When a person makes up his mind to breed, he inevitably starts thinking about how it could be carried out.
Dogs are usually not bred by professional breeders but by amateurs who consider it their hobby. I myself regard dog breeding — excuse me: breeding of Pumis — as a hobby. A hobby, in the best sense of the word. In my opinion it is evident that thorough knowledge of the chosen breed and of the basics of breeding is essential. Aquiring deeper knowledge can be achieved through constant learning and suitable experience.
Actually, it happened by accident that I got involved in the «dog owners' society» in 1991 when we bought our first — and certainly not last — pumi: Kristály, the founder of Szürkebarát kennel. It was all the love that I got from him, the typical temperament and the mental and physical makings of Pumis that made me more and more interested in the breed, in its external and internal features and it and in its popularisation. In becoming deeply acquainted with the Pumi I received great help from the most successful pumi breeders ever: from Katona Viktor and his wife, Katona Zsuzsanna, the owners of Mocskos kennel. After Katona Viktor's death in 1993, I kept my promis that I had made to him and I took over the Mocskos kennel and I co-operated in breeding with Katona Zsuzsanna.
Meanwhile:
— I succeeded in passing the ring-secretary exam in 1995 — although I haven't been working too much as a ring-secretary recently.
— In 1996 I was chosen to be the breed-secretary of the Hungária Puli-Pumi-Mudi Club. In the same year, I started the Klubinfo magazine, which I continued doing until the end of the year 2000.
— In 1996, Zsíros Csaba and I started organising herding instinct tests. Due to this we managed to develop a serious system of examining herding insticts of dogs and we also succeeded in introducing herding contests in Hungary for dogs with pedigrees. I usually participate in these contest as chief organiser, herding judge or contestant.
— In 1997 I completed a course in agility judging as well, and I sometimes judge in agility competitions.
— In 1997, at the MEOE's request, my wife and I wrote a project for the new Pumi standard. This draft was accepted by the FCI after minimal changes on April 6th, 2000.
— From 1999 to 2001 I was the president of the Hungária Puli-Pumi-Mudi Club.
— From 2004 to 2008 I was the president of the Hungária Pumi Club — the Pumi breed-owner club in Hungary.
During this time I visited each «large» and «small» Pumi kennel in Hungary. I collected data and experience, I gained a lot of useful information. I learnt about all Pumi breeding lines in Hungary due to adequate systematization and computerization of data. Now I have got a unique computerized data base which includes information on origin, health, dog show and working results of nearly 7500 Pumis. My goal was the collection and systematization of all essential information concerning the breeding of Pumis and I want to make this information available for other breeders and Pumi owners too.
Meanwhile I was planning to start my own kennel. In 1997 I felt that I was ready to found my own kennel and try to realize my own ideas.
During my resaerch work I found out that the three legendary kennels (Mocskos, Szépvizér Pusztai, Sziki), which had the greatest affect on the past and present of Pumis, all breeded from an own basis of 15—50 dogs that were kept in one place. I know that quality breeding can only be carried out with a large number of healthy dogs having excellent appearance, predictable and reliable genetic background, well-balanced nervous system, good temperament and strong endurance in work.
On the other hand, I am convinced that it is not worth keeping many Pumis in the same place because of the temperament typical for the breed (Pumis love to be next to their owner, they cannot bear kennels, they are no pack dogs). A Pumi always needs an owner of his own and he will do anything to become «The Dog» of the family.
My dilemma was how to reconcile the two things with each other: I wanted quality breeding with many Pumis and I wanted all man-centric Pumis in my kennel to have their own owners.
I saw a good solution in creating a team. Each little «soul» has got an owner here who cares about them. Belonging to the Szürkebarát team doesn't mean any special obligations, except for being a conscientious owner and caring for the little Pumi's body and soul. The dog is totally new owner's, but from the point of view of breeding the dog belongs to the Szürkebarát kennel.
So I have been looking and I am still looking for such people who would like to keep dogs, care for them, who are willing to take part in breeding to a certain level but who, for some reason, wouldn't like to develop a deeper knowledge of the breed, aren't interested in studying breeding lines and other things that are essential for quality breeding, but on the other hand, they accept my professional directions and trust my professional knowledge and experience.
I prefer giving my puppies to such places where the owners do some kind of work (herding, rescuing, searching for drugs) or sport (agility or herding competition) with them. But, of course, I regard it also perfect if the puppy gets to a place where it is considered a member of the family.
Otherwise, I speak Russian fluently — I received my first degree in the Ukraine at the Technological University of Kiev. I obtained my second diploma at the Police Academy in Budapest in 1990. I worked for the MALÉV and I worked at the Central Police Station of Budapest as well. Now I am a private detective and I have been the director of a private detective agency since 1991.
Until the summer of the year 2003 I lived in Budapest with my wife, two daughters and my Pumis. Now we have moved to the beautiful small village near Budapest, called Csobánka. We have there a house with big garden for our Pumis.
1997-2008 Länger György