Merrimac Dobermans is the breeding program and life's work of Nikki McClendon. Located in the Houston metroplex, Merrimac focuses on producing quality dobermans that excel in conformation, performance, and as family companions.
Nikki's Story
It has been over 40 years since I purchased my first Doberman and more than a quarter of a century since I started down the path of dog shows and whelping boxes. It has been quite a journey! Here are the highlights of how it all started:
In 1979 my late husband, Roy, and I purchased the pick black male from Bob and Nancy Vandiver’s litter out of CH Sequoia’s Trader Vic x CH Mistel’s Arfin’ Annie. Bob showed him, and he became CH Mistel’s Doomsday Defense WAC, "Moe." I was hooked!
I then obtained a Moe daughter who became CH Merrimac’s Doomsday Shake WAC. Shake was bred to the Vandiver’s CH Mistel’s Texas Driller, and from that litter came the foundation of my breeding program, my two red girls, Merrimac’s Pick Pocket "Picket" and Merrimac’s Grande Larceny "Lacey".
Lacey was exquisite with beautiful shoulders. I bred Lacey to Rod Humphries’ CH Bikila’s Jet Setter of Marks-Tey, and along came my red boy, CH Merrimac’s Shanghai Red WAC. Shanghai was proud, bold, confident, handsome, gentle; everything in one box. To me he was a king among dogs. It was an honor when he took Reserve Winners Dog from the Bred By Exhibitor class at the San Diego National under the late breeder judge, Tommie Jones.
Picket was a substantial bitch with a gentle soul who did not care for the show ring. I bred her three times, and she became a multi-champion and Top Twenty producer. Bred to CH Glen Coe’s Armani, she produced a lovely red bitch who became Top 20 and BIS BISS Ch. Merrimac’s Shoot-Em-Up "Encie."
Encie was bred to CH Kai Esa II Son of a Sailor, and that litter produced CH Merrimac’s Gibralter and a red bitch, Merrimac’s Too Hot Brazil, "Anna", who I kept.
Anna was bred to CH Gemrose Cavalier V Promise and produced a beautiful litter that gave me CH Merrimac’s Babalu, "Darla", and CH Merrimac’s Viva Valencia WAC, "Valencia". Anna’s second breeding was to Shanghai, and I kept a bouncy red girl who became CH Merrimac’s Red Rickshaw WAC, "Rikki".
Darla was an exceptional black bitch and finished quickly. I co-owned her, and she was bred to CH Merrimac’s Start Me Up, "Mick". The breeding of Darla to Mick produced an exceptional litter of 5 BB, 1RB, and 3BD in late November of 2001, including BIS BISS Top 20 CH Merrimac’s Poseidon On Board "Poseidon", who had both majors by 8 months and finished from the puppy classes; sister CH Merrimac’s Titania Mania, who finished at 15 months with 3 majors; sister CH Merrimac’s Nova Nike CDX RA; and brother CH Merrimac’s Morpheus At Midnight.
Valencia was a lovely black bitch with clean, beautiful lines. I bred her to Poseidon and she produced a wonderful litter including CH Merrimac’s the Agean RA CD CGC TDI, "Gus", and Merrimac’s Andromeda.
There have been and are many more, all special in their own way, some finished champions, and some top performance , all beloved family members. I’ve had the privilege of making wonderful, life long friends in the Vandivers, the Humphries, Sara Casper, and so many others.
Breeding dogs has been a very rewarding experience. I enjoy handling and have begun judging some sweepstakes. At some time in the future, I may become interested in judging, but I am primarily a breeder, and when you lay aside all the dog shows and the ribbons, it boils down to the dogs you plan and help bring into this world. They have been wonderful to me and for me. I wouldn’t change a thing.