State your name, and where your kennel is located.
My name is Shannon Washington, founder of Pryme Tyme Kennels, located in Houston, TX.
What type of dogs do you breed, and what inspired you to get involved with that particular breed?
I breed XL’s. When I first started breeding 17 years ago, I purchased a pitbull that ended up being 80+ lbs which at that point was rare. So since then I always liked the bigger dogs, because it was something different. So I was producing 85-90 lb dogs, and I eventually got a female from Daniel Cantu named Flame, which he had got from Kenny Sonia. Flame was a 95lb female and although she was around the same weight as my male, she had better bone, head, and chest. To be honest, I knew as much as I loved my male, he would have not done her any justice. So I chose to stud her to a King Lion son named Krush, and went a different route.
What type of diet do you keep your dogs on throughout the year?
I feed all of my dogs a raw diet of different blends of chicken, beef, fish, and vegetables.
What is your favorite bloodline?
I’m a fan of a few, which is why my program consist of different types. I might like the heads from one bloodline, the rear from this one, and the overall structure and temperament of another.
Do you currently show, any of your dogs?
Right now I am not showing a dog, but I just did a breeding that I look forward to putting them in the show ring.
What advice do you have for any upcoming breeders?
Breed to your vision alone. Stay in your lane and build your clients around what your vision is. Everyone chases the fads and wonders why some people are producing better. Also, they end up with dogs they don’t want or like because they followed someone else’s vision. With that said don’t be kennel blind. You have to be harder on your dogs than anyone else. Always look for ways to make what you have look and perform better, or be healthier. If you don’t think that’s possible, there’s no point in breeding.
What do you think, is the most difficult thing for people in the bully game to overcome?
Unity. Tall dogs are giraffes, and the short dogs are pigs. Either that or this dog is this, and this dog is that. Competition is good but anytime there is money involved, people are more desperate to bring the attention to them. There’s so many breedings that should go down, but certain people don’t get along.
How do you think they can overcome this thing?
Stay in their lane. Try to be the best breeder you can be, and get closer to producing your opinion of a perfect specimen with every breeding.
Who do you look up to in the bully game, and why?
I look up to a few people actually. I’ve been doing this for 17 years, but there are some people who put me up on game. People like Matt Williams, and Jose Marion, as far as knowledge is concerned. I’m not as influenced by the money or people who are killing the game, but I definitely respect the business mindedness because no matter what people say, you have to some things right to make it to that level.
Tell us about one of your most memorable moments, in 2016 so far.
Just not getting back into everything again. I’ve been busy shooting a movie and a tv series, but I just now lined up a few breedings for the end of this year.
Describe how you would want things, in the bully Commuity, to be 10 years from now.
I would like to see more unity. Also, for us to better define a specific look in the XL community, there are too many different looks, unlike that of the bully’s. I want everyone to come together as a whole, and get on the same page.
What separates your kennel from the competition?
I do what I like, and what I want. I don’t do a breeding to compete with anyone. I do breedings because I like it and I want, or would keep something. When mistakes happen, I try to not make them over again. That is why Pryme Tyme Kennels is different from some of the others.
What other hobbies or interests do you take part in?
I’m a film producer, and right now we are shooting a TV show entitled Dreamsville. We are also in pre-production for a movie, called Monet.
What motto do you live by?
Nobody can’t beat you at being you when you’re true to yourself.
What do you think of Bully Girl Magazine?
I actually liked the few magazines that I’ve seen, but even bigger than that I’ve had the opportunity to see it grow, and that’s a blessing. To see people come together, have a vision and the guts to grow that into a reality, should be what everyone aspires to do. This especially goes for breeders.
