Breeder Resources
Information and helpful tips to support our dedicated Breeder Custodians.
GDB's Breeding Department staff with their pet dogs, pictured from left to right: Sharon Kret, Heather Power, Jenna Bullis, Erica Loukides, Meghan Fraser, and Carol Simmons (not pictured: Lynna Feng).
Jenna Bullis – Director of Breeding and Canine Development
Originally from Fremont, CA, Jenna graduated from San Diego State University with a B.A. in psychology with an emphasis in animal behavior. She joined GDB in 1997 and spent her first 14 years as a Guide Dog Mobility Instructor training dogs and clients.
Jenna manages the breeding colony and oversees the on-campus early puppy development program and works with other service schools around the world by sharing and exchanging breeding stock and genetic material; she also frequently consults with other service dog programs on breeding and early socialization topics. In this capacity she represents GDB at international seminars and conferences.
Jenna has been active as a breeder and competitor in AKC events since the early 90s. She handles her own dogs in the conformation ring and regularly trains and titles in Agility, Obedience, Rally and Water Work. When not training dogs, Jenna enjoys photography and adventure/international travel with her husband.
Lynna Feng – Canine Resources Manager
Lynna joined GDB in May 2018. She started as a Canine Welfare Training Technician in the Training Department for a few months before moving to the Breeding Department. Prior to coming to GDB, Lynna received a Bachelors degree in Animal Science from UC Davis, a Masters degree in Applied Statistics from Pennsylvania State, and a PhD in Psychology (with a focus on dog training, cognition, and behavior) from La Trobe University in Australia. She also worked closely with veterinarian and animal behaviorist Dr. Sophia Yin to develop low stress (R+) veterinary handling and dog training curriculums and teaching these to dog owners and veterinary professionals. In her current role, Lynna supports puppy development and socialization programs on campus and in the puppy raising program. When she isn't living, breathing, or dreaming about puppies, Lynna's other happy place involves lyrical contemporary dance and dabbling in contortion and aerial acrobatics.
Carol Simmons – Breeding Colony Supervisor
Carol’s relationship with GDB began in 1979 when her sister raised a puppy, leading Carol to raise 15 puppies and become breeder custodian to three breeder dogs. Carol began working at GDB in 1995, first in the Puppy Raising Department before joining the Breeding team. Throughout the 80’s and 90’s she participated in AKC conformation and obedience competitions, first with her Siberian Husky and then her Rottweilers. As Breeding Colony Supervisor Carol works closely with Meghan Fraser helping potential custodians through the application process, placing dogs, assisting custodians throughout the dogs’ breeding career, and overseeing monthly eye exams. Carol also serves as back-up in the breeding lab and for Jenna when needed. Carol currently lives in Novato with her teenage son and black Lab career-change, Jess, with much of her free time spent driving her son to music events, soccer practices and games. She enjoys reading, cooking, camping, and traveling.
Meghan Fraser – Breeding Stock Coordinator
Meghan was born and raised in Marin County, but spent 17 years living and working in Los Angeles as an animal trainer for the film and television industry. She returned to the Bay Area in 2014 with her husband and young daughter to be closer to family and to become part of the GDB community. As Breeding Stock Coordinator, Meghan deals directly with our breeding stock dogs and breeder custodians from placement through retirement. Working closely with Carol Simmons, her duties include handling custodian interviews and home visits, teaching the Dog Management Class, placing new breeder dogs, coordinating and assisting custodians throughout the dog’s career, organizing breeder sitters and conducting exit interviews for the breeder’s final retirement and adoption. Meghan currently lives in Petaluma with her husband, daughter and Boston Terrier, Ruby. They enjoy walking downtown, going on bike rides, camping and road trips to Southern California and Baja.
Erica Loukides – Breeding Program Coordinator
Erica has been associated with GDB for most of her life, starting as a puppy raiser at the age of 9 and raising 13 pups before moving to Marin with her husband, becoming an on-campus GDB volunteer, and now working in the Breeding Department. Erica’s is the first face you’ll see when entering the Breeding office. She assists in answering calls and emails from constituents, scheduling breeder dogs to come in and go home from boarding/breeding, sending communications from the Breeding Department, scheduling puppy visits, and coordinating other logistics for the CCP division. If breeder custodians have questions, but don’t know who to ask – Erica is the one to contact! She can put custodians in touch with the right person at GDB. When not watching endless Netflix and crafting, Erica can be found shopping at Target or exploring the Marin trails with her husband and career-change yellow Lab, Lindy.
Heather Power – Reproduction Coordinator
Another native of the Bay Area, Heather joined GDB in 1999 as part of the Training Department and moved to the Breeding Department in 2005. She is the member of the department that Breeder Custodians are least likely to recognize since she spends the majority of her time in the Breeding Laboratory monitoring the broodies during their seasons for ovulation timing; collecting, freezing and shipping semen; and doing artificial inseminations, including transcervical inseminations. Heather’s household is all-GDB – her husband Jim is the Field Service Manager for Northern California, Nevada, and Hawaii in our Graduate Services Department, and their dog, Bloomer, is a retired black Labrador GDB brood. When not at work Heather spends her time reading, writing, hiking, knitting and eating her husband’s amazing food.
Sharon Kret – Puppy Socialization Coordinator
Sharon became involved with GDB in 1999 as a puppy raiser. Her co-worker at a software company was raising a puppy and it didn’t take long for Sharon to become hooked on puppy raising for GDB. Over the past 18 years, Sharon and her husband have raised 18 puppies! Sharon joined GDB as a staff member in July 2005 as a campus volunteer coordinator in the Volunteer Department. Over the years, she’s worn many hats in the Volunteer, Puppy Raising and Puppy Socialization departments. Now her main focus is overseeing all the socialization and early development for our baby puppies in the whelping and puppy kennels. Sharon oversees 120 volunteers that assist in the socialization programs that help our puppies get ready for their future as guide dogs. When not at work, Sharon loves traveling, cooking, entertaining or relaxing with her dogs!
Training Videos from GDB’s Puppy Raising Department
Click here to view all training videos currently used by our puppy raisers. Keep in mind that many of these videos demonstrate newer protocols that the breeder dog you care for may or may not have learned in his/her puppy raising home. The videos we most recommend for breeders are: Puppy Body Handling (part 1 &2), Nail Trimming, Food Induced Recall (part 1 & 2), Loose Leash Walking, Gentle Leader, Ground Tether, and Greeting Manners. Happy Training!
Lixit Water Spigot Training Video
Pet Steps
If the brood you care for is having trouble jumping in or out of your vehicle during her pregnancy, please contact a member of the Breeding Department to ask about borrowing a set of folding pet steps! We have a few sets on hand that we are happy to loan out to our custodians as needed. Here's a link to a helpful video: Pet Steps YouTube Video. To purchase your own set of folding pet steps, please visit the manufacturer's website: Petstep by Range Kleen. Use the promo code GDB20 for a 20% discount.