Our Story

 

How could the young couple bringing home the tiny black Sheltie puppy have dreamed that this purchase would lead to a lifetime commitment to shelties? It is quite appropriate that the kennel name of Kismet was chosen because it means fate or destiny; and destiny set off a chain of events that would see many sheltie records being set and broken by Kismet Kennels.

After we were married, their first major purchase after they found an apartment was the little puppy mentioned above, a tri colored female named Di-Clip's Stratocruisette, or "Etta".

After we moved back to Midland and built our home and new kennel there, Bob White of Ken-Rob kennels sent us Ken Rob's Bobbie to show and have at stud. He was bred to Ch. Kismet's Coquette to produce Kismet's Rubaiyyat, who was to become the breed's second top producing dam with 13 champions.

Ruby was sold as a pup to Burt and Becky Pardue, a young couple trying to get their start in shelties. The Pardues were busy with 2 young boys, so they were kind enough to share Ruby with us through all her litters. From her first litter she produced Ch. Kismet's Excalibur of Fiesta (sold to Japan), Am. and Can. Ch. Calomi's Earth Angel of Kismet (WB at the 1972 ASSA national); and Fiesta's Fazzle Dazzle (dam of Ch. Kismet's Status Quo, Ch. Kismet's Status Symbol, Ch. Kismet's Seasons in the Sun and Ch. Kismet's Status Assured).

Litter #2 contained Am. and Can. Ch. Kismet's High Point and Ch. Kismet's Cameo O'Garmar. The next litter contained 2 champions - Kismet's Cara Mia, Am. and Can. Ch. Kismet's Born to Go Far and the pointed Kismet's Escapade at Sun-UP.

Litter #4 produced 4 champions - Ch. Kismet's Follow Me At Sun-Up, Ch. Kismet's Instigator, Ch. Kismet's High Heather, and Ch. Kismet's Skye Commander. Litter 5 produced Ch. Kismet's Counterpoint and #6 Ch. Kismet's Sundance Kid.

We made our first trip to the ASSA national in Beverly Hills, California in 1969, and it was here that we first saw Bachory High Born, who was shown to Winners Dog by Patrick Hurtado. We had never seen a dog with such elegance and ring presence, and we could not get him out of our mind. He was sent down by Donna Olson for Guy to show and have at stud, and this was the beginning of a love between Banger and Guy that lasted until High Born's death at age 16. In total, High Born sired 82 Champions.

We moved to Houston in the early 1970's and by this time had many known and well used stud dogs. One of these was Ch. Philidove Kismet Heir Borne, a Best In Show winning dog who was also Reserve Winner's dog at the 1974 ASSA National. Don and Betty Henderson sent Cee Dee's Destiny of Lorahame (one of the first bi blacks to be seen in the ring at this time) to Mario. From this litter we acquired Kismet's Cee Dee Pollyanna and when crossed to High Born she produced Ch. Karelane Royal Flush O'Kismet ROM who later went on to win 43 all breed Best In Shows, 258 Best of Breeds, and 221 group placements, including 125 group firsts.

The Hendersons were also to play a part in our having Ch. Kismet's Conquistador. They leased us Cee Dee's Annandale, the Ch. Diamond's Robert Bruce daughter, and we bred her to High Born. Conquistador was our pick from this litter, and he began his show career at about 9 months of age, finishing in just a few shows. Jay began siring quite young, and is the sire of 37 AKC Champions.

Jay's best known son was Ch. Kismet's Status Quo who was winners dog at the national in '76 at 6 1/2 months of age. He finished in just 5 shows at 7 months of age with a group placement. Both he and Conquistador had to take back seat to Acey's show career, but both did well in the groups the few times they were shown. At age 5, Status Quo made his second appearance at the national and took Best Of Breed.

At the national specialty in San Antonio in 1980, winners bitch was the Conquistador daughter, Alibi's Blue Is Blue At Sun-Up, owned by Michelle Light and Kathy Brownfield. She finished her championship the next day at the Alamo Area Specialty, and we leased her for a litter by the High Born son, Ch. Century Farms High Roller. This breeding produced Ch. Kismet's Crown Jewel.

At the national in Orlando in 1981, we showed Kismet's Dynasty in the 6-9 aoac class and although he didn't place, a lot of people noticed him and asked about him afterwards. Bill was sired by Ch. Fairlight Dust In the Wind, the High Born son we purchased from Kathy Wittkower, out of Kismet's Bittersweet, a High Born double great granddaughter through her sire, Ch. Kismet's Status Quo, and a granddaughter through her mother, Ch. Kismet's Storm Warning. Kismet's Dynasty, bred to Crown jewel, produced 3 champions - Ch. Kismet's High Priority, Ch. Kismet's High Dividend and Ch. Kismet's Impulse. Impulse's sister, Impact, co-owned with Michelle Brouse, was bred to the Dynasty son, Classique Image O'Kismet to produce the reserve winners bitch at the 1988 national, Alibi's All Ways Kismet.

In 1980, we began handling all breeds full time, so we were limited in breeding and showing our own dogs. Guy put many groups and Best In Show awards on numerous breeds for ourselves and others.

We decided to retire from handling dogs for others in 1995. It was around this time that we were invited to do a breeders seminar in Japan in 2001 by Mr. Yoshi Mori. While judging the match following the seminar, Guy awarded a beautiful blue merle male Best in Match and inquired about purchasing him to no avail.

It wasn't until we arrived home from their trip and got a call from Irene Oishi that we found out that the dog, Barkley's SS Pajero Junior was from Rod and Irene's Akirene line. Irene asked Guy if he would be interested in handling him in the states. Pajero finished with four majors in one weekend, then won the first of his eight all breed Best In Show his first weekend out after becoming a champion.

Pajero would sire 16 champions before retiring from his show career. We were able to purchase two of his daughters, who both finished their championships easily to become Ch. Grandgables Showcased at Paray and Ch. Grandgables Lotus Blossom.

Our kennel is currently comprised of Pajero's sons and daughters and grandchildren who carry his stamp of style and health. We noted some beautiful qualities in the National Specialty winning bitch, Ch. Montage Weeping Willow that we desired to bring into our gene pool. We purchased Willow and bred her to Ch. Montage Booty Call. This combination produced some fine quality puppies and we have kept one male and two bitches.

When we sold Ch. Kismet's Meant to Be overseas, we were able to acquire the Pajero son, Stonerhaven's Samurai. Sam finished his title with three 5 point majors and two Best of Breeds from the classes. While Sam is A Pajero son, he is also a grandson of Ch. Kismet's the Godfather.

Kismet Kennels Sheltie Logo

Kismet Kennels

Guy A. & Thelma J. Mauldin

Richmond, Texas, USA

Houston Metro Area

(832) 496-7248

E-Mail: gamauldin@gmail.com