ABOUT WILKEN 

Wilken Kennels is a small boutique kennel owned and operated by Marea Williams who has been showing various breeds of dogs for the past 60 years. During the latter part of this time Marea has concentrated on the breeding and showing of Toy Poodles.

Starting with "Sunbeam Kennels" , Marea bred and titled twelve Toy Poodle Champions between the years 1974 to 1986. After a break of three years she recommenced breeding and showing during 1989 under her new kennel prefix "Wilken Kennels" which has so far produced seventeen Toy Poodle Champions to date.

Marea's philosophy is not in breeding large numbers of toy poodles in the hope of producing a relative few good dogs and then consign the balance of the litters to approved pet homes, but to breed for pedigree, temperament, confirmation and their show ring presence. This philosophy has resulted in her using and buying only toy poodles that she has actually seen showing and moving in the ring coupled with a good long championship pedigree.

In regard to breeding Marea has set the absolute maximum litters a bitch is allowed to have is four, but the vast majority of matings strictly kept to three. These bitches are then desexed and placed into highly selected pet homes with the long range welfare of the dog always being the aim. A large number of these dogs have given great pleasure and hope when their new owners have taken their "Wilken" to retirement homes, hospices, children wards and aged care facilities. "Wilken" show dogs make loving pets.

The breeding of dogs as in humans has and always will be a geneitic lottery as throw back to past generations is always the norm and not the exception. At times Marea may have a very limited number of highly bred dogs for sale to show or pet homes which naturally will come with DNA certificates and will have their final vet check for patella and other problems. Dogs are not sold until they are more than eight weeks old. It is only by then a dog can be judged for temperament and fitness.

After much deliberation Marea mated Wilken Champion "Kiss Me Kate" to Champion "Fidel Sauvage On Fire (Imported Norway)" resulting in the birth of four lovely boys born 1st April 2009 which are over and above all expectations. "Kiss Me Kate's" breeding line goes directly back to Marea's first Champion " Sunbeam Debonair Tiki" (pictured below) which she bred some 34 years ago.

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From this litter of four, Wilken "Fire Flight" (Daniel) is being show trained and made ready for campaigning and showing by Mrs Joy Rose of Canberra. The second boy Wilken "Flirt with Fire" (Flint) is also being trained and will be shown in Bundaberg, Queensland by Mrs Debra Randall. At 3 months of age the third boy Wilken "Man of Fire" ( Jimmy) was awarded 2nd place in sweepstakes at his first show while the fourth boy Wilken "Kiss of Fire" (Timmy) was awarded 3rd in sweepstakes out of thirty competitiors and then Baby in group. Jimmy and Timmy are still being retained by Marea.

Pictured; Daniel, Jimmy & Timmy