Ringside Chat with Alaska Breeder Donna Gates

Tips on selecting an agility partner

Donna Gates of Denali, Alaska, became involved in breeding, training and racing Alaskan Huskies in 1981 and continued working with them until 2010. Her kennel focused on world-class long-distance athletes, participating in every race in Alaska including the 1,000-mile Yukon Quest Race and 1,000-mile Iditarod Sled Dog Race (winning the Iditarod four times). Although she got her first Border Collie in 1983, it wasn’t until 2018 that she started breeding them.

With a master’s degree in medical arts, Donna sought out online courses and books in genetics with an emphasis on canines. She has bred five litters of Border Collies to date, focusing on good structure, health, athleticism, good temperament and a strong work ethic. Most of her puppies are bred to be successful agility partners for their new owners, while some go into herding and search-and-rescue careers.

Donna owns the Tonglen Lake Lodge close to Denali National Park, where many of the pups learn their social skills early on. Her advice for fellow agility enthusiasts looking for new partners includes:

• Study their genetics, focusing on the dog’s health and longevity.
• Meet the breeder and dogs when you can.
• Meet other owners who have purchased from that breeder and watch their dogs move/compete.
• Make your own decision – be careful of everyone and their brother’s opinions!
• Know that pups vary tremendously in every litter, and you can’t really tell what you’re getting at 8-10 weeks old. A dog will change a lot through the first 1.5 to 2 years of their life.
• Understand that even the most attentive, brilliant, well-meaning and experienced breeders will produce pups that have health issues common to that breed.
• Work with an honest breeder who will share their successes and failures openly.
• Be honest with yourself about your goals.