I have had purebred dogs all my life. My family's registered Labrador Retriever had a litter of 10 puppies when I was just 3 years old...there began a love of purebreds and puppies that would last a lifetime. 

Through a family friend I got a Rough Collie in 1987, and started showing as a Junior Handler under the mentoring of a local handler. I earned a Top Junior Handler award in 1988 (Northwestern Ontario region) with a Weimeraner, and a Group 1st placement (as a junior) with a Keikewabic Alaskan Malamute. I greatly enjoyed the whole aspect of dog shows, and would sit at ring-side for hours... admiring all the different breeds and recording every class, breed & group win in the catalogues from start to finish. Many shows were away from home, from Thunder Bay, Ontario to Winnipeg, Brandon & Portage La Prairie, Manitoba. I quickly picked up show-grooming techniques and also assisted in teaching handling classes in my home town.

With limited showing in select shows only, I have owner-handled my own dogs to Best of Breed wins, Group placements,
Best Puppy in Specialty Show wins, earned many championships, as well as 2 obedience titles.

The "Kaboom" registered kennel name, celebrating year 15 in 2010, has owned, bred, and/or shown many Working Group champions.
My current endeavour is the Toy Group with my Sprucebugs Brussels Griffons!

Proudly, I have had 8 "home-bred" champions to date:

3 Great Danes - 2 named below, as well as "Ch. Kaboom's Free Spirit" (shown in Alberta),

and 5 Boxers:
"Ch. Kaboom's Legacy Of Rowenda" (JJ)
"Ch. Kaboom's Hearts On Fire" (Pru)
"Ch. Kaboom's Benjamin Brat" (Ben)
"Ch. Kaboom's Racetrack Trophy Girl" (Ruby)
and Ruby's brother "AM/CAN Ch. Kaboom's Racers Edge" (Racer).

Two more Boxers (out of my stud dog Jackson) also earned their Canadian Championships: Ch. Kaboom's Cookie Twix, and his sister Ch. Kaboom's Caramilk Secret.

I have owner-handled the following dogs to their Championships: Ch. Bonnie's Krystal Dancer CD (Rough Collie owned by Joanne, bred by David & Darlene Salter), Ch. Kaboom's Brand New Shoes (home-bred Harlequin Great Dane), Ch. Kaboom's Dark Spirit (home-bred Boston Great Dane), Ch. Ajays He's Instyle At Kaboom (Boxer co-owned by Joanne with Ajays Boxers), Ch. Ajays Kaboom Sinfully Yours (Boxer co-owned by Joanne with Ajays Boxers), Ch. Kaboom's Hearts On Fire (home-bred Boxer), Ch. Kaboom's Benjamin Brat (home-bred Boxer), and Ch. Kaboom's Racetrack Trophy Girl (home-bred Boxer).

My male Brussels Griffon Sprucebugs Mug Bugsey is sitting at 9 points, soon to be my latest owner-handled champion! 

Currently I have no Boxers living with me - the ones I have remaining under the Kaboom kennel name are all co-owned or sold to loving homes where I can show/breed them and they get all the attention they deserve. This arrangement works out well for everyone involved.

I have a degree in Commerce and am a Senior Financial Analyst working in the public sector. I have several years of pet related business management, two years of pet related business ownership (with the creation in 1999 of "In-Style Pet Grooming" in Victoria BC),  past memberships in two all-breed dog fanciers clubs, two individual breed-clubs and the Dogwood Boxer Club (briefly as editor of the club newsletter Dogwood Tattletail, then as a member of the Executive in 2003. Current membership is with the Canadian Kennel Club.

I am now proudly owned and loved by my Brussels Griffons, who are ruling our 2-acre 'roost' and being shown in limited shows in 2010.