The Home at
Belmark
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Belmark Shelties
is located on a few acres in the center of farming country. We have lots of
space with fruit trees and old oaks. Above all it is peaceful here with kids in swings and shelties
running to their hearts content, what more can you ask for?
We are a small hobby kennel established in 1986. We limit our
numbers to about 30 adults, so that we may spend plenty of time with
each one. We have an ample main kennel building 35' x 20' in which
our dogs are housed. They are crated for feeding and have free
access to a large 50' x 75' grassy exercise yard. |
We also have 13
indoor/outdoor runs, please see our Kennels Page for
more details. These runs come
into our insulated, heated building on concrete, for easy cleaning. We also have
a large yard the length of the building; 50' x 50' in the front where the dogs
can also
run and play. This yard also has kennels that come out from the building where
they can all be separated if need be. This yard also boarders our driveway on
the rear side so they have plenty of opportunity to meet and greet. It also has
shade trees and a swimming pool in the summer for play and relaxation. On the
side there is a 20' x 20' area that opens up to the rear door of the
kennel building. Both entrance sides have awnings installed for shade in the summer. The whole kennel is fenced at every entrance and all the runs open to
the inside of another chain linked area. The whole kennel on the outside is on
gravel, except for the play yards that have grass. We have an additional
building on concrete with 4 indoor outdoor runs for quarantine and when coming
back from shows, for new dogs, for after bath time and so forth. We also have a
large two story building that houses our adolescent puppies where they have a
large yard, with children's play equipment, toys and plenty to keep them busy.
All buildings and kennel spaces have lights, electric and are temperature
controlled. We also have a chain link fence that encompasses the whole property,
home kennel and drive. All of our pens are double or triple fenced with 6' high
chain link kennels for maximum security. A lot of time and thought has gone into designing and putting together our
home and kennel. We work from home, so we are able to spend lots of time with the dogs. They also take turns
in the house as space and time allows.
We have averaged about 40 weeks a year at dog
shows in the last few years. So we are always on the move and out
with the dogs. We own a large Class A motor home, and a Ford Transit
high top that we take to every state of the US. This allows us to
travel with the kids and make it family time as well.
Our priority is the comfort of the dogs and enjoying our time with
them. We are very proud of the competiveness of our dogs, they are
kept in condition and show groom at all times. |
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This photo of the kennel building was taken in 2020
The play yard comes out from the kennel, it is about 50'
wide x 50' long. This is the front of the kennel.
The back of the kennel matches it, with another play yard pictured below.
Me above in the middle
To help keep our dogs in the top most condition we make sure that the
dogs have their shots up to date, that they get Advantage Multi,
Heartguard, Interceptor or Iverhart Plus preventative for heartworm and
or flea and tick control
(we routinely rotate these for better strength) on a regular basis and
year round. We feed a high quality dog food, ProPlan Sport 30/20
Performance for all life stages. This is fed to puppies and adult dogs
and it keeps them in wonderful shape, weight and coat. All dogs are micro-chipped and every dog gets home
time regularly. |
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Moms and babies playing in yard on north side of house. |
Puppies
are whelped in our living room, in a Midwest air puppy pen, where they remain for close
monitoring
until 3-4 weeks of age, then they are transferred to our puppy room in a
4' x 4' enamel coated wire playpen. We have three 4' high chain link
indoor/outdoor kennels on gravel outside our back puppy room where
the older puppies go while not in the house and before entering our
puppy area. Also this side entrance, (shown to left) is fully enclosed with a 6 foot high
privacy fence all around and measures 50' x 50'.
This is a great shade providing shrubbery it serves as a nice sized play yard for
our house dogs.
Below is our puppy yard. |
Click here to see more views of our kennel facilities.
In the house we also have two puppy/grooming rooms where our puppies are
raised and dogs are kept while grooming and moms are housed until puppies
are whelped. We spend a lot of time here grooming and having fun with the
babies. Both go out to the same wooden fenced area.
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Above is our grooming room |
Green room
As the puppies grow, they get used to every day household noises, sights and sounds,
different experiences, lots of room to play and run and
plenty of kids to play with. At this time mom takes longer
breaks from the pups. Our puppies are allowed to explore
their surroundings quite a bit and allowed monitored play
periods with the kids. This ensures well adjusted, self
confident companion puppies as well as future show dogs.
Click here to see our younger
puppy area |
All puppies will be shown when young to get them accustomed to all
the hustle and bustle. Our
main objective here at Belmark is to enjoy our dogs. My fiancé and I
have four young boys and three girls, although some of the kids are now grown
and gone, we still have a houseful and many come home from college from
time to time. The children are the best puppy socializers. They ensure that
the puppies being raised are exposed to every possible noise! I have seen a
drastic change in the boldness and fearlessness of our dogs compared to homes
without children. I have
been told by many puppy buyers that their puppies
arrived at their new homes with impressive self confidence which lasted well
into adulthood.
National specialty show with friends.
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Belmark
Shelties was est. 1986 we have bred or owned approximately 130 Champions
including Specialty Best of Breed winners and All breed
Best In Show
dogs as well as many that are active in agility, obedience and
many other sports. This is not due to just pure
chance it is a product of hard work and concentrated
effort for one important goal; The consistent
production and training of beautiful healthy dogs
that not only follow the breed standard but fulfill
their hopes for a sound temperament that can be
loved and enjoyed by those around them. |
We are very blessed and hope to be able to continue to do
this for many years to come. People ask how "long have you been doing this", and all I can say
is ... well as long as I can remember I have been in dogs since my parents bred
dogs before I was born. I have been very
much blessed and hope to continue to service the breed and the people that I
deal with now and in the future.
In the most recent years I have become an AKC registered
judge for shelties, this is a job I greatly enjoy, it is the next stage in a
long life in the sport and life of purebred dogs. I'll be judging the ASSA
National specialty show in 2022.
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We strive to have happy healthy dogs that live full joyful
lives.........
WHAT AM I TO YOU?
As a pup I dreamed and wondered
What life would hold in store:
For ME, I thought, there's something GREAT
Beyond that kennel door.
Out there are needy people
And I have much to give:
Love, and wit, and gentleness,
To help them learn to live.
I'd be someone's protector,
Keep little ones from harm,
Or guide an old man's weary steps,
Or help to run a farm.
I'd run and bark and jump and play
With friends along a sandy shore.
I'd roll in meadows thick and green
That lie beyond that kennel door.
I lay here waiting-longing,
As the days and years went by;
My owner kept me fed and brushed,
But inside, let me die.
I do not think of greatness now,
I'm old and filled with pain.
My owner has some ribbons,
But I have lived in vain.
I cannot think what could have been,
My dreams are filled with hope no more,
Just floor and walls and broken heart
For me behind this kennel door
by M. Kummer
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