My name is Carroll Parkison. I am a Mom and Grandma just turned fifty. Prior to breeding dogs, I was a Program Support Librarian and manager of retail stores. When I decided to get into breeding dogs, I wanted to do it right. I checked out books on genetics and made arrangements to be able to purchase at least two different lines of dogs so that any dogs sold would have suitable mates available. I was told by other Klee Kai Breeders, that they had never heard of worrying about mates for others. I was sure that this would be necessary to provide the best genetic mates possible. As it turns out, in the past it had proven best to line breed these dogs because outcrosses had produced undesirable results. I am just now getting to the point that the lines are stable enough for outcrsosses to produce desireable results.

I saw my first Klee Kai in August of 1988. I thought a lot about these little dogs for a few weeks. Then I went back to the owner of that Klee Kai to find out how I could get into breeding them. I had seen so many huskies in the Humane Society, I thought that an apartment sized husky would solve some of that problem. Husky puppies are so cute, they are hard to resist; however, when they grow up they are hard to keep. They want to hunt and wander. Then they end up captured or turned over to the Humane Society. After a few times of this, the owner gives up, or something to that effect.

I finally talked Linda Spurlin into selling a breeding pair with the agreement that I would be able to purchase enough dogs to have at least two separate lines. In December 1988, I got Sitka and the rest is history.

My breeding program has been to eliminate breed detriments. We have had in the past and still have on occasion, dogs that nip strangers in the dogs own home. We have had a problem with puppies too big for the mothers to have naturally, thus requiring c-sections. The males I have been using now, seem to be throwing smaller puppies, thus eliminating the problem of c-sections other than for extremely rare circumstances. My last C-Section was because the mother jumped across a hole. She misjudged the distance and hit the other side. Thus killing the puppy enuteruo. We have had a problem with undershot jaws in the past. I believe due to selection, I have had fewer incidences of late. We still get cryptorchidism on occasion. Breeding out these traits has been my main objective.

Luxating patalla is a problem experienced by most toy and miniature breeds. A slipped patella as it is commonly called is where the kneecap slips to the side of the knee. If it is not remedied it can cause destruction of the knee joint as well as the hip joints. The remedy is to have a small surgery which makes the groove in the knee a bit deeper so that the legament will not slip out. I have regretfully had to retire dogs from the program because they demonstrated various degrees of this problem. To my knowledge, at this point I have not had any dogs with this particular problem. One of my dogs has exhibited a problem with one of her knees. The owner has reported that she is going to have surgery. At this point it is unsure whether the problem came from an injury she had when she first went home, or it is genetic. I try to keep track of all problems as much as the owners will cooperate.

I am working very hard at keeping my particular strain of Klee Kais free of this problem as well as all known maladies common to the canine world. My Vet has been instrumental in accocmplishing the improvements which we have made to this point.

I have recently contacted the Genome Project at Berkeley having to do with a genetic study. They seem to be interested in helping us with these special little dogs to make them be the best that they can be. Temperament is a very touchy trait to try to breed. It takes a long time to breed out bad temperaments. It is easier to prevent them. I am certainly hoping that we can elicit these experts to help us do just that. As soon as they develop their genetic mapping of the canine to identify genetic faults, we will take advantage of their service and start testing all breeding dogs.

I think that I will have made the most important contribution that I can by involving these people in our breeding program.

I am the Breed Rescue for this area and have contracts that prevent me from becoming part of the overpopulation problem. Any puppy sold on a contract other than a Breeding Quality Dog, must be spayed or neutered. All rescued and retired dogs are also sterilized prior to placement. My dogs are not knowingly allowed to go to the Humane Society or to be abandoned in any way. All dogs are being tattooed before leaving my kennels. Since I cannot be in every Humane Society across the country, my tattoos will help me accomplish this goal.

I am very particular about the homes to which my dogs go. I screen prospective owners, usually without being obvious. I usually just carry on a normal conversation during which you can tell what the situation is if you talk long enough. I also determine from this and other conversations which pups or dogs would be the best for that person by their lifestyle and temperament. Most times I have several contacts with my owners before they become "Klee Kaied." This helps me to make the right decisions. Some people can fool you of course. Whether this is on purpose or not, I'm not sure. All we can do is the best we are able.

This is my family, my husband Joe front and center, my son back center, muself right front, my grandson right back, my daughter front left, my granddaughter left back. Without this family this page would not be here, neither would these wonderful dogs. Producing, feeding and socializing these dogs is a co-operative effort by the entire family. Thanks!

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