronimo CD, WD (Chief) was one of
the great sires of the Pacific Northwest, bred and owned by Tillie
Geiger of the Geiger's Hunting Show Springers. Realizing that Tillie
would not live to see the fruits of this endeavor, the ownership of
the semen was transferred to the author. The transfer of the semen
was duly recorded to the AKC by Carol Schubert of the Seager Canine
Semen Bank. At Carol's suggestion both Ch. Alynn's Alaska Maid TD
and the semen were shipped to Dr. David Friddle in Birmingham Alabama
for the surgical insemination as Dr. Friddle has had a very good success
rate.
Dr. Doug Iverson in Kirkland WA followed the pregnancy via blood work,
ultra sound and x-ray. Because of an indistinguishable image found
on the ultra sounds, a "C" section was done producing a
healthy 17-1/2 ounce black and white female.
Several have asked why I wanted to do this breeding: to bring to the
present an old fashioned fellow, tall, lots of freckles - definitely
not the look of today's dog. Chief was a dog well worth bringing into
the present. At 9 months he was Reserve Winners Dog at the 1960 National,
OFA'd at 9 years, became a Canadian Champion at 10 years, and won
group placements. He hunted all his life, hunting one day and showing
the next. He was the backbone of many of the Pacific Northwest great
springers and sire of many champions including National Specialty
winners. Many of us are fanciers of the breed because way back a special
springer had stolen our hearts. To me that was Chief with his dark
brown eyes, a smile on his freckled face and tail in perpetual motion.
But the most endearing quality was his heart as he loved everybody
and passed that quality thru the generations. Although not raised
with children, to see this old gentlemen wrapped in a blanket and
my son, then 2, sound asleep on his back, to me is the true spirit
of the springer.
Was it worth it for just one puppy? OH, YES!! This breed has come
so far from its foundation mainstays. I doubt if there is one breeder
who would not love to bring back their special dog, to have the opportunity
to use him in their breeding program today. How fortunate I am to
have this puppy. Whether Alynn's Time Traveller is a show stopper
remains to be seen, but through her Chief's legacy, as well as the
dream, continues to live on.
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