history

I've been in fox terriers since 1984. My first SFT I got was from the Raybills Kennels. That pup got me so hooked into this breed that I never looked back. I called her Junypre. I was surprised at the fun loving attitude this dog had. At times I felt I was looking through a child's eyes. I learned about the phrase "you need a sense of humor with this breed." When I lost her, it was only 2 weeks and I got another SFT. This was Raphyel. She was a wonderful companion, and I found myself getting another a year later. I selected the name "Black Marble" after the first male SFT I had.

I started with whippets February of 2003, though I've been wanting a whippet for over 3 years. I pestured Rene'e Clayton (Claymar Whippets) until she finally bred one of her girls. I know breeding the right bitch and dog together take time and I was willing to wait... but that didn't stop me from reminding Rene'e that I wanted one of her pups. Out of this litter I got Gem, a pretty black-brindle and white girl. Whippets have always fascinated me. I've enjoyed the sleekness, elegance and grace they possess. The power in their atheticism is unequaled. They appear to be the perfect package.

My life with dogs started pretty young… having the usual family dogs. Then when I found my dad wouldn’t give in to letting me have a horse, I talked him into letting me have my own dog. I participated in 4-H obedience and later on to purebreds and AKC obedience. My first dog was an elkhound cross, which later led me to the Norwegian Elkhounds. Great dogs!

Obedience was the event I participated in the most until agility became popular. I must say the SFTs excel in agility better than formal obedience. Right now, Roo is my agility dog, tho I’ve started Claire and Rhyo and hop to be competing with them next year (2006). I’ve done some lure coursing with Rhyo, but his best has been Outside with his breeder where he took an ASFA Best in Field. We’ve been slow with getting into Earthdog. I played some with tunnels, but no formal training yet. I have done tracking training with my kerry blue terrier. Even done some flyball with one of the SFTs. There just doesn’t seem enough hours in the day to do everything I’d like to do! There are so many opportunities out there of dog owners to build their relationships with their dogs.

Of late, I’ve been concentrating more on my breeding program. Over the years I’ve learn a lot about the SFTs. I owe much thanks to my first mentor, Billie Lou Robison and to her daughter, Shannon. I’ve made several friends and new mentors in this breed over the years. Jan Ritchie, Sara Cebulski, Claire Hoffman, Donna Knipes, Stacy Turner…

I've lived in Alaska all my life, having been born and raised in Palmer. Palmer is a small town 42 miles NE of Anchorage. It is in the Matanuska Valley and started out as an agricultural community, colonists having settled the area in 1935. Mountains surround 3 sides of the town. The Matanuska River flows along the east side. Many of the fields have since been turned into subdivisions. The area has grown a lot in population during the last 10 years. The quiet little town is turning into a busy community.

The valley is known in the state for its very large vegetables. Every year at Fair time, there is a competition for the largest cabbage. Many reaching 50 – 60 lbs, and several getting up to 90+ lbs. The glacial soil is dark and rich and excellent for growing fruits and veggies. The 20 hours of sunlight we get in the summer doesn’t hurt either. Our winters aren’t as cold as some people would think. The northern mid-west states often have worse winters than we do. However, we do have to deal with the darkness. The shortest day gives us about 5 hours of daylight.

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