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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