August 2024 All-Star: Robert Hardina

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When it comes to breeding and showing dogs, Robert Hardina considers his work an artform. Since he was a kid, he has always loved animals, especially dogs. Now that he has recently retired from teaching for over 30 years, he has even greater plans when it comes to his passion for breeding and showing dogs!

 

Robert was born and raised in Wisconsin Rapids, WI. Growing up, his dad was a beagle man; participating in field trials and hunting with them. Robert asked for an Old English Sheepdog as a gift for his high school graduation. This started his passion for raising and showing dogs. Later in life, wirehaired pointing Griffons were added to his plans to show and breed quality dogs, bred to the AKC breed standard.

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He continued his hobby for the next few years, but eventually it had to take a backseat as he got married and started a family. It was only until about five years ago that he began getting back into breeding and showing. His pack presently includes: two rescues, Buddy, an Australian cattle dog, Toby, a Pyredoodle, two Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, Bella and Ruby, and four Old English sheepdogs, Cooper, Bentley, Quinn and Olive.  “I’ve always thought of breeding dogs to a standard to be like an art,” he says. Now retired, Robert also would like to do more field work with his wirehaired pointing Griffons. The goal of raising quality animals that also perform in the field is a priority. The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon were bred to be versatile hunting dogs and the old English sheepdogs were bred to be drovers to take livestock to market.

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Some of Robert’s greatest accomplishments in the show ring include earning Winner’s Bitch at the 1991 National Specialty with his old English sheepdog, Jessie. His Old English Sheepdog, Cooper, is also ranked number 6 in the country for the AKC Breed Standard, and his son, Vali, is presently number two in the country. Cooper also won Best of Breed 3 times this year. Two times in the Eastern Wisconsin Old English Sheepdog Specialty in West Bend, WI and once in the Chicago Old English Sheepdog Specialty. Cooper also earned an Award of Merit at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show two years ago, with his daughter, Biscotti, winning select bitch at Westminster this year. Ruby, his Wirehaired Pointing Griffon female, is his first homebred AKC champion. She will be doing field work shortly with his mentor in Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, Thomas Mathis of Illinois. Thomas has Ruby’s sire, Russell, who is the first Wirehaired Pointing Griffon with an AKC Master Hunting Award and an AKC Grand Championship.

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Robert has been feeding his dogs Joy for about two years, after he grew frustrated with other dog foods’ lack of consistency. His friend, Jane Collen, at Barkshire Pet Care Center, a Joy distributor, told Robert about our feed. Quinn, one of Robert’s Old English sheepdog females, took some time to grow in a nice full mature coat. Jane suggested trying Joy Dog Food. With sheepdogs, a good coat is key. After a few months, “Her coat came so nice,” said Robert. He currently feeds a blend of our Joy Special Meal, High Energy, and Super Meal to all eight of his dogs. “We like how firm their stools are. You can tell there’s not a lot of waste or filler that way.” Robert also noted.

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To see more of Robert’s work and accomplishments, check his instagram page here. If you want to get your dog show ready, check out Joy Dog Food. All of our products contain Omega 3 and 6 Fatty Acids to keep your dog’s skin healthy and their coat full, lush and shiny.

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