History:

LIJA has always been in the forefront as an advocate of Rare Breeds. We have been actively showing and our experience in dogs dates back to 1985, SWD since 2001. All of our dogs have been owner-handled in the ring and all of our dogs/pups are raised in a home enrvironment. We have the premier Spanish Water Dog Kennel in the Northeast. This has taken years to achieve, from hand-selection of Importing, to health testing as well as showing our dogs. Our dogs, as well as their prodigy, have been proven in the show ring as well as in the field (therapy, herding, water-work), for genetic soundness and health.

Mission Statement:

We have a limited breeding program because quality is our goal. ALL our dogs are health-tested for hip dysplasia before being used for breeding. They are tested either through the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals or though Penn-hip. Most of our SWD are tested through Penn-hip, as we feel this would give us a better picture of the percentiles and averages of the hips that excel. We also test through Optigen for PRA-prcd, a genetic disorder that can lead to blindness. Please refer to the OptiGen website for information regarding this condition, http://www.optigen.com/opt9_test_prcd_pra.html If you wish to read the current data regarding tests results, please go to http://www.offa.org.

All dogs have their eyes tested through the CERF program. CERF was established in conjunction with cooperating, board certified, veterinary ophthalmologists, as a means to accomplish the goal of elimination of heritable eye disease in all purebred dogs by forming a centralized, national registry, for more information go to http://www.vmdb.org/history.html

Registration:

The American Kennel Club Foundation Stock Service has recently recognized the Spanish Water Dog; this is the first step towards being recognized in the US as a purebred. Dual registry in the United States may also include the domestic registration of the United Kennel Club. LIJA registers all SWD with the FCPR - Federacion Canofila De Puerto Rico (FCPR), which is the member registry in North America of the Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) (English translation, World Canine Organization). The FCI is an international Kennel Club based in Thuin, Belgium.

The Federation Cynologique Internationale includes 84 members and contract partners, one per country, that each issue their own pedigrees and train their own judges. The FCI makes sure that the pedigrees and judges are mutually recognized by all the FCI members. By registering our dogs with the FCPR, we are able to maintain a strong connection with the Spanish origins of the breed.

Who We Are:

We are proud members of the Spanish Water Dog Club of America, the only Spanish Water Dog Breed Club in the United States who adheres to the original/current breed standards and classification of the Spanish Water Dog as set forth by Spain, the originating country of the Spanish Water Dog.

We are the home of:

• American Rare Breed Association (ARBA) Master Champion: LIJA's Bonita De Casa Hidalgo
• ARBA Champion/Multiple Best In Show: Divisa De La Voz De Su Amo
• BISS/ARBA Champion LIJA's Rey De Corazon
• ARBA Master Champion Unkashikic De Ubrique, CGC, Therapy Dog
• UKC Champion: LIJA Timberoaks Cheka (co-owned w/Linda Scheele)
• ARBA Multiple Best In Show: Lija's Honey Bea
• ARBA Multiple Best In Show Corazon de LIJA
• Rising Stars: Chispee, Kina, Kandee, Solana, Gizmo
• And soon to be retired: Barti De J Macelia

Proud Owners: Linda Kardonis, Dale Huelin, John Dustin Kardonis (age 14 yrs - the heart of LIJA and expert handler!)