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Published on:

30th Jul 2026

04 — Clubhouse: Dandie Dinmont Terriers: Mentorship in Motion: The Power of Partnership

Mentorship in Motion: The Power of Partnership

Sandra Pretari-Hickson joins host Laura Reeves to discuss her 25-year partnership with Betty-Anne Stenmark and how their shared devotion and collaborative mentorship have preserved the iconic King's Mountain Dandie Dinmont Terrier legacy.
This episode of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier Diaries is part of Pure Dog Talk’s Clubhouse. The series features members of the Club Partnership Program who are working to preserve the knowledge of their legacy breeders.
Episode Highlights
  • The Spark of a Historic Partnership: Sandra shares the story of meeting Betty-Anne at a handling class, a chance encounter that led to Betty-Anne gifting Sandra her very first Dandie, "Kings Mountain Mousetrap," and cementing a 25-year breeding partnership.
  • A Shared Vision for a Distinct Type: Working hand-in-hand, Sandra and Betty-Anne established an internationally recognized breed type. Sandra explains their 50-year joint commitment to never compromising on correct front assemblies, classic heads, athletic movement, and the signature long outline.
  • Navigating the "Gene Puddle" Together: Sandra discusses managing a rare breed's limited gene pool (coined a "gene puddle" by Betty-Anne). By combining their expertise, they utilized tight line breeding, imported frozen semen from across the globe, and coordinated artificial inseminations to safely preserve the line.
  • Honest Evaluation and Ruthless Selection: Mentorship requires tough, honest decisions. Sandra details how she and Betty-Anne evaluate slow-maturing puppies at 10 weeks and why maintaining breed integrity means placing dogs with significant faults into happy companion homes.
  • Preserving the "Stand-Up" Terrier Temperament: Sandra emphasizes the importance of protecting the athletic, working drive of the Dandie Dinmont. She shares her dedication to keeping the "terrier in the terrier" through active socialization, barn hunt sports, and earthdog trials.
  • Passing the Torch to the Next Generation: True partnership extends beyond a single lifetime. Sandra highlights how she is actively paying her mentorship forward by guiding two to three promising young breeders to ensure the King’s Mountain legacy continues to thrive.
For more information about joining Pure Dog Talk's Clubhouse Series and becoming a Club Partner, stop by the website.
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Pure Dog Talk
The VOICE of Purebred Dogs|Learn How to Show Your Dog|Dog Sports, Agility, Barn Hunt|AKC Dog Breeds and Dog Breeders|
Pure Dog Talk is the VOICE of Purebred Dogs. We talk to the legends of the sports and give you tips and tools to create an awesome life with your purebred dog. From dog shows to preservation breeding, from competitive obedience to field work, from agility to therapy dogs and all the fun in between; your passion is our purpose. Pure Dog Talk supports the American Kennel Club, our Parent, Specialty and All-Breed Clubs, Dog Sports, Therapy, Service and Preservation of our Canine Companions.
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About your host

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Laura Reeves

Laura is an AKC Breeder of Merit and retired member of the Pro-fessional Handlers Association. Laura is a second-generation breeder of German Wirehaired Pointers, under the Scotia Kennel banner.

Scotia dogs have earned well over 100 titles, in the show ring, field and performance events. Her dedication to breeding dual purpose dogs reflects a stated goal of preserving the all-weather, rugged, sound-minded gun dog the breed’s founders envisioned.

Laura served the GWPCA as AKC Gazette columnist, Judges Education Committee member and chair, Vice President, Presi-dent, National Events Coordinator and Wire~News Editor.

Her background as a newspaper reporter, marketing rep and re-searcher/writer for audio driving tours has served her well in her side projects. Her current adventure as host of PureDogTalk podcast lends her particular combination of skills to an outstanding breeder and exhibitor education channel.