When I was 13 years old, I raised puppies for the first time. I struck a deal with my best friend’s dad, who owned a national champion Brittany Spaniel named Countess. I had to get permission from my dad to house her at our farm, which meant building an outdoor pen, insulated dog houses, and setting up a whelping box in the old barn. I laid out the terms clearly to my dad, and he agreed, letting me dive into my very first business transaction.

Countess was a sweetheart and blessed me with large litters — her smallest was ten puppies. Within days of their birth, I docked their tails and clipped their dew claws. That experience didn’t just spark a love for dogs; it set a foundation for everything that came next.

Fast forward to my early 50s. I stumbled upon Navy Seal Mike Ritland on Instagram and started following him religiously. His book, Navy Seal Dogs, was a game changer — raw, inspiring, and eye-opening. It fueled my fascination with working K9s, pushing me to dive deep into the world of trained protection and service dogs.

In July 2018, tragedy hit hard. I lost my youngest son in a drowning accident. My world shattered. I knew I had to find something, or someone, to hold me together, to give me purpose again. Once again, good ol’ Instagram led me to Skoll K9 in Southwest Oregon, where a Dutch Shepherd litter was due in January 2019. I was hooked instantly. I wanted a female, and her name was already etched in my mind.

On April 16, 2019, I flew to Oregon and picked up ElsBeth. I hired two top-notch trainers to work on obedience and home protection — skills as much for me as for her. Training together was a blast and solidified a unique bond built on trust and discipline. Shortly after, I added ElsBeth’s half-sister, Esmee, to the pack. Together, I started training them for Search and Rescue with the Idaho County Sheriff’s SAR K9 Unit.

With some of the world’s best bloodlines and genetics running through my two females, I realized it was time to build something bigger. That’s how KBK9 Ranch was born — a breeding program forged from passion, resilience, and an unbreakable love for dogs that protect handlers, communities, restore lives and protect families.