Our Story.
It all began with a hair-brained idea that the kids and I should try our hand at dog breeding as a hobby and fun experience together… I purchased our first stud, Spanner, from a professional groomer and brought him home. It was not what Jim or our 5 sons were expecting! Too ‘fru-fru’ a dog for so much testosterone! However, once we let him grow out he was actually quite a ‘manly’ dog! Our first mom was McKenzie, whom we inherited from our son and his wife, and since it was ‘just a hobby’ we called ourselves ‘McKenzie’s Doodles’, after all, they WERE her puppies :) They were a wonderful pair that eventually launched us into a full scale doodle breeding business!
She was the most chill and laid back dog with incredible intuition with any given situation! One time she was standing beside me as I watched a couple of our poodles decide they were going to head out for the forbidden part of the property. She watched this happen and was watching my face. I called out to them but I was frustrated. You can’t scold a dog when they return on command since they would not know why they were being scolded! Well, she took matters into her own paws. She rushed out to meet each of them and gave them both a ‘tongue lashing’ for having defied orders, then came back to stand by me as the self proclaimed 2nd in command :) We were smitten by the incredibly family friendly dispositions her pups had and such personalities! Very smart and very in-tune with their people and any who crossed their paths as well as all other animals!
The demand was great. Who didn't want a loving, social dog that was good with kids, didn’t shed and was good with allergies? Did I mention incredibly cute? So, McKenzie’s Doodles took off and took our breath away! Since then we have added new dogs, and new breeds to give families with allergies, and those without, more options as far as what they could handle. We’ve said ‘good-bye’ to our beloved McKenzie and Spanner and welcomed many more that have had our hearts. It has been full of excitement, wonder, hard work and broken hearts, but it has been worth every minute! It has been quite a ride!
Sue & Jim Brown
Puppy Shepherds.
Both Jim and I were raised on farms growing up so we have a deep love of all that is living and lovely, as well as a sure sense of the things required to keep them that way. After going away and getting our degrees we have found ourselves back on the farm doing what we love best in our later years. Although it is a great deal of work with no real ‘off’ time, we love what we do.
Jim prefers to call himself a ‘puppy shepherd’ instead of a ‘dog breeder’ because it comes closer to saying how he feels about what he does. He is the consummate ‘dog whisperer’ and I’ve never seen him meet a dog that did not instantly think they were trusted pals. He is always patient and loving with them and they respond in kind.
Full Time Hobby.
I took on breeding as a hobby 18 years ago and have been amazed to see how it has flourished and grown. I have done it all along the way, including the all night whelping sessions, the runs to the repro vet, all the correspondence and planning of litters and future breeders, and the one on one with all the families. I have a total love of all areas of the business… okay, maybe not the clean up… but it is Jim’s hard work that keeps it all going and our dogs well cared for and happy. It is a team effort in every way but it is also a labor of love!
Sue & Jim Brown
Family Business.
Over the years we have included our family in the process and the business… whether they wanted it or not! LOL. Some have moved on and others have come back to help out and have gotten deeply attached to the work.
Hannah & Shannon
Hannah, Shannon, and son.
We were thrilled when our daughter, Hannah, and her husband, Shannon, came on board years ago to help us out. Now, they are a McKenzie’s Clan with their own kennel that is connected to McKenzie’s Doodles and have been under our oversight since the beginning. They are amazing and very dedicated to their dogs and puppies and are now more than capable of doing it all themselves! They are great to work with and you will see that some of the litters are with them. They live about 4 miles up the road from us and we are always ‘talking dogs’. It is such a wonderful thing to totally understand what each is going through and to encourage each other along the way in the sleepless nights of whelping or bottle feeding!
They operate very much like us. Hannah manages all of the correspondence, paperwork, running, online, customer service, as well as much of the physical labor at times. Shannon is the tender guy who makes sure all the puppies are comfortable, well fed, and cared for. Together they are O’Shannah’s Doodles, an unbeatable team that we trust completely to share our business. It has truly been a gift to work and grow together over the years ! Can’t think of anyone else we would enjoy doing this with more and we are blessed to have them as partners!
Gabe & Tiff
Our son, Gabriel, and his family are our right arm in this business! He is not set on becoming a McKenzie’s Clan, per se, but he has been working with us as our kennel manager and has saved our lives! We could not have continued to supply great puppies without our wonderful son who is helped constantly by his wonderful wife, Tiff, and their four amazing kids! Their lives have been eating and sleeping dogs for a long time, but they have greatly benefited from the opportunity to be outside and working with living things, as a family. Gabe is a kind fellow and loves dogs, and that really shows in the work he does for us. Tiff is his second brain, keeping him company in the many and diverse endeavors, as well as keeping him on track for all the deadlines that they face.
The kids have learned a great deal about early hours, hard work, and how dealing with living things has a discipline all of its own. They are hoping to move on, to work in the area of their degrees, but, until then, we will continue to enjoy their tremendous help and their charming company. :)