Who are we?

Rich and I live in a little town called Sparta, tucked away in the northwest corner of New Jersey. We share our lives with a buff American Cocker Spaniel, an adopted Jack Russell/ Fox Terrier mix and 5 Welsh Springers ranging in age from 4 months to almost 12 years old.

What is our involvment with dogs?

We call ourselves hobby breeders because we breed quality Welsh Springer Spaniels on a very limited basis and consider ourselves students of the breed. Our breeding program is based on an uncompromising committment to health, quality and ethics. The first Rysan litter was born in 1987, almost 10 years after we acquired our first Welshie. Over the years we've enjoyed enormous satisfaction raising puppies and watching them develop into loving family companions and show dogs. We began training and showing dogs for obedience competitions in 1977, and began participating in breed competitions with our first Welshie in 1982. Over the last 15 years we have completed numerous obedience titles and/or championships on Welsh Springers both home-bred and acquired from other breeders.

Are we affiliated with any dog clubs?

We're long-time members of the Welsh Springer Spaniel Club of America, and we also belong to the American Spaniel Club. Rich is the Obedience Committee Chairperson for the annual obedience trial held in conjunction with this "spaniel-fest". In addition, we participate informally in activities with our other regional Welsh Springer Spaniel breeders and exhibitors. Rich and I are also "charter members" of the Northwest New Jersey Dog Training Club. Together with a small group of committed dog trainers, we founded this non-profit club in 1985. We've both been instructors, Training Directors, and have held Trustee positions on the Board. Rich is currently the Training Director and teaches a Beginner class. I teach 2 intermediate level classes for people interested in obtaining an AKC obedience title on their dog.

But what do we do in real life?

After 21 years in the retail clothing business, Rich decided to change professions in 1996. He completed nearly 2 years of computer programming classes at the Chubb Institute, and graduated in March, 1998. He is now working as a Junior Programmer at ADP, Inc. in Roseland, NJ. In August, 1996 I, too, changed professions, becoming a Systems Analyst in the Information Technology Department at Hackensack University Medical Center. I'd been a Registered Dietitian and Nutrition Support Specialist for many years, changing professions to broaden my horizons. We're both excited to be working in the computer industry.

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©1997 Sandra B. Rohrbacher