60s My serious interest in dogs began in Houston, Texas, when a friend gave me a beautiful Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy and suggested that I show her. Brandy finished quickly and a year later had a wonderful litter of 10 puppies. Several of them became champions and Brandy was Brood Bitch of the Year.

70s In the 70s I acquired a lovely Vizsla from Elaine Saldivar in California, and I became the secretary of the Houston Pointer and Setter Association. Devil finished in the conformation ring, in the obedience ring and as a field trialed dog.

80s In the early 80s I acquired a wonderful Bichon Frise from Vogelflight kennels. Vogelflight Mary and my owner-finished male, Ch. Kobolts Kosmo gave me three champions.

90s In the 90s with a Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen for a pet, I was the editor of the National PBGV newsletter. I also obtained a Norfolk Terrier, Easy Cottage Rose, from Sweden. Posy was a joy to have, but did not like showing. Before she finished her championship, we retired her.  She now lives in Boulder, CO, with one of her champion sons, and they are both involved in agility. Our second Norfolk, Arroyo’s Faralito Fire, finished her AKC championship quickly also winning the Colorado Norfolk Terrier specialty that year.

But then I realized if I was to continue caring for dogs into my 80s I needed a gentler breed that required less grooming. Enter the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

2000 When I saw one of Hans Boelaars’ dogs I knew I needed a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. We have been back to Hans’ several times and each time fall in love all over again.

You can see our girls on Our Dogs page. Cozy Cozette Ut’ t Urmenveen was our first Cavalier. We loved her so much we got Leeza v.h Lamslag, sired by Dutch Ch Dimitri v.h Lamslag. Leeza is mother to our Merrychase Fanfare (Fanny).

In 2004, we asked Hans for a pretty little tricolor called Maxime v.h. Lamslag. Maxime and I went through agility classes, finished her AKC championship in two weekends and all her health checks, as has Fanny.

This is not the end of our visits to Holland……….