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 environment. 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 well as has working attributes.

We know the internet can be a powerful tool. There is much to be said about breed clubs, breeders and politics which we will not dwell upon. The following links will assist you in providing information regarding puppy socialization. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behaviors cites puppies should/can be socialized before their full vaccinations starting as early as 7-8 weeks of age. This allows the first vaccinations/wormings and your breeder STARTS the socialization process at home. From our home to yours, knowing the health, history, standard and quality is the best tool we can offer you.
http://www.akc.org/enewsletter/yourakc/2009/march/puppy.cfm
puppy socialization.pdf

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 Asociacion Espanola Del Perro De Agua Espanol (A.E.P.A.E.), the Spanish Club. We are one of the few breeders who adheres to breeding to the original/current breed standards and follow the classification of the Spanish Water Dog as set forth by Spain, the originating country of the Spanish Water Dog.

Expressed thanks to: Antonio Garcia Perez, Ubrique Kennels, "Father of the Breed", President of the A.E.P.A.E. for his continued assistance and for the excellent quality of Spanish Water Dogs provided to us to begin our foundation for LIJA Kennel. Thank you Antonio for sending us your best - Chuka, Solana, Miel who are all a part of US History... www.perroaguaubrique.com/

Nigel Eggington, Valentisimo Kennel, UK - for his kindness, friendship, faith and love of the Spanish Water Dog. For "bridging the gap between the ponds", and for his SOL, our Rumor who has added to the gene pool and whose character will be passed from generation to generation. www.spanishwaterdog.net/

Linda Cook, Highview Spanish Water Dog who we co-own Kina and Dutch. Linda and I work very closely together and we both believe in the quality and the integrity of the breed as well as follow the FCI standards for the SWD. Highview is a prominent kennel that we work closely with! www.highviewswd.com/

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
• ARBA Master Champion Unkashikic De Ubrique, CGC, Therapy Dog
• ARBA Multiple Best In Show: Lija's Honey Bea
• ARBA CH/KC USA CH/Multiple Best In Show Corazon De LIJA
• ARBA Master CH/KCUSA Int'l CH Multiple BIS Valentisimo's Tuvocuca
• ARBA CH/BISS LIJA's Rey De Corazon
• Kennel USA CH/Multiple BIS LIJA's The Kandy Man
• "LIJA's Pan y Miel" is deplicted as the poster child for the SWD

Proud Owners: Linda Kardonis, Dale Huelin, John Dustin Kardonis (age 17 yrs - the heart of LIJA and expert handler!)

WHERE NOT ONLY QUALITY BEGETS QUALITY BUT WHERE WE HAVE HELD THE STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE AFTER GENERATIONS OF BREEDING. WE DO NOT PURCHASE CHAMPIONS AT LIJA, OUR SPANISH WATER DOGS EARN THEIR TITLES AND THEN SOME!

American Rare Breed Association-ARBA judges each dog against the standard and then against each other. This is a show venue which is most respected in the United States. The Judges are either AKC Judges or FCI Judges. Dogs can be DQ (disqualified from the ring if they do not meet the breed standard). Best In Shows or Reserve Best In Shows are coveted. If you are serious about showing, this is a venue you should follow: http://www.arba.org/

American Rare Breed Association offers: Championships, Master Championships and Senior Championships. The Master Championship is based on ratings from 4 different Judges on character, structure and movement.

Kennel Club USA is a new venue offered where each Judge must provide a written critique on the dog and has additinal levels of Championships. The dogs are also judged against each other. Every BIS is coveted as it is the Best of the Best of Show in any show venue: http://www.kennelclubusa.com/

DISCLAIMER:

We at LIJA do try to follow each puppy that leaves us. Only a handful will go to show-breeding homes. ALL dogs that we own or co-own are listed on our website. The appearance of our names or our kennel name does not automatically constitute an endorsement of that breeder.