Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Reporter's Notebook
LeRoy Chavez loves his Yorkshire Terriers.
The retired Clovis resident travels all over the western United States showing his purebred Yorkies — most recently from Feb. 13 to 16 at the Rocky Mountain Cluster Dog Show in Denver. Nearly 4,000 dogs competed there, representing all 162 breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club.
Chavez showed “Brutus,” a golden and black-haired male who he said doesn’t look anything like a brute. Chavez said Brutus’ long hair is a challenge to maintain but presents a beautiful image when shown in competitions.
Chavez said he owns four Yorkshire Terriers but also shows dogs owned by other people. He breeds his own dogs for show and sells some dogs, but said he’s in the dog show field because he loves breeding, not because he wants to make a profit.
Chavez said unlike some breeders, he focuses on doing what’s best to improve the Yorkshire Terrier breed, not what makes him the most money as a breeder.
His interest in showing dogs started about a decade ago when a Fort Sumner woman wanted to specialize in a different breed and sold him her Yorkshire Terriers, Chavez said.
Reporter’s notebook was compiled by CNJ staff Darrell Todd Maurina. Suggested items may be mailed to editor David Stevens at P.O. Box 1689, Clovis 88102. The e-mail address is:
