About Us
About Kate
I was almost 30 years old when I got my first mini wire back in 1979 and hold my ex-husband entirely responsible. Six months pregnant with my first child, I watched him straddling the ridge tiles on the roof of our bungalow, cleaning off the moss with a broom and the garden hoe, terrified that he would fall and I would be widowed with an unborn child. He refused to come down until I agreed to have a dog. I think that day I would have agreed to anything just to ensure that he came down safely, but I had secretly planned to have a dog anyway, without all the melodrama, but just hadn’t decided what kind. My neighbour had a wonderful wire haired dachshund called Sally so the choice was made and we bought a mini wire from Ellen Blackburn and have had the breed ever since.
Growing up as an only child I was desperately lonely and longed for the companionship of a dog. My mother, who loathed dogs, finally relented and when I was 12 years old was presented with a gorgeous basset hound puppy. I had him for a whole week when he committed a cardinal sin and peed on the carpet whereupon she promptly returned “IT” as she called him, to the breeder. I was devastated! My world fell apart. It was very cruel and I have never forgiven her.
Over the years I have had many dogs, and increased their numbers as time has passed by, much to the consternation of my mother! Each and every one was different and irreplaceable but I have always had more. My husband left when my sons were very young but I chose not to replace him! Years later I acquired a rescue Labrador and my heart broke when he had to be put to sleep. I never missed my husband but I certainly miss that dog and all my mini wires.
Catapulted into single parenthood all my hopes and dreams of breeding and showing my dogs were dashed and instead for many years I had to focus on keeping a roof over our heads and food on the table. As with so many people in my situation, ex-husbands soon renege on their commitments and the maintenance order was not worth the paper it was written on. At one point I was working almost 70 hours a week doing 2 jobs to make ends meet, secure in the knowledge that my sons who were in their teens and at school, were on hand to look after the dogs.
Thankfully there was a light at the end of the tunnel and in 2001 I bought Buffy and we had our very first litter in 2004. It was jolly hard work, as following her caesarean she was unable to feed her 5 pups because she did not produce any milk and we embarked on 2 hourly feeds, feeling at times like the walking dead. Despite all the hard work and sleepless nights it was all worth it, and subsequent litters, all caesareans, have not been nearly so demanding. Besides I have to keep my vet in business! He always manages to make money out of my dog breeding which is more than I can say for myself. He suggested to me that I write a book about the 101 reasons not to breed, but I think I can come up with 102 as to why I should.
The first time I took Buffy to be mated I was not prepared for the element of human intervention as I naively thought nature would take its course. I also discovered a whole new use for the yellow pages. I don’t recall ever having laughed quite so much but it is very difficult not to when you are in the company of Elaine Morris whose stud dogs I use. I am so grateful to her for all her help and guidance since I embarked on my foray into dog breeding, and above all for making me laugh so much every time I am in her company as it’s a rare and priceless talent. Jeanette’s continuing kindness and support has also helped me throughout.
I would love to boast that I bred some champions but sadly my circumstances whilst bringing up my sons prevented this. They are now in their late 20’s and I no longer suffer the financial burden of single parenthood, so my dream finally seems possible and I have a couple of splendid girls whom I am hoping to show in the near future and possibly even manage to achieve some success in the ring.
A final word of warning! If you have never owned a dachshund before, once you have had one, you will find you will never want anything else and you will become totally addicted! Despite all their misdemeanours you will be unable to resist that tiny bundle of energy which hurls itself at you at an alarming speed and with such great affection and you will ultimately become their slave. They do not have a hidden agenda as their ultimate desire to steal your heart and they succeed!
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Jeanette’s Pedigree
My family have always had dogs, the first one I can remember was called Scamp, and he was dumped over our garden fence because he needed Veterinary treatment, and his owners couldn't afford it. We lived in RAF Changi in Singapore, and this was a common occurrence. He was a truly lovely collie, and he repaid my parents kindness in looking after him a hundred fold.
I fell in love with dachshunds whilst living in Germany between 1968 and 1976, I adored their personalities, and the fact that they were so intelligent. It's widely reported that dachshund genetics were used in the creation of the Dobermann breed in Germany, and all dachshunds know this... My dogs are superb at detecting visitors, and although thankfully they have never been called upon to do so, I'm sure they would tackle an intruder if ever called upon to do so.
I am very proud of my dogs’ reputation as being excellent family dogs, my puppies are handled by my children (aged 8 to 12 years) daily from birth, and all of my dogs maintain this love of children throughout their lives. My 5 dogs live in our house 365 a year, and puppies are born in the lounge. All our dogs and puppies are fed exclusively on Eukanuba, and receive their first inoculation and a Vet check prior to leaving home at 8 weeks of age. We are an animal loving family, and also have a cat, guinea pigs, hamsters, various caged birds and giant African land snails!