Down Home Harriers-About Us

Brett has had hounds throughout his life, mostly standard dachshunds, and seems to have an understanding about natural and ordinary hound behavior. Our joke around here is that he is the unpaid kennel helper, because he does a lot of the non-glamorous behind-the-scenes work with our dogs. He appreciates an attractive dog, however, sound temperment and good disposition are the most essential qualities in a dog, in his judgement. Brett will ocassionally attend a dog show but mostly he enjoys the conditioning and socializing tasks that go with having show and performance dogs.

Susan has had an extensive involvement in the realm of purebred dogs and dogshows/performance events. The child of professional all-breed handlers growing up, she has been emersed in all aspects of raising and training multiple breeds in several groups from an early age (showing in Jr. Showmanship, breeding, whelping, grooming and conditioning). "Sue" ocassionally shows her own dogs now, but has shown dogs for others in the past as a handler in multiple breeds. She also conducts the Canine Good Citizen Test as an AKC Evaluator, presents "How To" seminars on Grooming American Cockers, works as a Ring Steward for All-breed, Specialty, and Obedience Events, and judges match shows and puppy sweepstakes from time to time.

As a breeder, Susan has bred American Kennel Club Best in Show winners in two breeds (Black American Cockers & Harriers) and group winners in three (Cockers, Boxers and Harriers). She does not breed litters often, averaging a litter only once every several years. She is a student of breed type, pedigrees, and genetics (for health defects) and constantly strives to learn new and more information for the betterment of each generation. The Downhome team is privileged to have several knowledgeable and gifted hound and all-breed breeding mentors to consult with for their harrier foundation stock and breedings. All Downhome puppies have been born in the Lowder household and raised as family pets; show puppies chosen/determined as they develop.

Downhome Harriers was established when Sue received her first harrier, Comet,

from Donna Smiley-Auborn of Kingsbury Harriers but Susan's interest in the breed long pre-dates this, as a fan of the beautiful Ch. Brentcliff Jill, during her days as a junior handler. After seeing another record-setting harrier at Westminster, Ch. Kingsbury Pacific Ring of Fire, Brett & Sue called his breeder

(Donna), joined the Harrier Club, and have been involved with the breed ever since. Today, there are 3 harriers in the Lowder household. ALL of them are either descendents of either Jill or Jupiter, those first hounds that caught Sue's

eye all those years ago. (For photos, see our Boys, Girls and Gallery pages; for a listing of the hounds achievements, visit our Brags page.)

Due to an economic downturn in 2009/2010, we have had to abandon our breeding program. In 4 litters, we produced 20 title holders, 3 All-breed Best In Show Winners, 2 National Specialty winners, 2 National sweepstakes winners, 3 Westminster KC Best of Breed winners, 2 WD/BOW at Harrier Nationals, 2 Hound Show Best in Show winners ... one being Coda: Top Winning Harrier History, first harrier to place in the Hound Group in over 30 years, 3-time Westminster Best of Breed Winner and the first Harrier to go Best in Show, from the breeder-handler class, at UKC Premier -- twice --, the top achieving agility harrier in history (Vivid), and the only known harrier to be an active Service Dog (Henry -- Autism). We were also co-breeders of Best of Breed at Westminster for 5 consecutive years. Yes, we are proud of our beautiful and healthy hounds! We have a Last Hurrah Litter, which will be our last planned for whelping in the Spring of 2012.

The Lowders believe strongly in breed rescue, retrieving purebred dogs from shelters or homes where they are no longer wanted, retraining, conditioning and socializing needy animals and placing them in new homes where they can be loved and appreciated. They have been a foster home for Rockin P Rescue, Inc. in Alabama and Georgia for several years focusing on rehabilitating BOXERS. (Fortunately, harriers do not end up in Rescue very often.)

Brett Emerson Lowder & Susan Stacy Lowder

Trivia:

Susan's father was one of the co-author's of today's American Kennel Club Breed Standard.

The webmistress for Downhome is Susan Lowder.

Key things you should know about our Breeding Program Practices and Goals:

We breed very infrequently! We are a HOUSEHOLD and NOT A KENNEL!

Litters are planned, usually years in advance, and raised in our home. We

DO NOT have a kennel or kennel facility. It is Unusual for us to have

puppies. Our puppies, however, are well-socialized and great with kids!

We breed for the Total Dog, which means that our focus is on the

healthiest possible hound for the longest possible healthy life. Structure,

Soundness, Temperment and Longevity are ALL factors we consider when

planning breedings. BEST IN HOME, for the longest possible time, is our

objective. BEST in Show is always just the icing on the proverbial cake.

ALL of our dogs are tested for any known genetic problems at age 2 and,

often, several times again throughout their lives. It IS expensive but it

assures us that our hounds are sound throughout their lives and helps us

to perpetuate (we hope) a sound and correct foundation for future

generations of harriers to be built on as we all progress.

Our concentration is on hounds that exude correct breed type and sound

structure for showing purposes (after the best possible temperment and

health, of course). We enjoy competing in CONFORMATION dog shows and

Obedience, Tracking and Agility events. If you are looking for a hunting

hound, you will be better served to find another breeder with a working

pack of hounds (not an occasional hunter, who only gets out a handful of

times a year with one or two hounds). Our bloodlines DO contain Hunt

Stock and our hounds DO exhibit some inherited pack-hunting instinct,

but we do not hunt or train our hounds to hunt. Frankly, we haven't got

the time! We are a family with young children ... not full-time dog

breeders.