We talk with Joe and Leslie Beccia & Tari Kridler, breeders and owners of
2007 FVX BIF Sel CH Signature's Miami v. Kridler.

Editor's note: The Beccias and Tari Kridler have been breeding and showing German Shepherd Dogs for more than 30 years.

The three already owned a Grand Victrix - and Tari had bred and owned 2X Sel CH Quno - before Miami went BIF (and Select) at this year's National, making them the 2007 Breeders of the Year.
 

2007 FVX BIF Sel CH Signature's Miami v. Kridler OFA

Photo courtesy Joe and Leslie Beccia & Tari Kridler Miami was also the 2006 GSDCA National Reserve Winners Bitch from the 9-12 puppy class under Mr. Dan Smith.

GSDbyDesign: How long have you been in GSDs, and why this breed (what interested you)?

Tari Kridler: I grew up loving German Shepherds, as it is in my blood. My grandfather raised Police K9s in the early 1960s for the local Police Department. He passed away when I was only 4 years old, but I remember a few dogs and always told my parents that I wanted to follow in Grandpa's footsteps. 
 
Joe Beccia: I have been involved with German Shepherds on and off for over 35 years. First with my father and twice now with Leslie. We took a break to raise three girls and to start a business.  As far as why German Shepherds: There is no other breed. 

GSDbyDesign: What year did your first CH come? Who was it?

Tari: My First Champion was CH Kridler's Sweet Sunshine ROM OFA.  "Sasha" obtained her Championship in 1993(?) I think that is the year. I bred her. She was the product of a BIS CH Custom Made son, bred to an Andretti daughter. 
 
Joe: In our most recent entry back into dogs, Ruby in 2002 would be our first Champion and we just moved on from there with 8 or 9 Champions bred and or shown since then. 

RUBY 2002 Sel #2, 2003 Am/Can GVX Sel CH Kridler's Ruby v. Highland Acres ROM OFA	CELEBRATION (From left) Paula Cianciolo, Morris Bartucci, Leslie & Joe, and Tari celebrate Ruby's win.
Photo courtesy Tari Kridler	Photo courtesy Joe and Leslie Beccia

GSDbyDesign: Did you have a foundation bitch? If not, is there a more recent dog/bitch who is now prevalent in your lines because of his/her producing ability?

Tari: My foundation bitch has become the two girls. I feel the word Foundation means who is the predominant dogs in your lines.  I first started with "Sasha" and then purchased Highland Acre's Angie. Angie is Ruby's dam. 
Sasha is behind almost Everything here, and Angie is a very close second. 
 
Joe: I do not believe having a single foundation bitch is a good idea, limiting yourself to a single bloodline. However Ruby's mother, Angie, would be the most dominate bitch at this time.  Angie gave us Ruby, her half-brother Armani, who gave us CH Heathbar, who gave us CH Bugsy Segal, and of course Miami through Ruby. 

GSDbyDesign: Tell us about MIAMI - how her breeding came to be, and how you chose her. Can you compare that experience to RUBY and QUNO?

Tari:  Miami is a product of Joe Beccia.  Joe wanted to breed Ruby to "Bailey" because of "Bailey's" dominance to produce type and movement.  I was hesitant because of line-breeding on "Iggy."  I just wasn't sure that was something I wanted to do.  Joe just knew that Bailey was "It."   Miami was the star from the get-go, though her sisters, Vegas, Milwaukee, and Eau Claire were close, and we couldn't have been more blessed with such super girls.  Compare the wins . . . No, I don't think you can.  Each win is Fabulous.  Each dog deserves it's own place in the History books. 
 
Joe: After seeing the consistent quality and the type of dogs I wanted to own being produced by Bailey, I knew I had to try this breeding.  I always believed Ruby was a special bitch and each breeding we made was to enhance and improve the quality of the next generation. But the click between her and Bailey gave us her best litter. Picking Miami out of the litter was a constant study. We watched and compared all the girls for weeks until, at eleven weeks, we were finally able to see the movement we wanted and chose her, although it was close between 3 of the girls.

GSDbyDesign: Please compare these three experiences:  Watching MIAMI go FVX and SEL; watching RUBY go GVX; and watching QUNO go WD at the National, then 2X SEL. 
Tari: As I said above, Quno, Ruby, and now Miami, are all SUPER STARS.  For me it is Super Sweet knowing that my "Sasha" is behind each one of them and she lives on through her progeny. A win like Quno did, totally unexpected, NOT BY any means that we "expected" Miami or Ruby to win, but my Quno was an underdog totally. He had an unknown handler, was  shown hardly at all, and even I was a "nobody" Novice person. And I don't feel like I'm a Somebody now, but I had only just started really getting a grip on movement, structure and even type when we went to the Nationals with Quno and his sister, 2X Sel CH Que Sera Sera. It was a very Surreal Experience. I know that Ruby winning GVX in both US and Canada is a once in a lifetime Treasured Moment, and Miami going FVx and Sel as a "baby" as well, is the Icing on my cake.  
 
Joe: Having Ruby go GVX in Canada and then again in the US was an unbelievable experience and one we never expected to happen to us. Yet having Miami go FVX and Select was very fulfilling knowing that we were able to carry on the quality from mother to daughter. Each win was so exciting and yet hard to compare one to the other, we are just thankful to be able to compete at that level and come out with the win. 

1997 US National Winners Dog 2X Sel CH Kridler's Quno v. Rowley OFA Exc

GSDbyDesign: At the National this year, how well did think Miami might do in the Futurity Finals and in Specials under Ed Barritt?

Tari: Well, if you watch Miami in movement, you can see she is a spectacular mover. She has such correct suspension and follow-through, that I felt all along she was going to be top. You go to the National, watch all these beautiful dogs and stop and think . . . naw . . . we're not going to win . . . then, some how, some way, things just fall into place. It is soooo exciting.  Winning is sooo much fun.  
 
Joe: We felt confident that Miami would be competitive in the Futurity finals. She has a wonderful sidegait along with being clean coming and going, and we were hoping Carmen would like her. We were also aware of the other bitches that had won their Futurities and knew it would be very difficult to win. We have not seen Carmen's critique of her yet, but we are assuming he appreciated her clean movement and beautiful topline. 
As far as in Specials under Ed (Barritt), I actually thought she was too young and immature to be shown in Specials yet, but we all wanted to show her under Ed because he gave Ruby her #2 Select in the US and GVX in Canada. Miami getting Select at such a young age was just the topping for a great weekend and we are just grateful these two judges found her good enough to win as she did. 
 

GSDbyDesign: Who has influenced your breeding program the most?

Tari: There are several Top Kennel breeders that I watched, learned from, and followed.  I loved listening to Joan Ford. She first taught me about shoulder opening and rear follow-through. Fred Migliore taught me about overall "picture" of the dog, as well as temperament.  John DeHope and Dave Rinke taught me about structure importance.  
 
Joe: In all my years of watching German Shepherds, I have been able to see some of the finest breeders to ever participate in this sport.  Breeders that produced consistent quality, generation after generation.  Breeders like Bob and Maryellen Kish, Fran and Joan Ford, Fred Migliore, Barbara Amidon, Dave and Martha Rinke and so many others who produced quality dogs year after year. These are the people I strive to be like, to not only have the stars like Ruby and Miami, but to be competitive every time we are in the ring. 

 Miami's sisters: Vegas and Millie

BIF Signature's Las Vegas v. Kridler OFA Prelim, owned by Jose Porras, Charles Dodson and Tari Kridler.	Signature's Milwaukee v. Kridler OFA Prelim, owned by Dr. Manny Campo &  Dr. Joey Perrez

GSDbyDesign: Who is the next dog you have your eye on as "extra special"?

Tari:  Ahhhhh, I have many that are Extra Special.  I have even pets that are Extra Special, as I feel ALL my dogs are Grand Victrixes and Grand Victors. Anyone that knows me, has to hear about how fabulous this one or that one are that I just bred. Thank God I have friends that listen and tolerate me sometimes. I guess I feel that Miami has several more attempts at Top numbers and more than likely will be right up there, as do the new girls, Nutmeg and Calamity Jane. Now I have a Sel CH Darby Dan's Just Jack daughter, Libra, that I am growing up, who gives me goose bumps. As a youngster though, she is super young and you just never know.  
 
Joe: Well hopefully Miami is not done with her career yet, she still has her Maturity this year and another shot at Specials. We do however have an Oscar son from Frank and Kris Fasano and Fred MIgliore that we are very excited about. Also a new litter out of Miami's half sister Andy, bred to Bailey, that we have high hopes for, so the adventure continues. 
 

Thank you to the Beccias and Tari Kridler for their gracious acceptance of our interview request and for providing us with 
such gorgeous photos of their dogs.

The German Shepherd by Design will be conducting interviews of notable breeders and handlers throughout 2008. If you would like to be featured on our website, please email Becky at gsdbydesign@aol.com.
 

Advertise        Contact Us        Write for Us        About Us        Home

This site was created and is maintained by The German Shepherd By Design. Nothing from this site may be copied,

transferred or used elsewhere without permission from the site owner.

Privacy Policy and User Agreement
© 2007-2008  The German Shepherd by Design
627 Battle St., Webster, NH 03303