***ROXICOCKER***

<body> <p>This page uses frames, but your browser doesn't support them.</p> I was born in Bucharest, the capital city of Romania, which is the single Latin country from East Europe. In my childhood I used to stay with my grandparents at the country. I consider myself lucky having grown up between simple people like them, who thought me to be honest and hard-working, to love & respect nature. There, my favorite playmates were the dogs & cats. Animals have been my best friends, and many times I preferred their company as they didn't know what words like lie, hypocrisy, betrayer, malice or selfishness meant, unlike some of the humans. In the picture I am together with my grandparents & my very first doggy friend, a German Shepherd mixture. I was 11 months old. I wanted so much to have my own dog , so that when I was 17 years old my parents finally allowed me to have it. His name was Kiss and he was a sweet and intelligent Pekinese mixture, unfortunately he was killed in a car accident just an year later, right after my 18 years old anniversary. It was my fault and I swore that I wouldn't take another dog unless I was sure I was able to take good care of him, as dogs are like children - sincere, they love us unconditioned and trust in us. In 1989 I decided to buy a cocker, the only thing I knew about cockers was that they had long ears, nothing more. Luckily it happened to be a golden female coming from working lines, with a perfect temperament, Ela de Licaret, nicknamed Alma. Alma has been my beloved companion and my loyal friend for more than 15 years and she made me fall in love forever with the Cocker Spaniels. Perhaps there was her gentle & kind character, perhaps there were her eyes, with the nostalgic look on her face, or perhaps her ever wagging little tail, but ever since Alma came to my house I said I didn't want to hear of any other dog breed except the Cocker Spaniel. Roxana, Alma & Greco Alma's last litter was by EurCh Northworth Product of Play ("Rusty"). It was a quick & spontaneous decision to go and use that dog, but as the dog I was planning to use could not mate her I took the chance to travel alone to Hungary and get her mated by Rusty. However, it proved to be a wise decision, as further results spoke by themselves. I kept a red bitch in co-ownership, Jade D'El Greco ("Jesse"). I had 6 litters in that period and always wanted to realize more, I wanted to become a real breeder but quickly realized that I couldn't make it since I was living in an apartment. In 1995 I took contact with the Italian breeders, I still remember the day I received Franca Simondetti's book "Il cocker", I was so excited that my legs were shaking, I couldn't wait or the moment to start reading it. Thanks to Franca I came to Italy to follow my dream, to see a kennel, to live with so many cockers by my side. So in 1996 I arrived to Rocca di Giorgi (Pavia), in a splendid place, where I used to speak only about cockers whole day long with one of the best Italian breeders, who wrote 2 books about this breed and bred famous champions for almost 40 years. In 1997 I returned to Romania for an year, but in my heart I had already taken the decision to rest in Italy so that I cam follow my dream - to breed cockers. I took Jesse in Hungary to mate her with the beautiful Int&Multi Ch Asquanne's Greeves and I took another black bitch (my first black cocker) descending from Alma, Clio nicknamed "Zia" (daughter of RCh & RChCL Alfoldi Arany Jerry, grand-daughter of Norris z Demanovskej, g.g.d. o f Alma). Zia is now 9 years old and Italian Reproducer Ch. Soon after taking Zia, Jesse presented me her first litter of puppies, all of them being black. I kept Krizia D'El Greco, she is only the second generation from Alma but I still consider her my best girl ever. In 1998 I was still in Bucharest when I was shocked hearing that Franca died in a car accident together with her best friend Marisa, I couldn't stop crying for many days. My girls in 1998, right after our arrival to Italy From 1998 to 2001 I worked in Italy in different kennels with various people, I worked with Golden Retriever, Gordon Setter, Irish Wolfhound, Schnautzer, Mastino Napoletano, etc, it helped me understand everything about dogs - psychology, reproduction, etc. I only made a few litters but had beautiful dogs like ICh Mora, ICh Asquanne's Galapino, Manon D'El Greco and not only. I realized that my idea of breeding was closer to the English pattern instead of the Italian one, I wanted to breed for passion, keep the dogs in good condition, make few puppies per year, be responsible to find good homes for them, try to improve the like by each mating, test the parents for hereditary diseases (see The Breed). All my dogs were shown with good results. I never had many dogs and I don't intend to keep more then 12-15 cockers, and try to give them all my love & my attention. I don't have "brood bitches" - what an ugly word, for me they are my girls, they make great mothers, they have their first litter when they are mature enough - not earlier than the 3rd season, they have maximum 4-5 litters per lie, and the last one is until 7 years of age. My beloved oldies live in the house: Taipan (10 years old), Clio and Krizia (9 years old). In order to become Italian Champion a dog has to finish a hunting test - I don't enjoy hunting so I don't compete with my dogs in working tests. I don't breed to collect champion titles, I breed because I love dogs for what they are, for their sweetness and the unconditioned love they give us, for their innocence and their loyalty. I think type, character & health is essential when breeding dogs, not only show results. The Roxicockers are sweet & smart dogs, they make great companions, love children, they are out-going and sporting, run in 10.000 meters yard, swim in a river close to our home and love to be spoiled.. We are not trying to be perfect, that would be impossible & such a waist of time, I am just happy with myself the way I am, I love my dogs and I am happy to have them. My dogs made me proud many times, as they were considered good enough to win in many prestigious shows and under various judges. But still, I am their first and most exigent judge. For me dogs are a passion, I still have my life, my family, my friends, my other hobbies. I like to travel a lot and I made many friends in different places & countries, this is the most important achievement. My husband also breeds Newfoundland and has English Setters from working lines. I can't say I didn't make mistakes, but I am honest with myself and with others and I am trying to do my best.. I hope that some day, the cocker of my dreams will become true, but until then I have to learn and I have to work.. </body>