Linda Grems didn’t set out to be a dog breeder, and she didn’t always have Miniature Pinschers. The Howell, Michigan had already had a career in business in a different realm: automotive design. These business skills are reflected through multiple degrees, including an MBA, all uncommon for a woman especially at that time.
One thing gave her a solid foundation in her career: her mentor, her dad. This mentorship translated to dog breeding, which she was encouraged to do by her mentors. And now, the tables have turned: 22 years later at 72 years old, Grems is a breeding mentor herself, the woman behind FreeSpirit Miniature Pinschers.
Initially, Grems had a Chihuahua. She was already looking for a companion dog when in 2001, she was given the opportunity to keep a Miniature Pinscher stray that was found by animal control while she was working in Texas. This dog would later be known as “Action Jackson,” Grems’ introduction to the breed. He was neutered, so she never bred him, but his temperament inspired her to get more involved with the breed.
“I fell in love with the intelligence of this breed, and their willingness to work,” says Grems fondly. “It was an incredible experience — that was Action Jackson.”
She’d been doing obedience with her Chihuahua for two years at the time, so it was only natural that Jackson would follow in those footsteps. Since doing sports with her first dogs, Grems has involved her Min Pins in AKC Rally, agility, Fast CAT, coursing, and of course, conformation. What Grems didn’t know what that getting Jackson started in performance sports would lead to mentorships that would change the course of her life.
Nancy Bartlett-Hensley
As Grems grew to love the breed through Jackson, she got more involved in dog sports too. She became more involved in the Miniature Pinscher community, and met others who loved the breed as much as she did. “I was participating in performance events, and some Min Pin breeders took note of me,” Linda recalls. “They asked if I wanted to try conformation. And I said, ‘well, sure. What is that?'”
Jackson wasn’t able to compete in conformation, but Grems’ next Miniature Pinscher, “Midge,” did. It was Cathy Beasley who helped her get her footing in conformation: her first mentor in the dog world. Many of her dogs over the years have gotten their conformation championships, including Jackson, who garnered 27 performance titles throughout his 19-year-long life.
Midge also became her first breeding dog, with the help of her breeding mentor, Myra Torovich. Torovich was also a Miniature Pinscher breeder, but has since passed away. It was in 2003 that Grems welcomed her first Miniature Pinscher litter with the help of Torovich, beginning a legacy of over two decades of as a breeder.
Grems quickly found that there was a lot to learn when it came to dog breeding, from pregnancy to whelping to placing puppies. In her first litter, one of Grems’ five puppies was small and kept getting pushed off of Midge when trying to feed. Rather than panicking, Grems took it upon herself to make sure that that puppy got the nutrients she needed. She contacted her veterinarian, and learned how to tube feed puppies. “He set up an appointment with me and a vet tech, and I learned how to tube feed that little girl,” says Grems. “And she made it through.”
She quickly learned how to adapt to most situations as a breeder, learning how to use an incubator and oxygen concentrator too. It was complicated and difficult at first, but Grems was determined. “Mentors helped considerably, and I was determined to pursue breeding,” she says. And it payed off. Grems is now a breeder of merit, a member of the AKC National Breed Club and Miniature Pinscher Parent Club, and a mentor herself.
Her dogs are all OFA examined and have certificates, and in recent years are all microchipped. “I started doing eye tests and heart tests, and that was before it was even something that the OFA had indicated for Miniature Pinschers,” she says. Grems makes sure her dogs get all standard testing, and all of her dogs are AKC-registered, something that she pays for as a breeder.
Since she got Action Jackson, she’s been focusing her life outside of work on the breed. Now, she’s breeding about five litters a year, with a high last year of seven litters in 2024. She owns most of the dogs that she breeds, and collaborates with other breeders, including mentors and mentees, to breed dogs for new litters.
At the start, Grems focused only on Black & Rust Miniature Pinschers. It wasn’t until she was encouraged by another credit mentor, Joan Krumm, that she branched out to the Chocolate & Tan variety. “I stick with the AKC standard, which is by the parent club,” Grems emphasizes. Her breeding style has changed over the years the more that she’s learned: “The dogs are just happy being dogs, and that’ s the most important.”
Before she retired, Grems was still breeding and doing dog sports with her dogs alongside her career. “It was something that worked out beautifully for many, many years,” Grems says. “I would work five days a week, and the dog shows were on the weekend.” But when her husband became ill and retired early, they changed their routine. They got a travel trailer and hit the road with their dogs. “As far as breeding goes, it comes more naturally and has its own timetable. It’s just something that got intertwined with my life.”
Nancy Bartlett-Hensley
She was able to use the knowledge that she gathered from her many years of breeding and expertise to now become a mentor for others. Grems has now been breeding for over two decades, and helps others as her mentors once guided her.
“I have encouraged people that are going to be breeding to join the National Breed Club, and my friend Nancy is now on her first litter,” Grems says. She works closely with Nancy Bartlett-Hensley as her mentor, even staying up many nights when her first dame had complications. One litter had a stuck puppy around 3 in the morning, so Grems and Bartlett-Hensley worked together to help deliver the puppy safely.
“It was a hair-raising experience,” she said, but her knowledge helped her stay calm and help guide Bartlett-Hensley through the birth. “Over the course of the years, I would frequently get panicky,” Grems says, noting that years of experience has allowed her to approach most birthing situations with confidence. But the the thrill of delivering a litter hasn’t gone away. “It’s still invigorating,” she says.
She’s also mentored others, including Stacey Self, and Gloria Standley. Standley owns and shows CH Freespirit’s Mr. Gibbs, who has his championship. Grems knowledge of the breed, across multiple dog sports, and breeding has made her a staple in the Miniature Pinscher community. “After Jackson, I just fell in love with the breed,” Grems says. “Once I got stuck on Min Pins, that was it for me.”
The post Meet Miniature Pinscher Breeder Linda Grems of FreeSpirit Miniature Pinschers appeared first on American Kennel Club.
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One thing gave her a solid foundation in her career: her mentor, her dad. This mentorship translated to dog breeding, which she was encouraged to do by her mentors. And now, the tables have turned: 22 years later at 72 years old, Grems is a breeding mentor herself, the woman behind FreeSpirit Miniature Pinschers.
A Fated Min Pin Meeting
Initially, Grems had a Chihuahua. She was already looking for a companion dog when in 2001, she was given the opportunity to keep a Miniature Pinscher stray that was found by animal control while she was working in Texas. This dog would later be known as “Action Jackson,” Grems’ introduction to the breed. He was neutered, so she never bred him, but his temperament inspired her to get more involved with the breed.
“I fell in love with the intelligence of this breed, and their willingness to work,” says Grems fondly. “It was an incredible experience — that was Action Jackson.”
She’d been doing obedience with her Chihuahua for two years at the time, so it was only natural that Jackson would follow in those footsteps. Since doing sports with her first dogs, Grems has involved her Min Pins in AKC Rally, agility, Fast CAT, coursing, and of course, conformation. What Grems didn’t know what that getting Jackson started in performance sports would lead to mentorships that would change the course of her life.
Nancy Bartlett-Hensley
Mentorship in Dog Sports and Breeding
As Grems grew to love the breed through Jackson, she got more involved in dog sports too. She became more involved in the Miniature Pinscher community, and met others who loved the breed as much as she did. “I was participating in performance events, and some Min Pin breeders took note of me,” Linda recalls. “They asked if I wanted to try conformation. And I said, ‘well, sure. What is that?'”
Jackson wasn’t able to compete in conformation, but Grems’ next Miniature Pinscher, “Midge,” did. It was Cathy Beasley who helped her get her footing in conformation: her first mentor in the dog world. Many of her dogs over the years have gotten their conformation championships, including Jackson, who garnered 27 performance titles throughout his 19-year-long life.
Midge also became her first breeding dog, with the help of her breeding mentor, Myra Torovich. Torovich was also a Miniature Pinscher breeder, but has since passed away. It was in 2003 that Grems welcomed her first Miniature Pinscher litter with the help of Torovich, beginning a legacy of over two decades of as a breeder.
Learning Curves
Grems quickly found that there was a lot to learn when it came to dog breeding, from pregnancy to whelping to placing puppies. In her first litter, one of Grems’ five puppies was small and kept getting pushed off of Midge when trying to feed. Rather than panicking, Grems took it upon herself to make sure that that puppy got the nutrients she needed. She contacted her veterinarian, and learned how to tube feed puppies. “He set up an appointment with me and a vet tech, and I learned how to tube feed that little girl,” says Grems. “And she made it through.”
She quickly learned how to adapt to most situations as a breeder, learning how to use an incubator and oxygen concentrator too. It was complicated and difficult at first, but Grems was determined. “Mentors helped considerably, and I was determined to pursue breeding,” she says. And it payed off. Grems is now a breeder of merit, a member of the AKC National Breed Club and Miniature Pinscher Parent Club, and a mentor herself.
Her dogs are all OFA examined and have certificates, and in recent years are all microchipped. “I started doing eye tests and heart tests, and that was before it was even something that the OFA had indicated for Miniature Pinschers,” she says. Grems makes sure her dogs get all standard testing, and all of her dogs are AKC-registered, something that she pays for as a breeder.
It All Began With One Dog
Since she got Action Jackson, she’s been focusing her life outside of work on the breed. Now, she’s breeding about five litters a year, with a high last year of seven litters in 2024. She owns most of the dogs that she breeds, and collaborates with other breeders, including mentors and mentees, to breed dogs for new litters.
At the start, Grems focused only on Black & Rust Miniature Pinschers. It wasn’t until she was encouraged by another credit mentor, Joan Krumm, that she branched out to the Chocolate & Tan variety. “I stick with the AKC standard, which is by the parent club,” Grems emphasizes. Her breeding style has changed over the years the more that she’s learned: “The dogs are just happy being dogs, and that’ s the most important.”
Before she retired, Grems was still breeding and doing dog sports with her dogs alongside her career. “It was something that worked out beautifully for many, many years,” Grems says. “I would work five days a week, and the dog shows were on the weekend.” But when her husband became ill and retired early, they changed their routine. They got a travel trailer and hit the road with their dogs. “As far as breeding goes, it comes more naturally and has its own timetable. It’s just something that got intertwined with my life.”
Nancy Bartlett-Hensley
Becoming the Teacher
She was able to use the knowledge that she gathered from her many years of breeding and expertise to now become a mentor for others. Grems has now been breeding for over two decades, and helps others as her mentors once guided her.
“I have encouraged people that are going to be breeding to join the National Breed Club, and my friend Nancy is now on her first litter,” Grems says. She works closely with Nancy Bartlett-Hensley as her mentor, even staying up many nights when her first dame had complications. One litter had a stuck puppy around 3 in the morning, so Grems and Bartlett-Hensley worked together to help deliver the puppy safely.
“It was a hair-raising experience,” she said, but her knowledge helped her stay calm and help guide Bartlett-Hensley through the birth. “Over the course of the years, I would frequently get panicky,” Grems says, noting that years of experience has allowed her to approach most birthing situations with confidence. But the the thrill of delivering a litter hasn’t gone away. “It’s still invigorating,” she says.
She’s also mentored others, including Stacey Self, and Gloria Standley. Standley owns and shows CH Freespirit’s Mr. Gibbs, who has his championship. Grems knowledge of the breed, across multiple dog sports, and breeding has made her a staple in the Miniature Pinscher community. “After Jackson, I just fell in love with the breed,” Grems says. “Once I got stuck on Min Pins, that was it for me.”
The post Meet Miniature Pinscher Breeder Linda Grems of FreeSpirit Miniature Pinschers appeared first on American Kennel Club.
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