Christine Anderson:
In 1972 I made a trip to the local humane society looking for a small companion dog. “Baron” didn’t exactly fit the “small” companion category – being a Great Dane, but he was a wonderful companion and friend. By 1976 Baron was getting on in years and I decided to purchase my first “show quality” Great Dane puppy. This was the beginning of Hillview Kennel. With a limited breeding program, I have bred and owned 12 Great Dane champions.
In 1978 a fellow Great Dane breeder brought her Miniature Pinscher with her to a specialty show. I fell in love with the breed. They fit in well with the Danes, and I could owner handle and actually win. Years later with sixty champions, many top contenders – including the number one Miniature Pinscher in 1989 (the Pedigree Award Winner) – and I still love the breed.
In 1998 I started handling Papillons for a breeder who had also bred Japanese Chins for many years. She introduced me to a Chin puppy named Maiko and it was love at first lick.
I went through a divorce and major changes in my life became necessary. I decided to start all over again with a new breed. As you may have already guessed the breed that I chose was the Japanese Chin. To date I have finished eighteen Japanese Chin champions. Currently I live with seven Japanese Chins, all of which were owner handled to their championships, and one Papillon.

Carleen Peterson:
In 1971 I bought my first pure bred dog, a black Great Dane. Someone told me at that time that once a person owned a Great Dane they would never be without them. That held true for me until 2003 when our beautiful brindle female left us at the age of ten years and two months.
In 1976 we purchased our second Great Dane and, thanks to my husband George’s “mistake” of taking me to my first dog show, I became an avid exhibitor. My mother-in-law was a breeder and professional handler of Dobermans and Brittanys and subsequently presented George and I with a show puppy of each breed to exhibit along with our Great Dane. That was a huge challenge for me “the new kid on the block”. Trying to show three breeds as a newcomer didn’t last very long and Brittanys became our primary breed. I finished championships on many of them, most of them I had bred. I did continue exhibiting an occasional Great Dane and/or Doberman, as I truly love the breeds. I have owner handled all of our dogs, with the exception of two. In the past few years I have had several surgeries and am no longer able to exhibit our original breeds. We still have three Dobermans but, unfortunately, I am no longer able to "run with the big dogs”!!
In 2005 my friend and mentor, Christine Anderson, offered us the opportunity to own a Japanese Chin. Our hearts were immediately stolen. We currently live with four Japanese Chin.  I have finished a championship on one and we have a young male in basic training. These intelligent, lively little clowns are one of the greatest pleasures in our lives.