MEET KELSEY

I grew up with dogs (and various other wonderful animals) and some of my happiest childhood memories include going to dog shows with my Grandmother and helping my mom train the family dogs. I checked out books on dog breeds from the library and read virtually every fictional dog novel I could get my hands on.

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As a teenager, I began raising and breeding various gecko species and loved learning about genetics and applying that learning to my breeding programs. But as much as I enjoyed my cold-blooded pets, my love for dogs continued to grow and I dreamed of eventually having a successful breeding kennel.

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Even my career lead me down a 4-legged path. After a miserable two weeks being elbows deep in ice cream at a Baskin Robbins, I eventually found a local grooming salon that was hiring a bather. From there I spent 8 years in a job where my passion for dogs was supported and nurtured and helped to expand more than I ever thought possible. Grooming piqued my interest in pet nutrition as well as canine behavior and training when I saw how crucial and life-changing these fields could be for pets and their owners.

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I brought my first personal, purebred dog home in 2007 - a spicy little Shiba Inu from a breeder I found in Oregon. I owe much of my journey to becoming a responsible dog breeder to Signey, nearly as much - if not more- than my career in the pet industry. I knew enough at that point to avoid pet stores and to look for a breeder who raised their puppies by hand and had AKC registered dogs. But I fell into one of the most common traps I see people falling for: I didn't want a "show dog" so I passed by several of the more expensive breeders in favor of a breeder who charged half as much as the others and labeled herself a "pet breeder". 

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It took dealing with severe skin issues from the time she was 6 months old and cataracts developing at 3 years old for me to really start reading into responsible breeders vs. backyard breeders. I had no idea a backyard breeder could look like a loving dog owner who raised their puppies in their home. Although I adored my dog, I vowed my next dog would come from a responsible breeder and I took every opportunity to talk to people about the importance of choosing their dog's breeder carefully. 

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In 2015 I got that opportunity. I had been reading about Shikoku for several years and took the time to introduce myself to a breeder early on. I met a couple of her dogs and then was constantly combing the internet for information on this rare breed. So when Rumo was shared by his breeder as a 5-month-old puppy I finally felt like the time was right to add a second dog. 

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Although life with Rumo was challenging, I found myself falling completely in love with the breed. His breeder became my friend and mentor and encouraged me to get involved with the breed. Although I currently have only two Shikoku and have not bred a litter of my own, I've been fortunate enough to spend time with many different Shikoku and got to assist in raising a litter sired by Rumo.

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I'm proud to be able to raise my litters with advanced experience in behavior, training, nutrition, and grooming, as well as a commitment to producing healthy, sound dogs.