We are a small show kennel now located in the Oklahoma City area (originally in SD). I began raising and showing shelties in the 1980's. The entire family was involved. I have three wonderful kids, Krystal, Taylor and Tanner. All of them showed when they were young growing up and competed in junior handling. In 1999 we bought our first papillon. Shortly thereafter we imported a papillon from Vesa Toivanen from Connection Papillons in Finland. My husband, Tim, handled "Justus" and the two became very successful ranking Justus in the top 10 papillons for several years. In January of 2009, Tim passed away unexpectedly. Tim and Justus were supposed to show at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show. As hard as it was, Tanner and I went to the show and I showed Justus for the last time. Tanner showed his sheltie, Jay, and won an Award of Merit.
We added Nova Scotia Duck Toller Retrievers to our family and have very much enjoyed this breed.
Tanner and Jay
Tanner excelled in the dog world and became the #1 shetland sheepdog junior handler and #1 herding dog junior handler in the nation for a number of years. He was also #3 all breed junior handler. At the same time Tanner was making a splash as a junior handler his dog, Jay, was tearing it up in the breed ring. Tanner and Jay won multiple Best in Breed, group placements, and specialty wins. Tanner and Jay enjoyed several years at the top becoming the team to beat. Finally, at the age of 10, Tanner retired Jay from showing. It was a sad day but Jay was ready to watch from the sidelines rather than be in competition. Tanner started showing Jay's son, Jayson. As a puppy Jayson had his work cut out for him in the juniors ring. Judges give no concessions for a young dog's mistakes. It took a toll on Tanner's junior handling career and the wins that had come so easily now were few and far between. Tanner was approaching the end of his junior handling career so decided to focus on Jayson's future as a competitive show dog rather than the junior's ring. Under Tanner's care and guidance Jayson finished his championship going breed over specials and on his first day as a special won Group 1 and Best in Show for Owner/Handler! Jayson continued to win and has received multiple group placements.
The Stellar Team
Tanner and I showed together and I met Tawni Altom through him. We quickly became friends and we started showing together with her and her daughter, Amy. Shortly thereafter, my son Taylor's girlfriend, Jessica, joined our little group and The Stellar Team was formed. The five of us showed our own dogs as well has handling professionally for several years and it was truly the best of times. Tawni and my friendship deepened and she became a full Stellar Kennels partner.
Stellar today
I remarried in 2013 to a wonderful man, Kraig, who loves bulldogs so now we have bulldogs too! Taylor and Jessica are happily married and living in Redmond, WA. Krystal, my oldest, is in Sioux falls, SD and is married and on February 27, 2109 we welcomed our twin granddaughters to our family!
Tawni and her family moved to Sacramento, CA. We are still partners and the best of friends. We show together when we can. We no longer handle professionally and no longer breed shelties or papillons. I have pursued my license as an AKC judge and am currently licensed to judge papillons, shelites and junior handling.
We added Nova Scotia Duck Toller Retrievers to our family and have very much enjoyed this breed.
Tanner and Jay
Tanner excelled in the dog world and became the #1 shetland sheepdog junior handler and #1 herding dog junior handler in the nation for a number of years. He was also #3 all breed junior handler. At the same time Tanner was making a splash as a junior handler his dog, Jay, was tearing it up in the breed ring. Tanner and Jay won multiple Best in Breed, group placements, and specialty wins. Tanner and Jay enjoyed several years at the top becoming the team to beat. Finally, at the age of 10, Tanner retired Jay from showing. It was a sad day but Jay was ready to watch from the sidelines rather than be in competition. Tanner started showing Jay's son, Jayson. As a puppy Jayson had his work cut out for him in the juniors ring. Judges give no concessions for a young dog's mistakes. It took a toll on Tanner's junior handling career and the wins that had come so easily now were few and far between. Tanner was approaching the end of his junior handling career so decided to focus on Jayson's future as a competitive show dog rather than the junior's ring. Under Tanner's care and guidance Jayson finished his championship going breed over specials and on his first day as a special won Group 1 and Best in Show for Owner/Handler! Jayson continued to win and has received multiple group placements.
The Stellar Team
Tanner and I showed together and I met Tawni Altom through him. We quickly became friends and we started showing together with her and her daughter, Amy. Shortly thereafter, my son Taylor's girlfriend, Jessica, joined our little group and The Stellar Team was formed. The five of us showed our own dogs as well has handling professionally for several years and it was truly the best of times. Tawni and my friendship deepened and she became a full Stellar Kennels partner.
Stellar today
I remarried in 2013 to a wonderful man, Kraig, who loves bulldogs so now we have bulldogs too! Taylor and Jessica are happily married and living in Redmond, WA. Krystal, my oldest, is in Sioux falls, SD and is married and on February 27, 2109 we welcomed our twin granddaughters to our family!
Tawni and her family moved to Sacramento, CA. We are still partners and the best of friends. We show together when we can. We no longer handle professionally and no longer breed shelties or papillons. I have pursued my license as an AKC judge and am currently licensed to judge papillons, shelites and junior handling.