I was born in Polson, Montana. I grew up on a cattle ranch and my Grandfather and I spent hours a day grooming the Show Stock, white face Herefords.
I had 4-H steers that required brushing, face shaving, hoof shaping and practiced stacking them on all fours with a “Show Stick”. All while on a “Show Halter”.
While attending College in Denver, Colorado, I rented a room from a woman that had Toy Poodles. She taught me how to groom poodles and from her, started to learn about conformation. Because of my background in Montana, the show grooming and conditioning was second nature to me.
It made sense to me to groom a poodle to enhance its conformation. Little did I know that grooming, breeding and showing dogs was to be my life’s work. So grateful for this God-given talent and the resulting success it has brought me over the years.
I have been active in the sport since the late 1960’s and for the past 50+ years, I have bred Multiple Specialty and All-Breed Best in Show dogs that have been shown around the World. I am best known for breeding Toy Poodles, but also have bred many Chinese Cresteds, Min Pins, Yorkshire Terriers, Papillons and Standard Poodle Champions.
My first Champion Toy was Toy Poodle “Ch. CeCeBelle’s Shazam”. I have had many Group, Best in Show and Specialty Best in Show winners. I have also had many National Specialty winners. One of my most famous is “Ch. Sharbelle Atom Seeker”, sire of over 37 Champions to date.
Sharbelle has poodles in many countries. I was named number one “Toy Poodle Breeder of the Year” in the late 1980’s for several years. After Ray and I were married in 1998, I was named again “Toy Poodle Breeder of the Year” or runner up for the past 20 years (based on Poodle Variety stats). We have bred, shown and/or finished over 300 Champions (mostly from the Bred-By-Exhibitor classes. In 2011, we were honored by the American Kennel Club as the Top “Toy” Breeders of the Year. In 2013 for the AKC/Eukanuba Invitational, we qualified thirteen (13) Champions and in 2019, I was honored to Judge Toy Poodles at the Poodle Club of America National Specialty in St. Louis.
I am a Lifetime member with the Conejo Kennel Club and a member of the Poodle Club of America and the San Diego Poodle Club. I have done Poodle Rescue for over thirty-five years, well before it was organized as it is today.