Meet Mary Nowak: Master Breeder of Honeygait English Setters

What does it take to build a bloodline that leaves its mark on history? In this episode, master breeder Mary Nowak talks about the journey to develop Honeygait English Setters, from her very first puppy to producing Ch. Honeygait N Lampliter Fever, the winningest English Setter of all-time with 40 All-Breed Best in Show wins. Mary shares the mentors who shaped her, the philosophy of linebreeding that defined her program, and the dogs that carried her legacy into the record books. Whether you’re a seasoned exhibitor or simply love great dogs with health and history, the Honeygait story is one you won’t want to miss. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction & the “Honeygait” story begins 01:19 First English Setter & how the Honeygait name started 03:47 Early mentors and their influence 08:17 Building the Honeygait breeding program 12:49 Breeding philosophy & health priorities 18:14 Selecting puppies and what stands out 21:40 Thoughts on outcrossing vs. line breeding 24:55 Defining the Honeygait “look” 29:30 Notable dogs and their show careers 35:16 Biggest challenges in breeding 37:04 Most proud accomplishments 37:41 Collaborating with other breeders 45:58 Biggest challenges facing the breed today 48:17 Optimism for the future of English Setters 50:25 Breeders she admires & would recommend for interviews 52:26 Advice to aspiring breeders 53:28 How she hopes Honeygait will be remembered 54:44 Where to learn more & closing thoughts #BetterBreederChronicles #PreservationBreeder #ConservationBreeder #AKCDogShows #MaryNowak #Honeygait #EnglishSetters