Terri Sigulinsky and her daughter, Rachel Sigulinsky, owners of Snowbright Samoyeds, are second and third generation Samoyed breeders located in Ohio and Michigan. Terri has been showing dogs for more than 40 years and breeding for 35 years. Rachel showed her first Samoyed at 7 years old and whelped her first litter at age 12. While mainly participating in dog shows, they have also done therapy work, rescue, and participated in AKC performance competitions. Their bloodline is a product of precise planning, education, knowledge and working with the top bloodlines around the world.
AKC: How did you get started breeding dogs?
Terri: My mother, Elaine Gold, and I went to a sledding event in Madison, Wisconsin, put on by the wonderful people from SAMI (Samoyed Association of Madison Inc). They invited us to a dog show where we saw the top winning Samoyed of his time, Dr. Pepper, win breed, Group 1 and Best in Show. I was 6 years old and my passion for Samoyeds was instilled in my blood. We learned about Samoyeds, progressed to showing, earned championships and took the next natural step of becoming breeders. We learned upon whelping that my mom did not like needles nor blood, so I whelped our first litter at age 12. It was the greatest thing I had ever done.
AKC: What is the most important thing to know about your breed?
Terri: Underneath all that fluff and cuteness is a hard-core working dog that requires exercise, attention, training, and grooming. Samoyed are at their best when given a job to do and are happiest when they are with their “pack” – their family. They will be your greatest challenge and your greatest reward in life.
AKC: What is your favorite question to ask of potential puppy buyers?
Terri: Tell me what you know about Samoyeds and why you chose this breed. This indicates whether they’ve done their research, and we can figure out if the personality and characteristics of a Samoyed will fit their lifestyle.
AKC: What are the main qualities you look for in potential owners?
Terri: Stability, a sense of leadership and authority, previous dog experience; asks pertinent, intelligent questions, is responsive to our questions and emails, is communicative and seems comfortable having a relationship with us over the lifespan of our pup.
AKC: What is the best advice you would give to novice breeders?
Terri:
- Never stop learning.
- Surround yourself with knowledgeable mentors.
- Always be a support to fellow breeders. We are a community where there is strength in shared knowledge and support.
- When you bring a puppy into this world, you have the responsibility of preserving and representing your breed. Know the breed standard.
- Regardless of where your pup ends up, you are responsible for that puppy from birth to death.
- There will be blood, sweat and tears. There will also be love, laughter and many rewards.
AKC: Do your dogs participate in AKC sports?
Terri: Yes, mostly conformation with a bit of coursing, Fast CAT and agility. We also do therapy work.
AKC: What do you like best about breeding dogs?
Terri: We are preserving a 5,000-year-old breed by producing top quality, healthy pups that positively impact so many people. We love hearing the stories of the difference our pups have had in their families’ lives and in the show ring. Finally, it is a family affair and passion that my daughter and I share.
AKC: Do you have a favorite breeding story?
Terri: Our Samoyed, Pixie, was a surrogate mother to two Old English Sheepdog puppies who were prematurely born, and their dam had no milk. Pixie accepted the pups immediately with her own 1-week-old litter of five pups. She licked the colored portions on them for two days straight trying to make them white, then gave up. The breeder took them back at almost 6 weeks old when they started to learn how to howl and talk like our Samoyeds. Apparently, OES aren’t a vocal breed, and she wanted to keep it that way! The OES pups are now thriving adults, and we have a great friendship with their breeder.