Palm's Hillside Kennels overlooks a rich valley of Wisconsin farmland. At the bottom of a steep drive is the farm which has been in the Palm family for almost 100 years. Sorrounding the house are huge flower and vegetable gardens. Earl and Mae Palm, married 46 years untill Earl passed away in 1990, raised 6 children and many champion Chows on this dairy farm. A little further down the hill is the tidy air-conditioned 8 run kennel and grassy exercise yard. Only five dogs occupy the kennel now with two more up at the house. With 8 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild to keep her busy, Mae still found time to answer a few questions and browse through pictures of favorite dogs.

CL: How did you get interested in Chow Chows?

Mae: We found one! Earl and I were out hunting and came across a bitch that was running loose. We kept her a few days untill we found the owner. She was pregnant and we were given one of the pups. That was in October, 1945. She was our first "Miss Chubby". Never registered her. Earl used to take her hunting. I remember people making fun of her - "What kind of hunting dog is THAT?" untill she'd bring in the first bird of the day.

CL: When did you start your present breeding program?

Mae: Miss Chubby died around 14 or 15 years old. I wanted another Chow, a "good" one. The kids raised and sold cucumbers to buy the second "Miss Chubby" for me. She came from Beulah Chapman, in Indiana I think, and was shipped here on a train. That was around 1963 or '64.

Mae: Winifred Kasten would be my first influence and I'd say she had the most influence on me, too. She taught me what to look for in my breeding stock. Adie Toudt showed me the importance of x-raying for hip dysplasia before most people even knew what it was. Sam Draper made me see and understand more in a dog's conformation than I did before.

CL: Are your breeding goals much different today than when you started?

Mae: No. My goal has always been to breed healthy Chows with good temperaments. I want well-structured dogs that are still capable of doing the things they were bred for.

Mae: Yes! I think hip dysplasia is at least 90% inherited. I don't want to sell dysplastic dogs to people who'll have heartbreak although it can't always be foreseen. Other parts of the dog's structure are important, too. Actually, any part of the structure is important and must be sound so that the dog is always comfortable.

CL: When evaluating dogs as potential breeding stock, what do you look for?

Mae: Good conformation and temperament. Overall balance is what's important to me - I don't like them overdone or underdone! In bitches, I prefer daughters from natural breeders and whelpers who produced good-sized litters. In males, I want them to have enough leg. They don't necessarily have to be that masculine-looking or overdone. Pedigree is a big influence in my decision. A dog can only give what he's gotten from those before him. I think the bitch has more influence on a breeding than the male.

Mae: Well, I'm getting older and it's more work than it used to be. I guess I'm winding down my career in dogs. I don't really plan to keep any new young stock anymore. I've been selling puppies to younger people who want to keep the line up. After this many years, it may be time to quit.

CL: Are you thinking of judging?

Mae: No, I have enough enemies already! I have done some sweepstakes and I'll be doing the Midstates club's sweeps in April. But judging regularly, no, I don't care to.

Mae: Make sure you start with good, healthy specimens to begin with. Breed to the dogs who already produce the look you like, rather than just breeding to a pretty dog. You have to consider the bitch's influence on those progeny, too.

CL: Do you have any advice for judges?

Mae: Read the standard!