Meet Kimm McDowell: Master Breeder of DerHagen Rottweilers

**Kimm McDowell** of *DerHagen Rottweilers* went 5 years without winning a single point… then turned an overlooked dog into a Best in Show champion. Kimm shares the real story behind her decades in the ring and the whelping box, shaped by persistence, hard lessons, and a clear focus on breeding better dogs, not just chasing wins. **Here’s what you’ll learn:** - How going 5 years without a single win pushed her to improve - The one trait she always prioritizes and why it matters - How she turned an overlooked dog into a Best in Show winner - The reality of breeding vs. showing and why the “best” dog isn’t always the right stud choice - What many breeders get wrong today, and how it’s affecting the gene pool This is a story of patience, instinct, and staying the course when the easy path would be to quit. Watch now to see what it really takes to build something that lasts. **Timestamps:** (00:36) Meet Kimm McDowell (02:10) Starting with Purebred Dogs (03:52) Early Failures and First Big Win (10:20) Discovering Rottweilers (14:04) Jade’s Rise to Best in Show (21:08) Building the DerHagen Bloodline (32:15) Outcrossing vs Linebreeding (35:34) Why Structure and Movement Matter (36:28) The Hardest Trait to Preserve (38:28) The Closest Dog to the Breed Standard (40:09) Kimm’s Most Successful Litter (43:21) Breeding Decisions She Would Change (44:15) The Story Behind “Rip” (51:58) Modern Challenges for Breeders (54:37) How to Market Yourself Better (56:55) Why Specialty Shows Still Matter (59:44) What Gives Hope for the Breed (1:00:35) Kimm’s Proudest Achievement (1:01:28) Advice for New Breeders (1:02:18) Breeder Kimm Wants Featured Next 🔗 **This episode is brought to you by:** EZwhelp — https://www.ezwhelp.com/ **With additional support from:** Ororo — https://www.ororowear.com/ #PurebredDogs #BetterBreederChronicles #PreservationBreeder #ConservationBreeder #AKCDogShows #WestminsterDogShow #WestminsterDogShowWinner #BestInShow #BestInShowRottweilers #KimmMcDowell #DerHagenRottweilers #RottweilerBreeder #RottweilerLife #RottweilerBreedingProgramInterview