State your name, your kennel, and where your kennel is located.
My name is Nakia Brown. Our kennel is Muscle Merles (IG: @musclemerles). You can find us in Washington D.C.
What type of dogs do you breed, and what inspired you to get involved with that particular breed?
I breed American bullies and french bulldogs with my dad. He was inspired from the first moment he ever saw the merle color pattern online. It gave him a rush of ideas, that stem from his 25 years of experience in selectively breeding and hybridizing tropical fish.
My dad created his own strans of hybrid fish and sold them all over the world. He is most known for his line breeding of what he calls the “King Midas” Cichlid which is essentially like an American Bully in water. The “King Midas” Cichlid’s are very thick, with a bully body, and strong physique, with the biggest humps on their heads in the world, which exemplifies dominance.
He then went on a quest to put the merle gene into the best body structures of the American Bully Breed. He saw none better than the Muscletone Magoo blood. Thus, we started “Muscle Merles”.
In your opinion, what are the characteristics of a responsible dog breeder?
In my opinion, a responsible dog breeder is a consistent, diligent, and patient person. As a young breeder, running my own business while being home schooled, I have learned a level of consistency and diligence that no other industry could offer. The schedule I have to keep in order to maintain kennel cleanliness alone, is something I could never have learned or worked on in school.
This comes with a high level of accountability and building of leadership qualities. A responsible breeder also does a lot of research in order to know as much as possible about their craft. This allows the breeder to share knowledge with customers and give great direction. There is a lot of misdirection in the bully industry.
What type of diet do you keep your dogs on throughout the year?
We feed our dogs a high protein, and raw diet throughout most of the year. The dogs are given less protein in the winter months, because they pack on more weight and burn less calories. We also cater to specific dog needs, depending on their eating habits and food tolerance.
What is your favorite bloodline?
My favorite bloodline is the Muscletone Magoo bloodline. The Muscletone Magoo bloodline proves to be the best combination of consistency in producing bone, girth, and lasting substance. You can easily tell when a dog has Magoo blood up front in its pedigree. The look is a great building block. Our Magoo Son, “LAW” is a prime example of that. He has one of the cleanest structures of any Muscletone Magoo productions in the world.
Does Muscle Merles currently show any dogs?
Yes. We do show a few of our dogs. Our goal is to have the first ever merle champion, or grand champion in any registry. Only a few registries allow merles in the ring so far, but we are working to break that mold for the future. Our merles that we plan on putting in the ring are still puppies. Most of the registries that allow them in the ring are in the Midwest and West Coast, so we will have to travel a lot.
What advice does Muscle Merles have for any upcoming breeders?
My advice for new breeders would be to make sure that you do a lot of research. Your first male and female should be as close to perfect in your eyes as you can get. We purchased, and immediately sold a few of dogs, the more my dad learned about how specific bloodlines worked in comparison to him breeding fish.
Sometimes what you see isn’t always what you’ll get. My dad is still very selective on what we breed to and what we sell. So if new breeders start out with the best, they will save time, because it’s all about following your own vision. Make sure that you are always producing healthy dogs that can last.
What do you think, is the most difficult thing for people in the bully game to overcome?
I think the hardest thing to overcome is loss. I’ve seen some of the best dogs like “World Star” in person. When I heard that he died, I was sad because I was a fan of the dog. With that said, I couldn’t imagine being his owner. Whether it’s the loss of your best stud, a female, or your whole litter. It can really mess you up and make you want to just quit.
We love our dogs, and we have lost only a few puppies at birth so far. I couldn’t imagine losing “LAW”, our Rocko Grandson “Pay Less”, or our Hungarian Blue Extreme Frenchie “MaMa”. It would really sadden me.
How do you think they can overcome this thing?
The only way I can see to overcome the loss of any dog, is to continue their legacy through their offspring. I take great pride in that, being the grandchild of the Godfather of Go-Go, Chuck Brown. I really miss my grandpa, and I continue his legacy by doing things to the best of my ability, by embracing my love for music and learning.
Who do you look up to in the bully game, and why?
I look up to my father Nekos Brown, because he has a lot of wisdom at a very young age that stems from my grandfather. My father let me add Frenchies to our kennel. I’m very proud to be running my own business at 11 years old. My father is very understanding and encourages growth in everyone around him.
Tell us about one of Muscle Merles main goals for the year 2019.
In 2019, Muscle Merles’plans to really expand and get our name out there. We are the first breeders in the world to add the merle gene into the Muscletone Magoo Blood. People see the vision, and they are buying in. It’s really been exciting to see so many people like and appreciate what we are trying to accomplish.
Describe how you would want things, in the bully breed Community, to be 10 years from now.
I would want the bully world to be more open to merles, and let them show in the ring more often. Soon there will be a lot more muscular and structurally sound merles.
I also want the breed to be mainstream, and respected when we walk into a vet, instead of them listing them as American Bulldogs on their paperwork. A lot of people still don’t know what a Bully is. Consistency is the only thing that will help fix that. Right now, it’s the wild west. In 10 years, it should be more sophisticated.
What separates Muscle Merles from the competition?
Our merles are like no one else’s. They’re like Magoo with a merle coat. However, the main thing we have that none else has is my father. He is an expert at picking the right dogs and pups to add to our program. Every breeding he has done so far has come out exactly the way he planned.
His years of breeding fish, combined with his level of focus and discipline, is very hard for anyone to match in their kennel. He is really a scientist, and he is the best at anything he does.
What other hobbies or interests do you take part in?
I love to read, and do arts and crafts in my spare time. I also like to make homemade doll houses. My favorite sport is gymnastics.
What do you think of Bully Girl Magazine?
I think Bully Girl Magazine offers a great way to get to know what other kennels do in their programs. Bully Girl allows breeders to easily get their kennel name out there, because it has become so popular. I am very excited to be in Bully Girl Magazine, and I thank you for your consideration!
