About me…
A lifetime member of the Canadian Kennel Club, a founding
member of the Pomeranian Club of Canada and the Canadian Finnish Spitz Club and
a 25 year member of the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Club of Canada -- I
have been raising dogs for almost 40 years!
After saving money from my paper route, I bought my first
show dog in 1975 – a Finnish Spitz puppy from Joan Grant of Jayenn
Kennels. I originally contacted Joan
about buying a Pomeranian out of the 1974
Dogs Annual (the first ever edition) and she kindly corresponded with an
eager 12-year old about getting a Pomeranian.
We made arrangements for me to pick up my puppy near Christmas break so
that I would have lots of time for her.
Sadly she succumbed to what we think was hypoglycemia and she died
before I got her. Joan did not have
another Pom pup to offer me but she did have a Finnish Spitz. I was interested in this rare breed and
decided to take on a 7 month old puppy.
“Jayenn’s Naughty Net-No-Qua” was my introduction to Finnish Spitz and
to the world of show dogs.
In 1978 I raised my first litter
of Finnish Spitz and also finally got my first Pomeranians. Under the excellent
tutelage of Joan Grant, I have been devoted to raising the best quality in both
breeds ever since. My experience having her
mentorship in these two breeds has made me the successful breeder I am today.
In 1987 I had a boyfriend who
wanted a retriever for hunting. He
wanted a Lab. I suggested he look at
other breeds suggesting something unusual like the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling
Retriever. We added a new breed to our
household with an amazing dog “Westerlea’s Ilo at the Well" bred by Alison
Strang. “Ilo” soon became a top winning
show dog, a Best in Show, Best in Specialty Show and Best Puppy in Show winner,
one of my first Companion Dog- titled obedience dog and an amazing hunting
companion. With “Ilo” as my introduction
to the breed, I looked for some other quality Tollers to develop a breeding
program and was lucky enough to be able to take over the Chin-Peek dogs of
Toller pioneer, Mrs. Hettie Bidewell. When my boyfriend and I parted ways, I took
the Tollers with me leaving him only “Ilo”, his hunting buddy. All my Tollers today are descended from “Ilo”
and “Chin-Peek Kitt’s Barney” and “Chin-Peek Maybelle”. I consider myself incredibly lucky to have
had such a great start in the breed.
I bring 40 years of pedigree
study, devotion to health, expert whelping and puppy rearing and most
importantly evaluation and careful placement of puppies to every puppy sale I
make. It is my goal with every litter I
raise to match the ideal puppy to the ideal home. My success in the show ring, in mentoring new
breeders and in delighting hunting and family homes is a testament to my many
years of dedication to the Pomeranian, the Finnish Spitz and the Toller.
