| Ted & Linda Gagnon |
 and Ch Wet Acres Abercromby'n'Fetch JH (Ivy) ~Photo by Isabelle Francais |
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Our Background Ted and Linda have each been involved in dogs for close to thirty years. In the 70’s, Ted began successfully breeding, hunting, testing and field training with his former breed, German Shorthaired Pointers. Since 1991, he has been similarly involved with Wirehaired Pointing Griffons. Linda also started in the 70’s, but not with field dogs. She owned, showed and bred Dandie Dinmont Terriers. Although she is currently without a Dandie, she hopes that situation will be remedied soon. In the interim, she concentrates on the “Gagnon Gaggle of Griffs”. Ted trains, hunts and tests the dogs throughout New England, New York, the Eastern Seaboard, Pennsylvania and Eastern Canada. He also fit in a trip to Montana! He is a Certified Trainer and is a graduate of the Connecticut K-9 Education Center. He is a judge for AKC Pointing Breed Hunt Tests and judges Junior, Senior and Master Hunter. His memberships and offices include serving both as President of the Southern New England Chapter of NAVHDA and sitting on its Board, and included Vice President of the AWPGA for two terms. He is now a member of Yankee Chapter of NAVHDA where he serves on several committees and with whom he trains the Wet Acres dogs for field and test. Linda was President of the Pioneer Valley Kennel Club for seven years, and is on her last year as Chair of that organization’s all-breed show and obedience trial. In addition, she is a member of the Board of Wachusett Kennel Club and is their Match Chair. She served Southern New England NAVHDA as Secretary for one term. Finally, she is a board member of the New England Sporting Group Association, a new club founded to foster the conformation and field aspects of the sporting breeds. And, she plans to apply to the AKC for approval to judge both Griffons and Dandies…. when she gets her courage up! She served as the AWPGA as its Judges’ Education Coordinator for a five year period. Linda and Ted have been fortunate to have accomplished a great deal in the 12-˝ years they have been in Griffons. They are proud of having bred a litter containing a Versatile Champion (owned and trained by Dick Dilley), a NAVHDA UT Prize III dog (owned and trained by Ron Granai) and a National Specialty Winner (owned by Chuck Spiess and handled by Karen Spiess); of having bred and owned one of the very few female Pedigree Award winners, Ch Wet Acres Agatha Frisky JH, a show star in every way, and also the dam of a UT Prize II dog; they are proud of the “M” litter, the most recent of their litters to have one a NAVHDA Breeder’s Award, in which 13 dogs achieved prizes with scores averaging 102, including six dogs who earned Prizes I; and they are proud of having bred both the first and second VCDI’s in Griff history. All credit for these last achievements must be given to their owner/trainers – Pam and Bob Smith and Chuck and Karen Spiess. One of our greatest talents is in choosing owners who give their Griffs the opportunity to achieve their highest potential and we are grateful to these owners beyond expression. The Gagnons are dedicated to the ongoing improvement of the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon across the spectrum of characteristics and qualities. They view the parts as equal – temperament, conformation, hunting ability and feel that the “Griffon whole” should be the sum of these parts. |