Mariah
Member of:
Paul Revere Miniature Schnauzer Club
American Miniature Schnauzer Club
American Kennel Club
Canadian Kennel Club
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Growing up I was always surrounded by boxers. My father bred them. He then switched to having a German Shepard as a pet
and watch dog and finally had some greyhounds. I was always surrounded by animals of all kinds. We were a family who
came from a bunch of farmers and all I had to do is visit one of my uncles and they put me to work cleaning stalls. I
also owned horses, pigeons, rabbits and many indoor pets. No cats. Allergies.
We are now into the schnauzer community because my family took after me with allergies. I found this out when I owned
and showed an Old English Sheep Dog. I always wanted one but I was slowly killing myself and my children. We have been
breeding and showing mini schnauzers for eight years and it all started with our loved one name Mariah.
Mariah came to
us via a pet mill that treated her terribly. Her ears were cut with a razor blade and there was no way I was leaving her
there. My heart was broken and she needed to come home with us for TLC. I had promised my wife we would not buy a dog
because we were too busy and Christmas was in a couple of weeks. Needless to say that went out the window when my son
and I saw her.
It was two years later and I felt she was special and we needed to breed her to begin our new line of
loving mini schnauzers. Mariah was bred to a champion in Mass. named Jesse and she ended up having three puppies of which
one died at birth. My wife and I delivered the puppies and when one died we both cried like babies. One of my friends
who is a breeder said there was nothing that could have saved the puppy. She meant well but the hurt was too deep.
Mariah weighed nine pounds and my wife said that was it. Mariah was not to be bred again. We kept one of the girls,
Portia and she began training to show.
Portia was the most beautiful dog to us but disliked the showing. She loved going to socialize with all our friends but
would put on a show when she entered the ring. Enough of a show that she drew attention and everyone knew her. We felt
that she was not showing well so I decided to breed her to the best and most beautiful male I could find. The special
male was Destineez High Jumper out of North Carolina.
Portia had eleven puppies of which one died at birth. Of the ten
she had four black & silvers, 5 blacks and one salt & pepper girl. The boys were beautiful with wonderful personalities.
The little girl was the runt and went to a special home with a young couple. Charlie, the little girl, is living the life
of riley. We kept one black boy and tried once again to show. This time he was a huge star.
Buddy, Quailridge's Black
Diamond was our first American and Canadian Champion at the age of just over a year old. Buddy was named after my father
in law who was special to me. Buddy is now living with a wonderful young man in Massachusetts and loves being with him.
The young boy and his family are very active and he fits in well with their life style. He will always hold a special
place in my heart.
Moving on in our program, we are trying to finish one of Buddy's brothers who is a black & silver named Blue, Quailridge's
Striking Sapphire. He is almost a champion and only needs two majors. We also placed him with a family with a young man
in Conn. and Blue is loving his new home. He sleeps with the young man in his bed and also has wiggled into the families
heart so he can do no wrong. Of course, my dogs are perfect anyway.
I had to go back to the girls and try to get one of them finished. I am currently working on a black & silver female named
Jenny (Quailridge's Sparkling Diamond). She loves coming with me on the road and thinks she is my second wife. She must
be touching me at all times and of course kisses me to death. As you can tell, I hate that. She is doing extremely well
and only needs one major. I think she will beat Blue to the punch and redeem the female crown in our house.
Jenny is a
keeper and will not be going any where once she is finished. Mariah, Portia and Jenny has earned the right for life at
the Vacca household according to my wife, who runs me - so she thinks. Jenny is out of my Portia and a friends male
champion who I adored. His name was Garnet Rock's Givemhell George. With a name like that who could resist. They had
nine pups of which our Jenny was one. We kept her to show.
Portia was bred one more time to the number one in the country for the past four years, Regency's Twist of Faith. Portia
flew to California to have a natural breeding. At this point Portia was five and I do not breed my dogs over five years
old. When she had these babies I could not let any go. I decided to keep all three along with one of my Jenny's black
puppies. The four puppies are three girls and one boy. I am up to seven dogs now and I am loving every second of their
existence. My mother in law, who has moved in with us due to Alzheimer's says she can't believe how she loves the dogs.
Her husband would have loved to see her with them. She is kissed to death and she slips food to them when she thinks we
are not looking. That is one thing I do not share. Food (mine).
My wife put her foot down and said I can only have four dogs total.
I want to keep all my dogs but I was told I could only keep one new puppy. Notice how I follow directions. Who's the
boss now? We have seven dogs at the moment.
I said to my wife, "Let's look for a small farm so we can have more room for the dogs etc." She said start looking and let
me know when you find something. Big mistake on my wife's part. I sold the last house while she was in Italy with her
students to get a bigger house for the family. Needless to say she was not a happy camper and thought I lost my mind.
We have been together for over 30 years and I guess we are stuck with one another. I would never give up any of my dogs.
This began as a hobby because of four heart attacks and has given me a new meaning for life. My family is growing. They
are better then children and less expensive.
Please call if you need help or just want to talk. I think you can tell I love what I do and I want you to know that some
of my comments are said in jest. My family is just as important.
-- George Vacca
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