Ayran Hong
Q: First can you give us some background on yourself? When and how did you start to breed Chow Chows?
A: My name is Paulo Clerice and my Kennel name is Ayran Hong. It is based in Brazil. I have been breeding and showing in the USA since 2004, when I had my first American champion. I feel honored to share my background and how my breeding program started. I have been a dog lover since I was a kid. I always had pets and collected every single book about dogs that I was able to find. In 1989 I went back to my country, Italy, to spend six months. I was in Bologna, a beautiful city located in the north of the country. Walking in the streets of Bologna downtown, I came across a couple walking with a very exotic black dog. I was not able to say if the dog looked like a lion or a bear. It was love at first sight. It was a Chow Chow. I started to study about the breed. Reading, contacting clubs and breeders all over the world to learn about them. I was sure at that time sure that I wanted to become a breeder.
Q: What is the story behind your kennel and your kennel name? When did you bred your first litter? How many litters have you had so far?
A: Ayran is the name of a river, a lake in China. Hong means water. I wanted a strong name, with the meaning of abundance of energy, good vibes, and at the same time the feeling of relaxation. My first litter was born in 1999. I was very excited about the five puppies we had. It was the start of a long journey. It is difficult to say how many litters I have had so far. I would say around 70 in 21 years.
Q: Where did your first dogs come from?
A: When I started researching back then, after talking to some very important breeders around the globe, I imported two Chows, a female from Holland and a male from the UK.
Q: What is your breeding policy? Do you work with other kennels, have you bought or leased dogs from other kennels? Or do you prefer to have your stud dogs for yourself?
A: In 1997 I met Michael and Linda Brantley, from Dreamland Kennel, located in Lubbock Texas. We had the same goal about breeding purposes: health, temperament, soundness always respecting the standards. We started a wonderful friendship sharing breeding experiences. I used several fantastic Chows bred by them and vice-versa.
Q: Which dog do you consider the foundation of your own breeding?
A: I have a few I could mention, but I am proud to say Stormy, Ayran Hong’s Eye of the Storm is the one that is on most of my pedigrees.
Q: What kind of selection do you prefer in your breeding program line breeding, inbreeding or outcross?
A: I learned over the years that I get the best results, conformation, and health tests with linebreeding. I usually know what I’ll have and it is a comfort work zone. Of course, there are times that I have to do an outcross breeding when my line gets very close. I never felt comfortable doing inbreeding. So, in my opinion, best results come working with linebreeding.
Q: What would you say was your greatest achievement as a breeder so far?
A: I am very proud of so many achievements, being awarded best breeder for so many years in a row in Brazil, being the first breeder all-breed outside the USA to be awarded Breeder of Merit by the AKC. Having many Chows, I bred BIS and BISS in the USA. Number one all-breed in China and the Philippines, but I must mention that for me, a very special moment was when Multi BR.BIS AM.BIS.BISS. Ch. Ayran Hong Jamal Black Tiger won a big specialty show in Atlanta in 2005 with a very large entry. Jamal also was my first black Chow to win a Best in Show in the USA and in a short time finishing as number two in the same year. That was a special achievement for me.
ABOUT THE BREED
Q: What do you consider should be the most important attribute of the Chow, type, movement, head?
A: Elegance, substance, bone, square body–compact, blue-black tongue, stilted gait. large head but never exaggerated, snob attitude. They should be sound. No angulation in the rear makes the Chow Chow unique in the movement, what we call stilted.
Q: What three qualities do you think are the most important when you look at a Chow?
A: Profile. Must be square. Gait, stilted, correct movement. Eyes; must be perfect.
Q: Which faults would you not tolerate in your breed?
A: Aggression, exaggerated (overdone), short legs, consequently long bodies, and hidden eyes.
Q: How has the breed changed over the years? Would you say it has gone to better or worse?
A: In my opinion, Chows actually are not as heavy as years ago. I see more moderate types which is good. I used to see in the past so many overdone Chow Chows. Breeders are looking for healthy dogs. What it is very difficult to see and find is a Chow with no angulation in the rear. Consequently, it is very hard to see Chows with the proper movement nowadays.
Q: Please name three of your all-time favorite winners bred by you and three not owned nor bred by you.
A: Bred by me here are my three all-time favorites:
- Multi Br. BIS Int. Ch. Am. BIS and Multi BISS Ayran Hong Black Tiger–Jamal – #3 Chow of the Year, 2005, USA.
- Multi Br. Ch. Am. BISS Ayran Hong For Your Eyes Only–Bond
- Am. GCh. Ch. Ayran Hong’s Red Passion – Campari, #2 Chow of the Year, 2010.
Bred by other breeders there are more than three Chows that I like. But I will mention the top three that I really consider extremely important for the breed and of course I love them conformation wise:
- Multi Am. BIS. BISS.Ch. Can. Ch. Xishan’s Guardian Angel – ROM – Jordan – USA – Breeder: Cynthia Lakowski – Owners: Bruce Shayne, Cynthia Lakowski, Janet Burke – #1 Chow USA
- English Champion Fort Knox Here’s The Tiger At Towmena – Chow of the Year 1984 UK – Breeder: Anne-Catherine Ekengren – (Fort Knox Kennel, Sweden) – Owner: Rodney Oldham – (Towmena Kennel, United Kingdom)
- Int.Ch. Crufts Winner 2015, World Winner 2014, Italian, Danish, German, Finnish, Swiss, Belgian Ch. Heart Mind Fire Dei Leoni Imperiali – Breeder: Massimialiano Carinelli, Tiziana Campi – Owner: Stefania Bettini.
Q: What homebred dog of yours comes closest to your ideal?
A: Stormy, Ayran Hong’s Eye of The Storm, is the closest to my ideal, even if I never showed him. He had a very nice balance, beautiful head, square body, and a wonderful temperament. He was my diamond in the rough. As I mentioned before he is in most of my Chows pedigrees, having all health clearances, hips and elbows.
Q: What would you say is the secret to continued success in breeding Chow?
A: Being persistent. To be a Chow Chow breeder is not an easy task. You need to be strong and passionate about the breed. There are so many ups and downs during the journey and it is our responsibility to keep the work going. I have a long way to walk and so much more to learn about this fantastic breed.
Q: What advice would you give to the younger generations in the breed?
A: My main advice is to study the breed. To read the standards, research the literature available, to meet reputable breeders, especially the ones who care about health testing and temperament. Attend a few important shows like the Chow Chow National in the US, a great opportunity to meet breeders and exhibitors. Research the pedigree databases available online. Find a mentor with a lot of experience in the breed. These are just a few tips that will make an extremely big difference in the path of the new generation. And finally, to be persistent. It is an amazing journey!
Thank you,
Paulo Clerice
