How many years have you been in the breed?

Since l990. Trillium Blue started in 1990 in Parish, New York. In 2001 I had to make some tough decisions and downscaled in order to make a move to the Atlanta area. At this time Diane Spendle of Aslan Siberians became my partner in Trillium Blue Siberians.

How many dogs do you currently have?

12 at my house and I co-own a few others living with other show people.

How did you come up with your kennel name?

Trillium was part of a name of my first Siberian, a pet, that I bought from someone moving to Spain.  Trillium is a ground cover plant………..Siberians cover ground.

Where did you get your first Siberian?

My first Siberian came from a family that had one male & one female and bred occasionally….guess you would say a “back yard breeder”.

Did you have a mentor? 

Yes, Jane Burrell was wonderful with helping me with all aspects of showing including grooming.  She did not live that far from me when I lived in Syracuse, NY and we went to many shows together. Also, Linda Clark loaned me one of her “trained” Siberians to show while I was waiting for my show puppy. We went to many shows together and I got to see first hand what I was in for.

Was there a particular breeder or line of dogs that influenced you?

Yes, Linda Lehman of Snowfire Siberians. I fell in love with her Snowfire look. Her lines went back to Alakazan. She had beautiful headpieces on her dogs plus balanced flowing movement.

When you started your breeding program, what qualities were you looking for in a foundation bitch? 

My foundation bitch was my first show Siberian,” Naakeah’s Trillium Blue Ivana”. She was a good size bitch. I never finished her, as it was a constant battle with my husband, Bob, to keep her weight proper. He loved her and took her everywhere. Finally I gave up and decided to breed her to Ch. Snowfire’s Ghostbuster owned by Lynn Male. He was a more moderate boy, as I had to be cautious with size. I feel it is very important for a brood bitch to be very sound in both mind and body…. Ivy was all this and produced well for me. My first show litter produced two champions, “Ch. Trillium Blue’s Summer Sunset” and “Ch. Trillium Blue’s Mikhaili Chapin”.

Over the years in the breed, which dogs/bitches have most influenced your breeding program at Trillium Blue?

Ch. Snowfire’s Ghostbuster, BIS BISS Ch.Kontoki’s Dennis the Menace, and now and for the future “Am Can BIS Ch. Blueridge Soma’s Stingray” and “Ch. Huskavarna’s Four On the Floor”.

How do you select a stud dog for your bitch?

I feel that it is very important to evaluate your bitch for her strong points as well as weak points. What do you want to improve on her? This is where I believe some people have a problem within their kennel. They are unable to be objective. Where do you want your breeding program to go?

How important is the title CH in a breeding program?

I do not put an absolute on a “Ch” in front of a name before breeding. Lets face it, it depends why the dog/bitch did not finish. Sometimes unfortunate events happen that hinder a good specimen from obtaining an championship. I do not believe a well structured dog/bitch should be discarded from one’s breeding program because they have not obtained their Championship….as long as they are a quality animal and true to the standard and with desirable qualities to pass on to their get.  

At Trillium Blue, when you decide keep a puppy, what qualities are you looking for?

I look at the puppies that have personality and are full of themselves. I deem that a very necessary quality for a show dog. Then we go to movement. I like a big sidegait along with clean coming and going. Then, of course, the overall structure and proper proportions. I also like pretty heads, but often I have given up my favorite head style for the total package.

Who were some of your favorite dogs/bitches that you have owned or bred?

Of course, my “Ivy” Naakeah’s Trillium Blue Ivana as she got me started on this venture.

Would you breed a dog with a serious fault?  The dog has not passed his fault to his offspring. 

Depends what the serious fault is. Probably not. I do not even keep them if they have a serious fault.

Which dogs have had the most impact on establishing the type of Siberian you prefer?

“ Ch. Aadak’s Here’s Lookinatcha Kid” …………he had a beautiful headpiece that I loved and great movement.

At Trillium Blue, what traits would you like to keep in the next few generations?

Type with beautiful effortless flowing side gait, clean coming and going. Also, to love showing and having fun. My puppies always have fun, just ask the spectators. We often give them more than a few chuckles.

Name some of the serious faults in the breed today that you feel should be corrected?

I feel that our breed has serious front assembly problems. Most of us acknowledge and are dealing with it to improve in our breeding programs. However, there are those who are perpetuating on bad fronts and do not seem to recognize it at all. I feel we all need to recognize this problem and put considerable thought into our breeding programs. As I said previously, look at the siblings, aunts and uncles of all studs/bitches. Decisions must be made to eliminate bad fronts from all breeding programs. I also do not like the proportions of some of the Siberians I see in the ring. Seems to be quite a few with barrel like chests with short legs, both dogs and bitches.

What level of responsibility do you think a good breeder has for genetic health problems in reference to their own line? 

It is the total responsibility of the breeder. There are no gray areas here. We all know if there are genetic health issues in our lines. Occasionally, something extremely unusual will pop up, but for the most part, the breeders know. I have observed over the years that some very successful kennels will not disclose genetic health problems with others buying their show puppies. Then the buyer starts hearing things, which pertain to the littermates or previous litters that have genetic problems. This is very sad for all involved and totally unethical on the part of the breeder if they knowingly hid genetic problems. Now if we have not done our homework, it can be a surprise if using an outside stud or leasing a bitch. It also happens when the breeder has owned many generations of both sire and dam. Then there are really no surprises to that breeder even if they protest as such. What does a breeder accomplish for the betterment of the breed if they promote a champion whose background (or him/her) is riddled with problems? Aren’t we supposed to promote and breed for the betterment of the future Siberians?

Imagine this:  you are a Judge:  You have all different styles of Siberians in the ring.  You have some very nice representatives of the breed but each has a fault.  But there is no perfect Siberian...what faults can you forgive?  Name three.  And name three you can't. 

I can forgive: An imperfect head: sloping stop, round eyes, wider set ears and a slightly higher tail set…..as long as tail is carried properly while in motion, repose.  And a short coat, as well.

Let's change gears a little, I understand that you are currently specialing a dog.  How did that come about?

I cannot remember where, but I ran across pictures of “Am/BIS Can Ch Blueridge Soma’s Stingray” online was a beautiful movement and headshot picture of him. I fell in love at first sight. I called Heather Roger in Canada interested in breeding to him. Unfortunately, she is lives in a very remote area with no direct flight even from Atlanta. There also were no reproductive vets in her area to collect and ship fresh cooled. So, I put my great boy on the back burner. Two years ago low and behold I saw an announcement listed on ShowSibe about a litter out of Sting.

What was it about Sting that moved you to bring him to the US?

He finally came to the Nationals, 2005. His movement blew me away. Also, there were get from two litters who all did very well in their classes and you could see that he was a potent stud by putting his movement into all the kids. It was very obvious to see the get move and you could see Sting in each and every one of them. Sting is 6 years old and looks great. People are shocked at his age as so many male champions look old at 4 and 5 years old with overdone deep chests. This should not be. Some people have thought there was a lot to Sting, but he carries a big coat. His proportions are excellent.

What makes a dog a special?

There are many very nice dogs, but they are not all specials material. They have to have the love of the dog shows. If they prefer to be on the couch, its not their calling. Of course, as we all know, they all love to be on the couch. Campaigning is very tedious and hard work. Being on the road is not for all dogs. Some can take it only on a limited basis, a weekend a month. But if one is serious, the dog has to be able to go every weekend and look happy and animated in the ring at all times. Here is where it is very important to have a good handler both inside the ring and back at the set up. He has to win the love and affection of the dog and make that dog long to be with him and perform. I am lucky to have that in Frank Murphy. Sting loves him and they are buddies both in the ring and out. Bottom line, I thought Sting was too good a dog not to be specialed. He was virtually an unknown until the Nationals, 2006. He started his campaign in Jan 2006 and went to #1 solely for more than 3 months. We are very proud of him and I want to thank Bart & Patti Miller as well as Cam & Heather for entrusting him to me in a co-ownership.

I think that says it all.  This is a great end to an interesting story.  Is there anything you would like to add?

Thank you.

For additonal information, please visit Liz at

www.trilliumblue.com