Whispering Pine Kennel in Mariposa, California by Linda Gast

Toni Killpatrick with her Champion Greater Swiss Mountain Dog “Roy”

Not many people hold the title of Breeder, Owner, Handler in the Dog Show World,  Toni Killpatrick, owner of Whispering Pine Kennel in Mariposa, has managed to achieve this.  She and her husband Lyle have been in the business of raising Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs for 12 years.  She and her Swissys have won many ribbons and medals and she has bred and raised 25 Greater Swiss Mountain puppies. 

Toni reached the high point of her career when her dog Roy (official name is NBISS TreeNsea's Lupine Serenade) became the number 1 all breed Greater Swiss Mountain Dog in the country.  Roy took Award of Merit at the Eukanuba Dog show and was Best of Opposite Breed.   It can cost up to $50,000 to take a dog to being the #1 in the country.

Toni has announced that she is going to retire from the dog show ring.  She and her husband Lyle, plan to travel and kayak.  She says, "It feels good to go out on top". She isn't sure what else she wants to do.  One of her other interests has been raising service dogs.

Roy is going to be semi-retired too. He will be working part time as a stud.  To date he has fathered 21 puppies and has been really busy this last month.  Toni says, "He is a real gentleman with the ladies"  and he has been the poster dog for Eukanuba dog food.

Over the years I have had the privilege of taking photos of Toni and her dogs.  Here is a look back at Toni and some of her Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs.

For more information about Whispering Pine Kennel go to: www.whisperingpinekennel.com
For the last article on Toni Killpatrick and Roy: Click Here
For an older article on Toni Killpatrick: Click Here
Previous 2009 article about Toni on the Sierra Sun Times: Click Here 
 
Click here to view the Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs
Click here to view Roy
You can view all the dogs from the show 2010 Eukanuba Dog show by going to: www.akc.org/nationalchampionship/show