For years I knew eventually I'd need a kennel name ... the process of finding a unique signature, that means something, is not an easy task. After some soul searching and brain storming, the name came. I love the ocean, I feel at home, at peace, 'right' when I am near the ocean. And it is from the ocean that my driving philosophy also comes. The ocean, the water, the winds, while they can be a powerful force and make dramatic changes in times of crisis, it is also seen gradually, over time. Breeding is not to be taken lightly.

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I grew up with dogs always in my home, so it was natural that after marriage and buying our first house that dogs would come back to our lives. Our first purebred dog was Kjersti, the Norwegian Buhund. The breeder of Kjersti encouraged us to show her (at AKC B-matches). Upon entering the show world I've met most of my very close and dear friends. It was at a Buhund Specialty herding instinct test that I first met Bonnie Leonard and her beautiful Belgian Sheepdogs. It was also through meeting other Buhund owners that I met my first Estrela Mountain Dog.

Once Kjersti hit 2 years old I rushed her off to get her OFA hip xrays; we were so excited to find a male to breed her to. Sadly, those plans were never to be as Kjersti ended up having moderate hip dysplasia. We spayed her immediately. I spent the next several years learning a lot about HD and genetics. It was during this time that my passion for breeding grew.

Not all dogs should be bred from. Plain and simple. To me there are 3 critical pieces a dog must poses to be bred from. Health, Type, and Temperament.

• You must determine not only the health of the dogs you want to breed, but their lines (parents, siblings, etc) as well.
• Just because your dog is a purebred 'papered' dog .. doesn't mean it's a good specimen of the breed. This is how showing can be helpful (tho, with rare breeds it is often very easy for inexperienced judges to 'put up' a dog that shouldn’t' be.) It is critical that breeders KNOW THEIR BREED STANDARD!! Breed standards are what define a breed .. It's what makes Dalmatians spotted, and Goldens golden. You must be able to look at any given dog, and know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is what it is.
• Your dog must 'act' like the breed that it is. It must possess the traits of it's ancestors. It must be able to do what it was bred to do.

All these things combine for a breeding strategy for each dog. As a breeder you can't control everything about your potential puppies, but you can take the information you have and do the best job that you can do. Learn from your mistakes, learn from others, and breed to protect and preserve the breed .. Not just because 'you have a dog.'