Meraki Kennels

02/20/2024

Happy 'National Love Your Pet Day'!

Let's see your furry, feathered, scaley & hairy friends!

01/16/2024

Thyroid recheck for this gal today.
Her levels are a bit high again, so we are adjusting her dosage a bit. She weighs 92lbs so we are gonna keep trying to work her back down a bit.

If anyone's known us long enough you've known this girl's struggle with early Onset Hypothyroidism as a puppy and her weight battle. Nearly 7 years and she's still going strong

01/06/2024

All breeds & mixes welcome! Let's see em 👀

01/01/2024

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year 2024

12/01/2023

Congratulations to all champions, including the 7 Purina Pro Plan-fed Group Winners! We're proud to fuel these incredible dogs.

11/30/2023

The UKC American Bully standard will be updated effective January 1st, 2024. They added new diagrams that show variances in type and examples of nice American Bullies (the old diagram was cringeworthy). However, all varieties of American Bully will still be shown together as one breed. They will not be divided into varieties. Regardless, I am very excited about these changes and I believe they’re a great step in the right direction!

Updated Standard:https://www.ukcdogs.com/docs/breeds/american-bully-breed-standard-2024.pdf

11/30/2023

You have to get 3 dogs
of breeds you've never
owned. What are you
getting? ⬇️

11/23/2023

Happy Thanksgiving from us at Meraki Kennels! 🦃🍁🏈🍂

11/18/2023

IMPORTANT COMMUNICATION FROM THE FCI HEAD OFFICE
Titles of CIB-J and CIB-V : APPLICATIONS

Major principles and requirements for a swift and effective process

• The applications are dealt with by the FCI Head Office ([email protected] and/or [email protected]) upon exclusive request from the national canine organisations
The applications sent directly by the owners/breeders/handlers are not taken into consideration.
• The official application form (https://www.fci.be/en/FCI-International-Championship-41.html) MUST be filled in with TYPED and CAPITAL letters.
• The scans of the related enclosures must be of good quality and legible.

We thank you all for your cooperation and understanding

The FCI Head Office

COMMUNICATION IMPORTANTE DU SIEGE DE LA FCI
Titres de CIB-J et CIB-V : DEMANDES

Principes et exigences de base pour un traitement rapide et efficace

• Les demandes sont traitées par le Siège de la FCI ([email protected] and/or [email protected]) sur demande exclusive des organisations canines nationales.
Les demandes envoyées directement par les propriétaires/éleveurs/handlers ne sont pas prises en compte.
• Le formulaire de demande officiel (https://www.fci.be/fr/FCI-International-Championship-41.html) doit être rempli en MAJUSCULES et CARACTERES D’IMPRIMERIE (pas de demande manuscrite).
• Les scans des annexes y afférentes doivent être lisibles et de bonne qualité.

Nous vous remercions pour votre coopération et votre compréhension

Le Siège de la FCI

WICHTIGE MITTEILUNG DER FCI-GESCHÄFTSSTELLE
CIB-J und CIB-V TITEL: ANTRÄGE

Grundprinzipien und Voraussetzungen für eine schnelle und effiziente Bearbeitung

• Die Anträge werden von der FCI-Geschäftsstelle ([email protected] und/oder [email protected]) ausschließlich auf Anfrage der nationalen Hundeverbände bearbeitet.
Anträge, die direkt von Besitzern/Züchtern/Handlern gesendet werden, werden nicht berücksichtigt.
• Das offizielle Antragsformular (https://www.fci.be/de/FCI-International-Championship-41.html) muss in GROSSBUCHSTABEN UND DRUCKSCHRIFT ausgefüllt werden (kein handgeschriebener Antrag).
• Die gescannten Anhänge müssen lesbar und von guter Qualität sein.

Wir bedanken uns, für Ihre Mitarbeit und Ihr Verständnis.

Die FCI-Geschäftsstelle

COMUNICADO IMPORTANTE DE LA SEDE DE LA FCI
Títulos de CIB-J y CIB-V : SOLICITUDES

Principios y requisitos básicos para garantizar un tratamiento rápido y eficiente

• La Sede de la FCI trata las solicitudes ([email protected] y/o [email protected]) exclusivamente a petición de las organizaciones caninas nacionales.
No se toman en cuenta las solicitudes tramitadas directamente por los propietarios/criadores/handlers.
• El formulario oficial de solicitud (https://www.fci.be/es/FCI-International-Championship-41.html) debe ser rellenado en MAYUSCULAS y con LETRAS DE IMPRENTA (no se aceptan los formularios manuscritos).
• Las copias escaneadas de los anexos deben ser legibles y de buena calidad.

Les agradecemos su cooperación y comprensión.

La Sede de la FCI

11/15/2023

I’m only 12 likes away from 1,800!

Here’s how you can help! On this page Meraki Kennels,

Go to the 3 little dots on the side of page, Hit “invite friends”

Select "invite all" & done

You've SUCCESSFULLY supported my Small Business for $0.00 and less than 30 seconds of your time.

Thank YOU for supporting small and local buiness.

11/11/2023

Happy Veterans Day!
Honoring all who served and currently serve!

A little known fact is that my father, father in-law and my partner are all Veterans! 🇺🇲

11/03/2023

Artwork by https://iainwelch.co.uk/

10/29/2023

😆

10/24/2023

Out loud.

10/24/2023

DON'T shame people who work with responsible breeders 🙌🙌

10/24/2023

I want to see the last photo you took of your pet! 📸 Any breed is welcome. 🐕🐩🦮🐕‍🦺

Let's see some lovely dogs! 🐾

10/15/2023

I can't believe this mean bean is about to turn FIVE! 🥺

BEK let's Burn It Down of HLK
Kerosene
10/27/18 💜

02/16/2023

Exactly two years ago today; ABKC put out their educational graphics and even included the recommended Health Testing information in their graphics!!!!

Its a VERY slow process to get everyone on board with Health Testing, but we are getting way better....

Step 1:
Genetic Testing - can be done at any age (** its recommended to do on puppies after 2 weeks of age - they need to be separated from their littermates and mom for at minimal 1 hour before swabbing their mouths to avoid mixed samples).
- We like Embark (https://embarkvet.com/), but you can absolutely use Pawprint genetics (https://www.pawprintgenetics.com/) or most recently Canine Health Check has been getting lots of compliments too - they are somehow "related" to Pawprint, so definitely reputable to utilize- (https://www.caninehealthcheck.com/)

Step 2: (*highly advised- esp. for dilute & merle coats*)
BAER (Hearing)- can be done as early as 35 days old for puppies and ANY AGE for breeding stock...
--- https://www.lsu.edu/deafness/baersite.htm ---- you can search by your state to find a testing facility (i found a traveling doctor that came right to my home to do my puppies and it was VERY INEXPENSIVE)

Step 3: (at 1 year old)
CAER (eyes)
Cardiac (heart) - this can be done anytime and should be repeated yearly for clearances - i HIGHLY advise doing Echo's and not just Basic (auscultation 🩺only)
Patella (knee) - your regular vet can perform this exam during their wellness check realistically, its very easy for them to do
* (Optional) Shoulders (xray) - your regular vet can take these xrays
* (Optional) Spine (xray) - regular vet can do these too
* (Optional) Thyroid (via blood work)
* (Optional) Kidney (via bloodwork)

* Hips (via Pennhip/ not OFA)- this can be done as early as 16 weeks on puppies - they are looking at different things than OFA does, but this gives you a good idea of what your dogs hips will be at adulthood, but should be retested at TWO years old - through OFA -- with results from the 2 year old exam submitted for the database so we can build up our health testing studbooks.

(Here is a good article that compared Pennhip & OFA & described the differences in technique and what they are scoring; but again IDEALLY we want to have BOTH performed https://www.aaha.org/publications/newstat/articles/2010-11/study-compares-pennhip-ofa/ )

Step 4: (at 2+ years old)
Hips (xray) - through OFA
Elbows (xray) - through OFA

Congratulations, you now have a fully health tested American Bully and you're helping our breed to make better decisions moving forward!

It is VERY important to know... Health Testing is a TOOL, not an end all be all for our breed, we NEED to START somewhere... that's how we do and be better..... knowing what we have going on in front of us to make smarter breeding choices moving forward.

Looking for Health Testing Clinics near you? (If your vet acts like they have no idea what you're asking of them, or wont do the preferred tests) Check out these sites:
https://www.cavalierhealth.org/health_clinics.htm (my personal fav)
https://ofa.org/health-clinics/

You can print out almost all of the OFA forms right off their website to bring to your vet (or clinic location) for them to fill in when they complete "exams".
Make it as stressLESS as possible for them (and us) and hopefully more veterinarian and other established breed breeders will see that we (bully breeders) are NOT garbage and we are trying to do and be better for our dogs that already have bad raps in the world.... It STARTS WITH US YALL!
https://ofa.org/applications/

Shared from Heather OilyDropBullies Michele

01/29/2023

We will be undergoing some major changes in both our personal lives as well as with the dogs, and will be a bit inactive as a result.

Please stay tuned for all of the exciting things to come! 🎉

12/20/2022

A friend of mine and amazing breeder has two lovely dogs looking for homes this holiday season! If you think one of them may be the perfect fit for you please reach out to Mary Tyson Wulfsbane American Bullies to inquire for more!

10/20/2022

Not a bad stack for a little pit mix 🐾

09/16/2022

Big things are coming to Meraki Kennels.

Working behind the scenes on quite a few things currently.

As a reminder, this is the ONLY Meraki Kennels. I do not have any partners in any other location. Located in Vermont and Vermont only.

08/20/2022

I would like to take the time and share with you all a link to a GoFundMe for a good friend and colleague of mines late brother in law.

If you could all take a moment to click the link, donate and share on his behalf I would be grateful. He leaves behind two children, & grieving friends and family.

On August 12, 2022, Bryan Krymlak was involved in a fatal car accident. He left be… Amanda Campbell needs your support for Funeral Expenses for Bryan Krymlak

07/16/2022

Its been a while since I've posted an update. 📊

At this time there are no planned breeding/show prospects. We just moved to the new property 🏡 in March and my partner was deployed soon after....so progress has been slow and stress high. 😥🪖

Hoping that progress on the property will resume at a relatively decent pace once he returns, and eventually would like to add a show/potential breeding prospect American Bully into our home. 🐾

In the meantime Both of our non-breeding permanent residents have been working on adding some letters to their names and a little testing (not submitted to OFA) in the meantime. 🥇

Meraki's Valhalla Awaited NTD-M SOR BTC48 2K-9 T3
"𝕺𝖉𝖎𝖓"
Embark Tested: CRD1 Carrier, otherwise Clear.
Thyroid: Normal
Patellas: Bilateral Luxation
Basic Cardiac: Normal

&

Meraki's Goddess of the Hunt NTD SOR 2K-9 T3 "𝓐𝓻𝓽𝓮𝓶𝓲𝓼"
Embark Tested: Embark Clear
Thyroid: Adult Onset Hypothyroidism
Patellas: Normal
Basic Cardiac: Normal

04/25/2022

Permanent resident Artemis outside enjoying the sunshine in our new yard.

Stay tuned for updates on work we are doing to the property this summer! 🏡

04/21/2022

04/12/2022

What makes a dog Brachycephalic?

Credit: Unknown.
Tag/pm for credit