I have had dogs my entire life (please see "Jan's Bio"); I grew up with "Sparkles", a sweet yellow Lab mix who was a wonderful part of our family. As a teenager, I worked at a show breeding and boarding kennel, where I learned to groom, train and show dogs. In 1976, I got a dog of my own, a wonderful rescue Weimaraner named "Buck" from the animal shelter; that began my love for purebred dogs.
I live in the rural Kent area of Washington state, not too far from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. I have the American Bulldogs "Devon" and "Jersey", and my ex-husband has the American Bulldogs "Simmen" & "Cruz". I also have "Aspen" the Weimaraner, and "Bonsai" the Japanese Chin, my Morgan horse "Boomer", and two mixed-breed barn cats "Sage" and "Senna".
I have bred two litters of gorgeous versatile Weimaraner puppies which did well in the conformation and obedience rings, hunting in the field, and as sweet pets in the home! I love the Weimaraner happy attitude, athleticism and trainability. "Buck" had his AKC Companion Dog title, and also attained the "Dog World Award of Canine Distinction". "Chia" and her son "Chase" were AKC Champions, and had their Canine Good Citizen titles and AKC Companion Dog titles. "Aspen" started her show career off with a bang by attaining her UKC Championship and her Herding Instinct Certification at only 9 months of age! She then attained her CGC title, her Temperament Certification, her Therapy Dog International title, and her UKC Agility I title. I will be breeding "Aspen" in Winter 2008/2009, so please see that page for more information.
In 1996, my friends Mark and Antoinette were investigating the American Bulldog breed, and I joined them in learning as much as I could. I had had Rottweilers for years, and enjoyed their strength, athleticism, devotedness to their family, and guarding ability; however, I was dismayed at the direction in which the breed seemed to be headed. I was searching for a similar breed, but wanted something that was not so over-bred, and was still sound-temperamented and sound-structured. So, I proceeded to meet many different American Bulldogs, and corresponded and met various Bulldog breeders. My friends then flew to Florida and purchased a puppy from Lem Miller at Joshua Kennels; "Rosie" was such a wonderful dog, that I was sold on the breed. I decided when I was ready, my next puppy would be an American Bulldog.
In May 2001, I brought "Sunstar Charolais" home; she was pure white and a wonderful bundle of puppy energy. Unfortunately, she quickly started having structural problems; as I had gotten a full written warranty from the breeders (only upon my insistance), I notified them what was going on and my vets' concerns. To make a long, sad story short, I had to euthanize "Charolais" at 5-1/2 months of age due to severe hip dysplasia and spinal problems. When all was said and done, the "breeders" refused to correspond with me or honor their warranty, and I was left with a broken heart and huge vet bills. However, I was also left with even more conviction to be an ultimate-responsible breeder myself!
In the fall of 2001, I brought home "Sunstar Simmental" ("Simmen") and "Sunstar Devonshire" ("Devon"); they are the sweetest doggies around and have been a joy since they stepped a "paw" in my home. In January 2003, I brought home "Sunstar Santa Cruz" ("Cruz"); he has the same wonderful attitude that the girls have.
My Bulldogs are out of Performance/Old Southern White lines, and have wonderful, stable temperaments and strong, sound structures. (Please notice that all my Bulldogs are named after cattle breeds!!!)
I work, show and play with my dogs in obedience, conformation, Therapy Dog work, sheep herding, and agility. "Devon", "Simmen" and "Cruz" have gotten their UKC Championships, have attained multiple Best-In-Show and Reserve Best-In-Show awards, have received their Herding Instinct and Capability Certifications, their Temperament Certifications, their Canine Good Citizen titles and their Therapy Dog Int'l titles. "Jersey" will begin her show career in the Summer of 2008, and I am excited to get her started!
In March 2003, UKC statistics show "Devon" as the # 3 American Bulldog in the nation! "Devon" is also featured as representing the American Bulldog breed in The Howell Book of Dogs by Liz Palika!
I take my dogs on trail rides with the horses, on walks to the park, hiking and camping, and even just to run errands. They go with me to my all-breed obedience classes, and I do demonstrations with them and they visit the students and play with their dogs. I also take them to work, and they assist me in doing responsible pet ownership presentations and Therapy Dog visits at schools, community centers, hospitals and retirement homes. It is important to me to be an "Ambassador for the Breed", and to show everyone what wonderful pets American Bulldogs really are!
My girl "Devon" was bred to Joshua Kennels "Josh" and had the "A" litter of 10 puppies in January 2004. My girl "Simmen" was bred to my boy "Cruz" and had the "B" litter of 13 puppies in August 2004 ("Simmen" has now been spayed). "Devon" was bred to Zabalas Kennels "Chili" and had the "C" litter of 10 puppies in February 2005. "Devon" was bred to Quest/Wyndmist Kennels "Jeep" and had the "D" litter of 11 puppies in April 2006. "Devon" was bred to Haakers Kennels "Toby" and had the "E" litter of 9 puppies in December 2006. "Devon" was again bred to Quest/Wyndmist Kennels "Jeep" and had the "F" litter of 6 puppies in March 2008 (Devon has now been spayed); I am keeping the pick female "Jersey" from the litter so that Devon's legacy can live on!- Please see many pages of "Pictures" for lots of cute photos of the mommas and babies!
My dogs are my family and are house dogs; as I write this, they are lying around me, snoozing away, as it is rainy outside (after all, this is the Pacific Northwest!) I spend my life extremely involved in all aspects of my dogs; I enjoy seeing other breeders' dogs and puppies, attending educational dog classes and seminars, and going to dog shows and performance events.
My favorite saying is "Whoever said money can't buy happiness forgot about puppies!"
Please feel free to email me and I would be happy to chat with you about my wonderful doggies!
SUNSTAR
American Bulldogs and Weimaraners-
Multiple BIS UKC CH. Sunstar Devonshire, CGC, HCT, TC, TDI; PennHIP .54/.43, CERF #BU-236/2005--49 (rated #3 American Bulldog in the nation as of March 2003 UKC Bloodlines.)
Sunstar Jersey Girl
BIS UKC CH. Sunstar Simmental, CGC, HIC, TC, TDI; PennHIP .36/.22, CERF #BU-234/2003--25
BIS UKC CH. Sunstar Santa Cruz, CGC, HIC, TDI; PennHIP .38/.41, CERF #BU-247/2003--8
UKC CH. Bravehart Sunstar Aspen Glow, CGC, HIC, TC, TDI, UAGI; PennHIP .35/.35, CERF #WE-472/2005--10 (Weimaraner)
Shannons Baby Bonsai, CGC (Japanese Chin)
Beloved dogs I have owned/co-owned who have passed over the Rainbow Bridge:
CH. Sunstar Chimera of Green Acres, CD, CGC/OFA "Chia" (Weimaraner)
CH. Sunstar Cut to the Chase, CD, CGC/OFA "Chase" (Weimaraner)
Sunstar Charolais "Charolais" (American Bulldog)
"Tuggy" (Rottweiler-rescue dog)
Kodiak Token Odin, CDX "Odin" (Wirehaired Pointing Griffon-rescue dog)
Kinshasa Dionysis Draco of Kodiak "Draco" (Akita)
Kinshasa Phoenix of Kodiak, CD "Phoenix" (Akita)
Narnia Mauser of Kodiak "Mauser" (Rottweiler)
Golden Suns Aurora Borealis, CD "Roar" (Akita)
CH. Troys the Cumberland Cruzer, CD "Cruzer" (St. Bernard)
Sound of Buckshot, CD "Buck" (Weimaraner-rescue dog)
"Bandoh" (Samoyed X Heeler-rescue dog)
"Sparkles" (Lab X Sheltie- our family dog born in 1962)
