Stokerybos Bernese Mountain Dogs
Interview with Mrs. Susan and Mr. Ivan Delrue – Vandewalle • Interviewed by Micol Semiglia
Published in Best in Show Summer 2015
BIS: When and how did you get involved in dogs? Why did you chose the BMD ?
Susan & Ivan: We both had dogs when we were children, after we were married we started with the BMD. The soft character and the beauty of the Bernese Mountain Dog is something that struck us from the first time we saw the dogs. Since 1980 we have our kennel name «‘t Stokerybos» our first Bernese Mountain Dog. In 1984 we started the professional breeding of these magnificent dogs.
BIS: Is there is a dog you consider the foundation of your own breeding program?
Susan & Ivan: There is more than one dog that was the foundation on our Stokerybos BMD kennel, Loef, Laika & Marilou van ‘t Stokerybos were a great start for our kennel. All great dogs!
BIS: How many litters approximately you have a year ?
Susan & Ivan: Breeding BMD is a challenge, providing good housing, to take care of the dogs and showing all cost a lot, because of that we need have a litter from time to time.
BIS: With which kennel do you breed? How important was co-operation between breeders through time?
Susan & Ivan: We did not have dogs in co-ownership, but lt’s interesting to have good relations with other top- breeders around the world, because sometimes we help each other, that can only be good for the breed.
BIS: Did you have a mentor when you got started ? And do you do mentoring at the moment?
Susan & Ivan: We never had a mentor, we have our own vision on the breed.
BIS: Tell us please a main characteristic in the breed? What are your goals in the breeding program?
Susan & Ivan: Our main goal is, try to have generation after generation the beauty of the BMD with a friendly temperament and in good health.
BIS: Did you change type of the dogs you’ve bred through the years and if yes why? How many lines have you used by now? How many generations has your kennel name been in the pedigree?
Susan & Ivan: We don’t try to change the type of the BMD …. We think that isn’t a good idea.
We used some different lines in the past from great dogs that we thought could bring something good in our bloodlines, we are thankful to the foreign dog owners who trust us and giving their dogs as stud.
We are currently starting the eleventh generation of Stokerybos dogs.
BIS: Have the BMD changed over the time since your first got involved with the breed?
Susan & Ivan: In our opinion our BMO becomes more elegance over the years, and movement is more fluent.
BIS: What do you consider your greatest achievements in breeding and in showing dogs?
Susan & Ivan: The great success in the breeding is our very strong selection before our dog comes into the breeding program, the dogs that have excellent qualities to put into our breeding plans gives us more probability for a next generation that will be successesful show dogs. Our kennel has achieved … Five CRUFTS winners, five World winners and EDS winners, several lSO champion titles, many Best in Show at National Specialties in many countries, and at the International dog shows. One of the most famous is EMERSON van ‘t STOKERYBOS, in 2008 Emerson was Belgian Top-dog all breeds, Emersom twice earned the title of World Champion and was European champion, Crufts winner and several Best in Shows. Emerson was best male on the 100 year celebration show Switzerland.
We enjoy great results with our dogs. However a breeder’s life is hard work, with ups and downs, all this success give us energy to continue. We can say it is a pleasure to live together with these fantastic Bernese Mountain dogs !
