About SUNSTAR

I have had dogs all my 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 rapidly began learning more about the Weimaraner breed and met many other Weimaraners and their breeders, owners and handlers.  I love the Weimaraner happy attitude, athleticism and trainibility, plus they are such gorgeous dogs, they look like poetry in motion when they gait in the conformation ring, run an agility course, or hunt and point birds in the field.  Weimars have very funny personalities, and make me laugh on a daily basis!  They get along with everyone, and are especially wonderful with children, and enjoy playing with other dogs too. 
 
"Buck" lived until he was around 14 years of age, and I then bought "Chia" from a breeder in CA- she was a fabulous show dog and family member until she was 14 years of age also.      
I bred "Chia" twice and produced 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 kept "Chase" from her first breeding, and he won Winners Dog at the Weimaraner Club of America National Specialty weekend, my first homebred Champion! 
"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.
 
I bought "Aspen" from a breeder in OR in 2004, she was my pick show female puppy.  She 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; she has also taken multiple Gun Dog Groups wins and placings.  I am currently working toward more obedience titles with her.  "Aspen" is an amazing dog- I do lots of Therapy Dog visits, presentations and classes with her at work, and everyone loves her.  She is very well trained and extremely tolerant, she loves children and has had kids pull on her ears and tail and she just licks them in the face and wants tummy rubs!   
 
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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.  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!
 
Later in 2001, I brought home Sunstar Simmental "Simmen" and Sunstar Devonshire "Devon"; they have been a joy since they stepped a "paw" in my home. In 2003, I brought home Sunstar Santa Cruz "Cruz"; he has the same wonderful attitude that the girls have.
 
Mark and Antoinette and I flew to Florida to visit Lem Miller and see his Joshua Kennels- what a treat to meet his fabulous dogs Shunammite and Joab and Josh, among others!  Lem and his family were so gracious, and we had such a wonderful visit and made some great memories.  Lem is truly the "grandaddy" of our breed, his family having had Old Southern White Bulldogs in the South for around a century.
 
My Bulldogs are out of Performance/Old Southern White lines, and have wonderful, stable, family pet temperaments and strong, sound structures. (Please notice that all my BULLdogs are named after cattle breeds!!!)  I work, show and play with my Bulldogs in obedience, conformation, Therapy Dog work, sheep herding, and agility. "Devon", "Simmen" and "Cruz" have 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.
Devon's daughter "Jersey Girl" was awarded Reserve Best-In-Show awards at only 6-1/2 months of age and again at 8 months of age, where she finished her Championship and then attained her Herding Instinct Certification. 
"Reina" was born in August 2009, she is from Lem's Joshua Kennels and he picked her especially for me!  She has a wonderful temperament and is such a cutie, I am excited to begin her show career when she is ready! 
 
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!
 
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 and can rest on her laurels!)  Please see Photo Galleries for lots of cute photos of the mommas and babies!
 
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I live on two acres in the rural area of Kent, Washington state, not far from beautiful Puget Sound, breathtaking Mt. Rainier and the Cascade mountains, and busy Sea-Tac International Airport.  I have "Devon" and "Reina" the American Bulldogs, "Aspen" the Weimaraner, "Bonsai" the Japanese Chin, "Boomer" the Foundation Morgan horse, and "Senna" the barn cat. 
 
My dogs are my house pets and family members; I take them on trail rides with the horses, for 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 events, hospital/nursing care facilities and retirement homes, and police and fire acitivities. It is important to me to be an "Ambassador for the Breeds", and to show everyone what wonderful pets American Bulldogs and Weimaraners really are!
 
As I write this, all my dogs 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-
 
"Devon"- Multiple Best-In-Show UKC Champion Sunstar Devonshire, Canine Good Citizen, Herding Instinct Certified, Herding Capability Tested, Temperament Certified, Therapy Dog International; PennHIP .54/.43, CERF #BU-236/2005--49 (rated #3 American Bulldog in the nation as of March 2003 UKC Bloodlines.)
 
"Reina"- Sunstar La Reina
 
"Aspen"- Multiple Group Winning UKC Champion Bravehart Sunstar Aspen Glow, Canine Good Citizen, Herding Instinct Certified, Temperament Certified, Therapy Dog International, UKC Agility level 1; PennHIP .35/.35, CERF #WE-472/2008--46 
 
"Bonsai"- Shannons Baby Bonsai, Canine Good Citizen 
 
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Multiple Reserve Best-In-Show UKC Champion Sunstar Jersey Girl, Herding Instinct Certified
 
Best-In-Show UKC Champion Sunstar Simmental, Canine Good Citizen, Herding Instinct Certified, Temperament Certified, Therapy Dog International; PennHIP .36/.22, CERF #BU-234/2003--25
 
Best-In-Show UKC Champion Sunstar Santa Cruz, Canine Good Citizen, Herding Instinct Certified, Therapy Dog International; PennHIP .38/.41, CERF #BU-247/2003--8
 
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 "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)