The Good Breeder Spotlight Column: Anita
Before starting her program, Good Breeder Anita Turner made it her mission to learn all about the Basset Hound breed, and how she could help improve their overall health. Now, she helps make dreams come true at Happy Acre Bassets.
Good Dog is on a mission to educate the public, support dog breeders, and promote canine health so we can give our dogs the world they deserve.
Good Dog is on a mission to educate the public, support dog breeders, and promote canine health so we can give our dogs the world they deserve.
The Good Breeder Spotlight Column is a place to share the stories that matter most...YOURS!
Each month, we’ll be spotlighting a new member of our Good Breeder community. We created this column to amplify your voices, recognize the incredible work and sacrifices you make for the dogs we love, and provide you with a safe space to share your unique breeding stories.
We’re so excited to introduce you to this month’s Good Breeder columnist, Anita Turner of Happy Acre Bassets.
Good Dog is on a mission to educate the public, support dog breeders, and promote canine health so we can give our dogs the world they deserve.
Anita Turner, Good Breeder of Basset Hounds
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My name is Anita Turner, and I am the heart and soul behind Happy Acre Bassets. My husband grew up with Basset Hounds and has had a lifelong love of the breed. When we brought our first Basset Hound home with us in 2018, I fell hopelessly in love with them too.
One day while at the specialty vet with one of our senior dogs, we saw an elderly couple also there for physical therapy for their young Basset Hound that had had surgery on both elbows. Not only did this break my heart, but it sent me down a rabbit hole searching about all things Basset Hound-related, and what health issues they struggle with as a breed.
I reached out to my neighbor and good friend, who has bred German Shepherds for over 20 years, and she helped me begin to navigate the world of genetic testing, health screenings, and breeding in today’s world where we have the power at our fingertips to do everything right. And so began my journey and passion to do everything that I could to better the Basset Hound breed, and work towards breeding out the health issues that have become so common in their lines.
As a breeder, my goal is to create a path forward for our breed, that strives to maintain not only breed conformation, but puts their overall health, temperament and wellbeing above everything else. For every dog in our home, and every puppy that we bring into this world, our mission is to give them their best life - a quality life where they are happy and healthy family pets.
Good Dog has been an amazing platform for me as a breeder, because it really allows me to communicate clearly with our families and focuses on breeders that are doing the “right thing,” by ensuring that screening, health testing, and breeding standards are followed that exceed the industry standard for breeding in general.
One of many challenges we face as breeders is the vast amount of unethical breeding happening, and I truly stand behind the mission that Good Dog is creating to help all dogs, not just Basset Hounds.
And in today’s world of ruthless scams, and people praying on those searching for their next family friend, Good Dog provides a safe, secure platform to create and maintain relationships with our new families.
The best part of being a breeder to me is the absolute joy that I get to share with others and being a part of making their dreams come true. Of course, all that puppy breath is a pretty great bonus too!
