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Karen Bunny James' Biography

Growing up in Minnesota, my parents introduced me to the world of purebred dogs. My mother competed with our Welsh Terrier in obedience. I learned housebreaking techniques, obedience training, and general care of dogs from her.

At the age of 12, I managed to save my allowance and babysitting earnings to purchase my first purebred dog. She was a Miniature Schnauzer named "Penny". Together we attended obedience school, and happily shared daily life.

At the time of my marriage, my husband brought German Shepherds into our new family. "Kaeti" was obedience trained by me, and later bred. We kept a male, "Brix", and both dogs helped raise our 3 children.

After "Kaeti" and "Brix" passed away, we decided to get a less protective breed. Golden Retrievers held such high honors as gentle family dogs. By now, we had settled outside of Atlanta. Ironically, we liked a breeder in Minnesota, and flew there for our first Golden pup, "Shandy".

Competing in AKC dog shows became my primary activity. Several years after acquiring "Shandy", I added Flat-Coated Retrievers to our kennel. I enjoy this breed for its intelligence and compatibility with the Golden temperament.

This was the beginning of a serious breeding program, 30-50 dog shows a year, and a fulfilling new career for me. My life consists of caring for 12+ Goldens and Flat-Coats, one to three litters each year, taking delivery of 500 pounds of dog food, traveling, scooping and hosing tons of "waste", wearing clothes covered in dog hair, and sharing my bed with panting dogs. I absolutely love this life!!!

I have tried to apply the many adages that were taught by my parents, to my kennel business. I try to never forget the needs of my puppy buyers and to maintain open contact. To be competitive yet be a good sport. To honor my protective and detailed buyer contracts. Most importantly, to have my dogs best interests prominent in my decisions.