I grew up with a fawn Boxer named “Cleo”, who was not only our beloved pet but also our babysitter, watchdog and my best friend. I knew back then that when I grew up, I wanted to own more than one Boxer. I really had no intention of having as many as I do today.

As an adult, when did you acquire your first Boxer?

When I moved to New Jersey in 1968, I Immediately purchased three Boxer puppies, sired by the famous local dominant Boxer, Ch. Eldic’s Landlord. They basically were to act as our watchdogs for our antique business, which consisted of clocks, music boxes and coin-operated musical instruments.

Do you feel that Boxers make good watchdogs?

Yes, they are quite alert and have that menacing look although they are extremely friendly and would always invite our visitors (friends and clients) into our house.

When did you start breeding Boxers?

We were encouraged by the breeders of our first bitch, Jacquet’s Satie who was beautifully bred with a wonderful temperament and I suppose the idea got planted in my head somewhat coincidentally. One day a stranger knocked on the door (of our NJ house) and told me that she was ready for another Boxer puppy, having just lost her last one. I was taken aback and asked her, “How do you know I have Boxers?” She informed me that she purchased her last boxer from this address. When I investigated further, I learned that the old kennel and cement slabs in my backyard were once a part of a thriving show kennel owned by the late AKC judge Thomas Solles. So, to answer your question, our first litter was a co-breeding on a breeder’s term in 1972. I kept a flashy brindle male who became Ch. Jacquet’s Ronel Micah, who had all the makings of a “flyer.”

What is a “flyer?”

A “flyer” is that special puppy who seems to have it all – conformation, personality, showmanship and a sweet expression. Micah indeed was promising, having finished within just six weeks of showing, which I thought was the norm at that time. Sadly, he was hit by a car, cutting short his burgeoning career as a special and dominant stud dog. Fortunately, we had a younger brother, Ch. Jacquet’s Zephan (SOM), a repeat breeding, who filled that awful void of sadness and laid the foundation for almost all of our champions. We resurrected the shell of the old Solles kennel in the back after our second litter. Shortly thereafter, my kennel and breeding program took off, keeping me home and off to dog shows on weekends.

Thus began Jacquet Boxers?

Yes, and soon J-B Wholesale, too! “J-B” of course stands for Jacquet Boxers. My partner, Bill Scolnik, and I acquired a mail-order dog-supply business, primarily serving dog breeders and show people. This way I could buy my supplies at cost and make money feeding my hobby and myself as well. Bill already knew the catalog business and published a small catalog with photographs of our supplies, and soon this business took wing. From a one-man operation, J-B Wholesale now employs 75 personnel.

When did you move the kennel and business to your current location?

We moved Jacquet Boxers and J-B to Oakland, NJ in 1988 and 89 respectively and went about building my dream kennel, with all the amenities, including air-conditioning, central heating, radiant heat, a separate building for a nursery, a greenhouse for indoor puppy sunlight, socialization and play, separate runs for each dog and an acre paddock area. The kennel is a small operation with seven assistants, all of whom care and have love for the dogs.

What brings you the most satisfaction in your breeding program?

I get the most satisfaction and happiness breeding and whelping, always hoping for that special “flyer.” Some of our puppies have gone on to a notable specials career here in the US and abroad. I also get great satisfaction from the many wonderful pets that have gone to good homes creating lasting friendships that have transpired through this, and the ever-growing Jacquet family. We have been fortunate to start off many great breeders from our line, including kennels like Goldfield, El Encanto, Karmel and others… I value most the numbers of Dams of Merit (DOM) Jacquet has bred, so far, ten! Each of these bitches accomplished this (four champion progeny) with one or two litters in their lifetime. The Sires of Merit (SOM) now number ten, none of which is offered at stud to the public only to members of the Jacquet family. A SOM has to produce seven champion progeny. These producers are responsible for most of our 230 AKC champions.

Is that a record in the American Boxer world?

Yes it is and we’ve won the American Boxer Club’s annual award 23 times for “Breeder of the Year” and 17 times for “Kennel Making the Most Champions.”

Have the Jacquet Boxers established themselves overseas as well?

In addition to over 230 AKC champions, we have produced some 500 international champions worldwide. We have exported top dogs to many countries around the world, helping to establish the Boxer in those places. Among the countries to which Jacquet has sent Boxers to include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, India, the Philippines, Taiwan, and of course Japan, where we sent top sires like Jacquet’s Novarese (SOM), Ch. Jacquet’s Bravo of Goldfield (SOM), Ch. Jacquet’s Detino El Encant, and Ch. Jacquet’s Urko (SOM), and many others. Of course, you can read more about these dogs and all of these countries and our many champions in my very comprehensive book, The World of the Boxer, which was published in 1997 by T.F.H. Publications and has gone on to be their best-selling single breed dog book. It’s amazing how many autographed copies go out of J-B Wholesale every week, and the book is over seven years old now!

Can you describe your breeding philosophy?

I learned the concept of line breeding from three legendary breeder-judges, Eleanor Haeberle of Eldic Boxers, Gerald Broadt and Lena Ludwig, plus all-around Alva Rosenberg. They all emphasized line breeding. Set a strong line, and then carefully introduce other Boxer lines in intervals. That is the main reason I accepted invitations to judge sweepstakes at specialties around the country as well as abroad. I am always looking for a dominant stud dog that produced ideal and genetic-defect-free progeny. That is how I incorporated Brayshaw, Merrilane and Cachet into my foundation of Eldic. Another philosophy that I adhere to is to always sell your best puppy to serious show clients, whether here in the US or abroad, and only to good homes. As I learned so much from the four legends mentioned before, I believe in being free with giving good advice when needed, not just to my puppy buyers but to my family of breeders as well.

How do you determine which puppy is the “best?”

I select the most balanced pups having all the requirements that I think is the ideal makeup of a Boxer: great temperament, soundness and beauty in body and movement, a pleasing expression, and most important of all, no genetic defects.

What do you do to ensure that every litter is as good or better than the last? And how do you raise the pups?

We breed the best temperament with great temperament, soundness with soundness. We provide the bitch with a balanced rich diet with an ideal environment to whelp and raise her puppies. We play classical music during her pregnancy and while nursing and weaning. We handle the puppies often, once the bitch feels comfortable about this, picking them up, kissing, hugging, talking to them. When the dam stops her toilet cleaning, we take over in keeping the litter immaculate. We take them out after every meal and nap, praise them, giving them reassurance and provide them with plenty of plush toys (compliments of J-B Wholesale, of course!). We start crate training by allowing them to be in the crates for short intervals, and eventually overnight. This is of tremendous help to the new owners. When possible, we include children in the socialization process, as many Jacquet Boxers go to homes with kids. For future show pups, we start them on gaiting by walking back and forth outside their runs. Then we take them out on the lawn and have them follow us by using a squeaky toy. Later we introduce liver treats with the pups on their Resco leads (which slip over their heads and taped ears easily, without tightening around their necks). We let the pups meet strangers who visit, and after they are inoculated, we attend show handling classes sponsored by our local all-breed clubs.

What challenges does the kennel owner face?

One of the obvious challenges is the various viruses that can be picked up at a dog show which are then brought back to the kennel. Another challenge is the difficulty of finding the best helpers and assistants for the kennel, individuals who really care for the dogs and can be relied upon, no matter the weather or the holiday! I rarely leave my dogs, but when I do, it is most comforting to know that the Jacquet kids are receiving the best of care.

What would you like to see for the Boxer in the new century?

Beyond the pursuits of showing and obedience, I would like to see more Boxers serving humankind through search and rescue, handicap dogs, Seeing Eye dogs, seizure-predicting, therapy and other such things. Many of our Jacquet Boxers have been involved with this, and I am proud that our dogs have become such good-will ambassadors for this wonderful breed. Lastly, I would love to see our Boxers live even longer then they do now, which is about 11 to 15 years, some living into their 16^th year. If they could only live as long as we humans do!