Brasken Kennels, Labradoodle Breeder in California

2012-01-10T15:53:00.000-08:00

Kristin and Brandon - Hope all is well with you and your family.

Thought you'd like to see a picture of Radley at One Year Old. Can't
believe our little guy is so grown up. He's been a blast and continues to
be more than I had hoped for in terms of companionship and temperament.
He's a smart little guy and knows all the basic commands, can identify and
fetch many different items, gets along pretty well with the cats, loves to
go on walks and really looks forward to his once a day visits to the dog
park where he has lots of friends. Radley is pretty athletic and looks
forward to chasing a ball and playing catch with the frisbee. He's about
29.7 pounds and in very good health.

This picture was taken out at Del Valle Park where he went on his first off
leash walk in the wilderness. We all had a blast and appreciate all you've
done in providing us with a terrific member of the family.

Happy Holidays.

2012-01-10T15:51:00.000-08:00

Hi Brasken Kennels,

Happy New Year! It's been a while since we communicated and I thought you'd like to see how Rosie has turned out 2 years and some change later.

One picture is of her today and the other one is of her meeting Griff (her brother) almost a year ago.

We always get compliments on her color (cafe au lait) and her temperament is awesome. She get's walked off leash almost every day behind our house on the trails- she loves it, then sleeps for about 4 hours :-)

She's been a great addition to our family and we wouldn't know what we'd do without her!

Kind Regards,

The L Family

Puzzle Update

2011-11-15T19:27:00.001-08:00

Hi Kristen,I’ve been meaning to write you forever to give you an update on Puzzle. First of all ,here’s a picture of her at 7 months—check it out: she’s a blonde! Now wherever I go people say my dog looks like me....I think she’s settled on a color now, but I’m not sure. Do you know if any of her siblings got lighter? We love her so much. She is truly a sweet, funny, fun little dog. At this point she’s about 30 lbs and I’d say 20”--Ilooks like she’ll be right in the range you said she’d be. With such great temperament—loving, friendly, smart, silly. She picks up on training super quickly. Her recall is particularly good (most of the time).We (mostly I) really focused on her early training. That was, along with providing regular daily exercise, absolutely crucial for new puppy families. Like I said, she catches on quick—I could probably count the number of potty training accidents she had on one hand (and most of them were next to the door, like she KNEW where she was supposed to go but didn’t make it). She slept through the night within a matter of a few days. But her natural enthusiasm does mean a tendency towards jumping, chasing joggers on the trail and other kind of excitable stuff. I took both puppy 1 and puppy 2 classes with her and we may continue because it’s been fun. But doing the classes REALLY made a difference. Now, people who come up to us comment on what calm puppy she is (though believe me, she has her moments). And LOTS of people come up to us. People actually pull over in their cars to ask where we got her (we give them your name). Her coat is GORGEOUS. High maintenance for sure—we walk her nearly every day off-leash on the trails around her and she is a burr magnet—but that’s okay. I enjoy grooming her and once she got the hang of it, she enjoys it too—she actually doesn’t like to have burrs or twigs in her coat and will pull them out herself when she can. But I tell people if they’re going to get this kidn of dog with this kind of coat that is the trade-off for no shedding and allergy-friendliness. Totally worth it, I think.It’s really her personality that we love, though. She has become an absolute part of the family (certain rules about being on the furniture beginning to fall by the wayside....). We take her everywhere we can; Steven even brings her to the office when I’m out of town. She’s happy wherever she is, as long as she’s with us. As you predicted, she’s a TOTAL people dog (though she also LOVES to play with other dogs). She would rather be in the house flopped on our feet any day than be outside running around the yard without us. She has NEVER chewed up a single thing in the house—she even leaves Daisy’s stuffed animals alone (we had to tell her “leave it” a few times, but since then she has never even tried to grab one) . you can stick your hand in her food bowl, climb into her crate, take her favorite bone away and she could care less. And, of course, she’s trustworthy with kids. You can pull her across the room by her tail (not that I do...) and she’ll just look at you dolefully. Just a great, great family pet. Anyway, I just wanted you to know how happy we are with Puzzle—with our choice of puppy and of breeder!Warmly,Peggy O.

Chione Update!

2011-09-22T22:19:00.001-07:00

Hi Auntie Kristen,

I just wanted to give you an update on how I’ve been doing since leaving Brasken Kennels!

I’m having a great time living in Los Angeles! When I first arrived in my new home, I was a little disoriented, and I didn’t like sleeping alone in my crate. But within days, I learned to love it so much that sometimes I would stay in there even when the door is open! I used to be so tiny that I would only take up half the crate.

And before I got all my shots, I was not allowed to play with other dogs, so my mommy would take me with her when she traveled, so I learned to love long car rides! And I’ve seen many places all over California. I even learned to be quiet in hotel rooms!

When I’m at home, I have plenty to entertain myself with! My mommy bought me lots of toys because I get bored easily! But even with the many toys that I have, I still prefer my daddy’s slipper!

Once I got all my shots taken care of, I started going to the dog park to play with my friends! I have so much fun there and I can run FAST!

And when I get home from the dog park, I get really tired that I go straight to sleep!

I’m growing bigger everyday too! I used to only fit in half my crate. Now I occupy my entire crate!

My mommy and daddy train me everyday! I can do: sit, down, rollover, kiss, speak, leave it and take it! I even ring the bell at the door when I need to go potty! I even learned to stay inside when the front door is wide open. But I like to stick my paws out the door to tease them:

In a nutshell, I’m having a great time!

Murray!

2011-07-28T14:45:00.001-07:00

Hi Kristen. I wanted to send you a few pics of Murray that we've taken over the last few weeks....he has gotten so big! :) We are kind of obsessed with him and have loved getting to know his fun and quirky personality. He is learning new things every day and is one of the better listeners at his puppy kindergarden class. :) He has officially met his new best friend, Blue, and loves play dates, chasing balls, finding sticks in our backyard and just being around us. Thank you so much for such a cute and wonderful puppy!

Hope you guys are doing well...maybe we'll run into you at farmers again sometime soon!

Megan

Ricky Bobby!

2011-07-28T14:40:00.000-07:00

Hey guys - hadn't dropped you a line since we picked up RB in January, but we wanted you to know that he is doing great and has made a wonderful addition to our family. His big sister Quinn (chocolate lab) loves playing with him, and at just over six months he is already standing taller than her (though she still has 25 lbs on him). He has been through puppy kindergarten as well as puppy elementary, and in both classes he is way beyond his peers. He learns extremely quickly and is definitely intelligent...although sometimes that makes me believe we he does something "naughty" he knows right from wrong and figures that he can ask forgiveness. Anyway we have had his hair cut once, if anything just to get him used to it. We take him to Coronado beach every weekend and even at three months old he recklessly bounds in to the waves without any fear. I do believe that he has a tendency to see his big sister Quinn do something and think that he can do it too - which can be good and bad I guess. Anyway, between the two of them they keep me on my toes working from home. We go on walks all the time and everyone always wants to pet him and he is always very friendly in turn. His coat is definitely that fleecy, soft, chocolate that we were hoping for. He doesn't shed like our lab, but the 'fro does trap a lot of dirt (of course, maybe if he wasn't wrestling around in the dirt with Quinn all the time that wouldn't be an issue). Sorry it has taken so long for us to write, but thought you would want an update!

Thanks-
Joe

Bruin!

2011-07-28T14:35:00.000-07:00

Hi Kristen,

And happy spring time to you and Brandon and all the dogs and pups!

I thought I'd send you a couple of recent pictures of Bruin --he's doing great, his coat is long now and we're getting ready to get him a bit of a spring cut as he's beginning to get hot when he's chasing the ball around. He is such a wonderful fellow, still making friends wherever he goes, on trails or in parks, and much loved by all of us.

He recently weighed in at 71 pounds, and has been enjoying baseball season with Sam -- I take them out and exercise them together (!) but to keep competition down, we have one ball for Sam (baseball) and one for Bruin (tennis ball)...

Hope you're all well,

take care

Sylvia

Gracie Update!

2011-07-28T14:31:00.000-07:00

Gracie just turned two. She got presents from me and David and also from the grandchildren. She takes a swim at least twice a day. I can remember when we couldn't get her into the pool. She goes to doggie day care on Thursdays. It's called the Hotel at Barkingham Palace. I think that she misses us at doggie day care, she cries and talks to us all the way home.l

We are spoiling her rotten and she knows it. Very smart dog, she weighs about 42 pounds, very happy and healthy and so well loved.

This photo is from one of our road trips to or from Carmel. She is very comfy on top of the luggage.

I'm sending one more photo, I just don't know how to get into this so I'm sending it in a second email.

Jeanne

Shadow Update

2011-03-04T08:46:00.001-08:00

Hi Kristen and Brandon, I am sorry you haven't heard from us in a while - we have been very busy with training Shadow. He is such a clown - loves to fetch, rich around with our 18 lb cat, and follow Rich wherever he is. He loves to sit in his pen outside and watch Rich working in our yard. Shadow has learned sit, stay and potty quite well. Of course there is still the occasional oops. He responds to his name when called, unless he has selected hearing at the moment! Shadow had his last puppy visit yesterday and is now ready to meet and greet other dogs. He how weighs 15.6lvs and seems to grow quite fast, he loves his food and eats alone with our cat. His coat gets fuller every day. Yesterday he awoke with a "pompadour". We love him and thank you so much for helping us make the right fit for us. We will keep you posted as Shadow begins his training classes. Again, thanks so much, Judy and Rich.

Obi Update

2011-02-28T18:52:00.000-08:00

Obi is doing great! I've been having fun teaching him to fetch--he seems to be catching on (especially if I play with treats). I live in a three level townhouse, and I decided it was time for Obi to master the stairs yesterday (I'd been carrying him up and down because he was scared of them). So, I worked with him on a short leash. Going up was really not a problem, but he was very leery about heading down. With encouragement, once he took the first step, and with the leash for additional security, he navigated down successfully several times throughout the day. This morning I was sitting with him on the living room deck and opened the door to get something. He scooted right through, dashed for the stairs and was in my bedroom on the upper level in an instant! I sat up there with him for a while, then when I was ready to start down, I stopped for a minute to get his leash. He darted right past me to the stairs and headed down. Be careful what you ask for! Now I'll have to gate all of the stairs!

Cathy

Inca

2011-02-28T18:48:00.000-08:00

Hi Kristin

Sorry for the delay - life has been very busy.

I'm glad to report that Inca is completely cured and has had a HUGE growth spurt! He is now nearly 10 pounds, he almost doubled in weight in 3 weeks (maybe I should check the food!!). He has a sunny, friendly nature, and greets each new person as if they were his long lost friend. He has had a few playdates with his (almost) relative, Jack Moebius and even though Jack is 10 times his size, he is still eager to play. Although he is very protective of his food: Jack was here for dinner once and Inca was so funny, dashing from bowl to bowl trying to make sure that he got all the food and Jack got none.

The tips you gave us on house breaking have been really useful, if the door is open he will run out to go potty. He hasn't yet learned to ring his bell to go out when the door is close, but I have seen him looking at the bell and the door in a slightly bemused manner. When I open it he dashes out. He will potty on command - it's amazing what treats will do!

We start puppy kindergarten in a couple of week which will give him some opportunities to make friends. We had a trainer come to the house for a session just to give us a head start, and the techniques she gave us work beautifully. He already knows sit, stay and off (for jumping up). He loves the car and is very enthusiastic about school drop off and pick up. He gets lots of attention wherever we go, and responds enthusiastically to all the compliments.

best wishes

Lindi

Radley!

2011-02-28T18:46:00.001-08:00

Hello! Thought you might like a couple of pictures of Radley. He's really
growing and continues to be everything we had hoped for. He's still got a
lot of puppy left in him, but has really been no trouble. He's slept
through the night from the first day we brought him home and has no problem
with being kenneled. He responds to "kennel", "sit", "down", "off", "paw",
"outside", "hungry", "snack" (that's the favorite one), "no", and "go
potty" .... all with appropriate behavior! Radley can also pick out
"ball", "wubba", "toy", "stick", "squeeky" and "fox". He loves to play and
has been good in the house as well. He's not afraid of going up the stairs,
but a little timid about going down on hardwood floors (understandable).
Still challenged with the kitties and it's more out of desire to play with
them rather than hurt them, but it remains our primary focus and we're
working hard on that one. We love his personality and are so glad he's a
part of our family. Hope all is well with your family and we wish you the
best. Karen

Lucy!

2011-01-30T16:43:00.000-08:00

Hi Kristen,

I've attached some pictures of our beloved Lucy. She is such a prize. I have owned a lot of dogs over the years and even bred and showed Lab's for several year's and thought the Labrador was by far the best breed ever. I was wrong. Labradoodle's from Brasken Kennel's are by far the best breed ever! Lucy is so smart, sweet and completely hysterical. We love her so much and she is such a mama's girl. She loves to ride in the car, play in the water, and of course dig big holes! (we're working on the hole digging). Anyway, I just want to thank you for allowing us to adopt Lucy. Our Boxer Stella also thanks you because they are the best of friends.

Sincerely,

Lisa

Thor at 11 weeks

2011-01-24T11:42:00.000-08:00

Hi Kristen, Brandon, Micah and Doodles!

I hope you are all doing well! Thor is almost 12 weeks, and he is everything I wanted and more. I am so glad that after the long wait and search for my companion dog, I decided to bring home a Brasken labradoodle. Thor was crate trained after 3 days at home with Ross (his daddy) and me. He is gentle, sweet, cuddly, friendly, intelligent and well-behaved. I was totally pooped for a few weeks when he came home, with him waking me up to go potty 3-4 times a night. Thank God, this week he has been holding it all night long since he was 11 weeks! He loves meeting new people and dogs. Whenever he meets new people, he is friendly and happy. When he meets children, he sits, wags his tail and licks their hand gently. When he plays with other dogs, he is my crazy little monster...muzzle-punching, wrestling, barking and zooming. He totally recognizes my coworkers, friends and roommates, and wags his tail and prances over to them when they come near him. At home, he follows me everywhere, often with a toy in his mouth. Now that he is crate-trained, he sleeps on the bed with me about half the time. When I am at work, Thor stays in a large exercise-pen in the employee break room with a comfy blanket, toys and water. He gets lots of love from my coworkers whenever they take a break. When I take mine, we go for walks and play fetch and tug and practice tricks. On the way home, in the car, he sleeps quietly or sticks his nose out the window...but he doesn't like it when the wind blows his ears. :) When we get home, we play for a while and practice training. Thor eats his breakfast and dinner out of a kong and loves his food. He is determined and focused when he's eating...but he never guards his food, and we practice food handling every time he eats. His favorite treats are lamb jerky, compressed rawhide and salmon skin. When I read, Thor likes to curl up next to me or play with his toys at my feet. His favorite game is to collect all his toys from around the house and pile them in front of me. When I watch tv, Thor lays next to me and naps or sits on the floor and watches when there are interesting noises or lots of movement. He had his first puppy class last weekend and he is already top of the class. While everyone else in the class is beginning training on everything, Thor already comes to and knows his name, sit, down, shake, spin (in both directions), stand up and "uh-uh" (no, leave it, drop it). We are currently learning roll over and still working on potty training (he is doing really well and has accidents very rarely and in easy to clean places!). We also went to our first puppy social this last weekend, and he had so much fun that he passed out for nearly the rest of the day after! All in all, Thor is a wonderful dog and I am so happy to have him. Thank you so much!

Sarah & Thor

Pelle boy Update

2010-12-26T13:53:00.001-08:00

I’ve become quite attached to Pelleboy and love him to bits.

We’ve gone through dog obedience classes and I’ve got a pretty good handle on him, although he can be quite stubborn and bossy at times. He is affectionate, lovable, playful and quite the goofball. He is also the smartest dog I’ve owned so far. I love his 75/25% mix and I would definitely have that mix again. If I were to get another puppy I would come back to Brasken Kennels. I had him neutered at 6 months. I’ve taken him to the groomer a few times and will continue to do so to keep his coat from matting, I also brush him every day.

All in all he is a great dog and I’m always getting compliments about him when we go out for walks/beach/hikes.

I was fortunate to be able to be at home while he was a baby, he would have torn the place to bits, but I was on top of him and we didn’t have to buy a new couch or patch holes in the walls, like some people I know that have had puppies.

He is still very much a “Mama’s boy”.

Take care and any info you can give about other puppies in his litter would be appreciated.

Jadi

Rosie Update

2010-12-13T10:57:00.001-08:00

A funny picture of Rosie I thought you'd enjoy.

Rosie Stats-

Her back is almost all gray.

She weighs 46 lbs.

Loves to fetch

Loves to sleep

Is not a "morning" dog

Loves kids.

Is a "whimp" when walking at night (i.e. barks and growls at trash cans)

Loves to chew up sprinklers

Loves getting her belly rubbed

Hope all is well.

Josh and Family

Obee at a year old

2010-12-09T10:05:00.000-08:00

Hi Kristen:

I know you asked for these a long time ago, we finally got around to sending them to you (Gregg is in charge of all the photography and I am internet and technology challenged). We have a couple of great pictures of him jumping off the dock in New York - I'll send those along too. Feel free to post to your blog - I don't know how to do that.

Update on Mr. Obee (Oberon)
I know everyone says this about their dog, but really, Obee is the best wooferdoodle! He turned 1 on October 2, and he's about 70 pounds now. We get compliments on what a nice looking and well behaved dog he is all the time. Children love to touch him and he is great with them, very patient and gentle. He has never chewed anything he isn't supposed to (knock on wood), and his coat has what we refer to as frosted tips. People in LA have asked us (much to our surprise) if we have his hair highlighted. It is LA, but no, we don't, he got that from his Mommy, Brandy! His favorite activity in the entire world is to put on his doggie lifejacket and go to Huntington Dog Beach, where he can meet other dogs and play in the Ocean for hours. He most definitely is a water dog, much to our pleasure. Obee loves his doggie door, his crate, our couches and bed, bully sticks (the drained ones), playing with all sorts of toys (his current favorites are the interactive ones: Tug-a-jug and Everlasting Treat Ball (which we fill with a scoop of his doggie food) and squirrel, skunk, or pheasant skinneys (unstuffed animals). His best friend is a 3 year old Black Lab named Sterling. He is a star at doggie daycare and travels everywhere with us, has spent several nights in Hotels with no complaints. We have found that the best way to walk him is on the Easy Walk Dog Harness, which helps with pulling. He is a great protector of me and the house while Gregg is at work (he has been working long hours). His only challenge has been how vocal he is, and we are trying to teach him that he only needs one bark to get our attention. We love him dearly, can't imagine life without him, and are waiting for the perfect time to get him a Brasken brother or sister.

Abbey, Gregg, and Obee

Pat & Bogey

2010-11-01T10:33:00.000-07:00

Hi there,

I wanted to let you know about Bogey’s progress in his life. I don’t know how to blog so I am just emailing you guys.

Bogey is just the best dog. Mark, I and the grandkids love him to death. I have been busy over his first two years of life with obedience training. We train with Kathy Kroop in Templeton. He is stellar. We took the Good Dog Certificate test last year. He passed with flying colors. Just last week, he took the test to be a Therapy Dog. He passed the Delta Society test with an A+. It took 2 hours to take the test and he had to be on his best behavior without treats!!! We are in the process of the paper work certification. When that is all finished we will be working with Julie Stass in her paw-sitiveencounters program in the North County.

Bogey is also a good companion traveling in the motor home. We call him our gentle giant (little pony) because he is so at ease and easy. He spends many a mile looking for cows out the window. He knows the word cows and looks and looks for them. When he spots them, his tail wags a mile a minute. Speaking of understanding words, he is amazing. He knows over 50 words and as many commands.

He is a wonderful dog that happened to get all the great qualities of his parents. I have attached a photo of Bogey that will be his official badge photo.

Pat Gabler of Paso Robles

Your message is ready to be sent with the following file or link attachments:

Pat and Bogey

Shiloh & Koa

2010-11-01T10:24:00.000-07:00

Taken this past Sunday at Coronado Dog Beach - Koa's first beach
experience and he had no fear of the water. Those two are so good together
Koa follows his big sister everywhere.
-Karen

Darwin turns 2!

2010-11-01T10:19:00.000-07:00

Hiya Kristen!

Over the weekend we celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary and Darwin's 2nd birthday in Monterey/Pacific Grove. No matter WHERE we went.... it was a mob scene! We found a dog-friendly hotel and he was able to stay with us! When we got to Asilomar beach and the second we unclipped his leash PA-POW!!! He ran so fast to the surf it made my head spin! Sunday we found a dog-friendly patio on Fisherman's Wharf and enjoyed a nice lunch in the beautiful sun. Maggie wanted to poke inside the different shops on the wharf and when we'd come out I'd look for Chris and Darwin and only have to look as far as the biggest cluster of people. SO many people asked to pet Darwin, take a picture with him (even a pair of young Japanese tourists!)... ask questions. It was hysterical. It's a good thing Darwin is so humble.... attention like that could make one egotistical! He was ever so patient with all of the fawning and petting. I took him over to visit our neighbors across the street yesterday. Mr. Wallace was in the hospital for a week having had a heart attack and some other medical issues. I brought some pumpkin bread and tea over and was just going to drop off and play with Darwin outside. He stayed on our lawn until I called him across the street to say hi. Mrs. Wallace invited us in and his reaction was amusing. The Wallaces have exactly the same floor plan minus one big wall. Darwin was looking and sniffing around and looked very confused as if "it seems the same, but what have they done with all of our furniture?!?!" Heh heh. Mr. & Mrs. Wallace always comment on how he's been such a good boy even since he was a teeny tiny pup.

Give soft belly caresses to Brandy, sweet nothings to the puppies waiting to come greet the world for us, a big scratch behind the ears for the rest of the gang..... and of course hugs to you three bipeds!

♥Andie

Darwin Update

2010-08-30T10:57:00.000-07:00

Well, I thought I would make an official check-in regarding Mr. Darwin for your blogosphere.

Darwin is, ever, always full of love and brings everyone joy. It's hard to believe he is approaching 2 years old already! He is our constant companion and road warrior. We recently went camping again toS. Lake Tahoe where he seemed more at ease with his surroundings this time around. He did still, however, try to push his way through the tent thinking it was like home with a dog door. Heh heh. The area is rife with black bears looking for an easy dinner on the hoof and one evening after we finished dinner dishes Darwin began barking like mad. He doesn't usually bark and I had not seen him bark in that menner before. It was around *:45 and a few minutes later a fellow camper walked by saying they spotted a bearroaming through the campground. Our stalwart Darwin scared it off and the campground was quiet all night. How cold is lake water comprised of snow melt? I wouldn't know, but Drwin does and he's not saying.Snow melt did not stop him from jumping into the lake to swim..over and ovr! Oh, I do have to share one of the more amusing things he's done lately is is rding style. He rides bck with Maggie, but he likes to put hs paws on the center console and peer through the front. On our way back from Tahoe he took it a step further and put both front paws in my lap, half rested his tush on the side of my seat, while bracing himself with his back left let on Chris's chair. I included photos for illustrative purposes. He must be 75 pounds now. Not likely the worlds largest lap dog, but he does try. He goes just about everywhere with us except on our jaunts to Disneyland a couple times a year, but I've een considering how we might be able to say he's a guide dog so he can join us there too. Hee hee! Actually, I am looking into volunteer opportunities since he has such a great temerament, loves people (especially kids)and brings smiles to all that he meets. Everywhere we go he turns heads and inspires questions, smiles and affection. Darwin is still eployed as the newspaper retriever and looks forward to his job every morning! His other job is rousting Maggie out of bed with sniffs and big kisses, though sometimes I find he's snuggled up next to her and fallen back asleep. His work ethic can sometimes be swayed with the well-timed belly rub. He's intrigued by all things going on in the kitchen. Were it not for his lack of opposable thumbs, I believe he'd be one of the greatest sous chefs-LePetit Chien Gourmande! Also of note, Darwin is a very skilled kiss bandit! All I can say is life is sure a lot sweeter with Darwin beside us! I count our lucky stars every day for the Google results "Brasken Kennels".

Shiloh at 13 months!

2010-06-10T15:27:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of my big beauty, Shiloh at 13 months. She loves training games we do which makes training fun for both of us! We just finished our second 6 weeks of agility classes and she loves it. Working with this breed is a walk in the park. She so wants to please and do what you are asking (for a treat of course). I just need to master the handler part! At the dog park she makes me proud, as she is so sweet with ALL the dogs. She gets that the little ones are too small to be rough with and changes her play accordingly. She doesn't like aggressive play; lets the dog know and goes on to play or walk elsewhere. I am looking forward to bringing my second Labradoodle home in June.

Aloha, Karen & Shiloh

We have puppies!

2010-06-10T14:57:00.000-07:00

We have puppies! There are two chocolate females still available from Brandy and Cisco's litter- check them out:)

Shiloh Update

2009-10-30T17:25:00.000-07:00

She’s hard to take pictures of – she’s fast! I was shocked she sat for me to take a couple of pictures – she actually posed for me! I love this girl… she’s the best.

She won a prize in puppy school this past Sunday – the quickest to sit on command.
She’s been easy to train so far.

Love, kk

2009-10-30T17:21:00.000-07:00

Hi, Kristen and Brandon,
Gracie is doing better than well. We took her to our weekly luch at Casanova today.
Gracie just finished her shots, got micro-chipped, and weighs 26.1 lbs. Going to have her spayed in mid Dec. Very special dog. We are starting a "Good Manners" class with her on Nov. 4th. Really looking forward to that.
How are the two of you doing? Hope life is treating you both well.
Let us know if you plan to come up this way. We will take Gracie to lunch.
Jeanne

2009-10-30T17:13:00.000-07:00

I've attached a few photos of the pups. Wags is terrified of the camera (too many photos when he was little???) so I mostly got the back of his head. The one attached was from afar with a good zoom lens!!! They are tied to the boys basketball hoop in the front of our house while we play handball and basketball. Needless to say, they love watching over the boys and greeting passerbys who like to stop and give them pets. Yes, I do need to get back on track with the training. Summer was easier with more time and longer days. I definitely need to pick up the dog whisperer books again!!! They do respond easily and Red was making progress in the walking. With your advice, I've already been ignoring the wrong behaviors and even in a short time, he has responded well. They really are lovely dogs and while they have their puppy tendancies, there energy level is perfect for us.Take care and congratulations!! -Julie

Maybelline

2009-09-09T11:56:00.000-07:00

Hi Guys,
This will probably be my last email to you about Maybelline as you will soon be busy with new puppies and future owners. The bottom line is that she is absolutely a joy and a wonder. Her energy in boundless - what happened to the little 'pink collar girl' who wasn't the first to come over to greet you? She is wild or else asleep, I guess that's just puppy hood.
Kristen, when you said she'd be the one to sit by my side, that was right on - she sits ON my feet if she can or UNDER my chair as a second choice. I now keep all my shoes in a covered basket in my close because she loves to play with them.
My 2 other dogs tolerate her but there is no playing no matter how hard she tries, just growls. In fact, the big male runs away from her all the time - I look out the window and see him running up the pasture hill with her trailing behind. Thank goodness she stops before the part that's too steep to mow or else she'd be one gigantic fox tail! Speaking of which, almost every flat surface in my house has had a small pile of fox tails and burrs on it at one time or another. It seems like all I do is pick them out of her wonderfully soft and getting longer hair, whenever she's calm enough that is! Next summer, I'll have her shaved.
She's finally found our welding studio, which is about 200' from the house. My son and daughter-in-law are there every weekend, so seeing new people is very exciting. She seems to love aluminum, bringing small pieces back to the house to chew on them, YIKES! This morning I found her in the bathroom licking the outside edging of the shower stall which is aluminum. I usually keep that door shut as she pulls all the toilet paper off the roll and drags it through the house.
The 2 doggie doors she mastered in 10 minuted by following the other dogs. She learned 'sit' for food really quickly and stay, but nothing else is getting through to her yet. She weighs 13.5# and has almost outgrown the little harness I have in the truck. She's very good when I do errands with her, no barking while alone in the truck. But man o' man is she vocal at other times. Right from the start, she'd growl and make these funny partial barking noises while playing with her toys. Sometimes she just sits and stares at me or one of the big dogs while scolding with those funny barks. Is this something you've noticed from one of her parents? One thing I know is from Cisco - the way she sit with one back leg cocked at a funny angle - I see it in one of his pictures on your website.
We all love her dearly and appreciate your breeding program which produced such a little character - you should be proud too.
Take care, Cyn

Darwin Update

2009-09-09T11:53:00.001-07:00

Oh.. had to share Darwin weight update. He is 67lbs !!!!! Darwin and Maggie are the SAME weight! Today she is exactly 9.5 years old and he's 9 months! Hee! He's got a waist still and isn't too big, but he's getting taller and more solid! Amazing! Do you know how big his siblings have gotten? I'm curious.. he sure made up ground from his humble beginnings! Recently Darwin became a virtual "spokesdog" for Sycamore Grove Park.. my favorite place in Livermore. So now his photo is plastered up on the kiosk main entrance for all to see. Honors and benefits already at the age of 9 months!

2009-09-09T11:49:00.000-07:00

Shiloh (Purple Collar Girl), 4 months old

Shiloh is our first “big” dog. We’ve always had little ones, like our 3 Dachshunds that Shiloh is getting along with great. We have so much fun watching Mya and Benny run after Shiloh in the back yard. Shiloh is the perfect girl for me – she’s so sweet and cute, I can’t possibly get mad at her for hiding the TV remote (now kept in a drawer). We brought Shiloh home at 10 weeks and she was immediately house trained! She just followed the other dogs out on a regular basis – never an accident. She’s been the easiest puppy to train. I can’t believe how she listens and how quick she gets it. She’s a perfect companion and walk buddy. I’ll be ready for my second Labradoodle in a year or two. Thank you Kristen and Brandon! Karen & Bob, San Diego, CA

Chloe Update

2009-09-09T11:45:00.001-07:00

Hi Kristen,

Sorry we haven’t gotten back to you in a while. Chloe is a wonderful dog, and she is so great with our daughter. She is so sweet, and is such a joy to everyone that meets her. We wanted to send you some new pictures of her, and in these pictures she had just gotten a bath so her hair looks a bit fluffier than her usual coat. Anyways hope you are doing well and just wanted to say thanks again!

Love,

The Hickman Family

Enzo!

2009-09-09T11:43:00.001-07:00

Hi Kristen! I am so sorry we haven't emailed you anything about our beautiful puppy but we have been so busy this summer!Anyways we decided to name the puppy Enzo! And he is getting HUGE =)Oh and he is very hyper right now and likes to bite and bark at you! But he is still a loving puppy! He is going to start puppy training classes and get neutered soon. I am sending you some pictures and I will send more because these are a month old and he has grown so much in that month! Sandy

Toby at three months old

2009-09-09T11:40:00.000-07:00

Toby is 3 months old now and has been a big hit at puppy play group and with our trainer, who say that her temperament is a credit to the breeder! She is a mellow girl who practically came housebroken. Very laid back, great with the kids and extremely clever. We love her. She enjoys snoozing on this FAO Scwartz couch that the girls outgrew just in time. Just two more weeks and she will be down on the Hermosa Strand taking walks and mingling with other Southbay dogs!! We'll keep you posted. Oh - and yes, very cuddly as predicted from this litter.Speak soon,The Gold Family

Friends!

2009-09-09T11:37:00.000-07:00

Here are two of Brasken's pups enjoying some cuddle time:)

Gracie at 3 months old!

2009-09-09T11:32:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos of Gracie with our 3 1/2 year old granddaughter. Gracie just loves her.
Did I tell you that Gracie will sit, down and shake so far. Just wait until puppy school. She will be a star.

Blue the "Perfect Family Dog"!

2009-06-17T13:36:00.001-07:00

We have been so happy with Blue that I do consider getting another at some point. I'm just not sure my yard can handle two? If it had Blue's exact personality- I could do it. But, the chances of that are slim. He's so mellow and loves lounging on the couch. I walk him 45 minutes a day and he likes fetch in the yard occasionally- but he really just wants to be with us inside. He plops himself down wherever we are and chills. I guess that is the Poodle in him. I definitely have a soft spot for Poodles now.

I worry (probably unnecessarily) that if I got another one- they would tear up the yard and bark. Things that aren't a problem now. :) If only I had more space- I would be a guardian to all of them...no, really. You guys do breed the perfect family pet. It's hard to restrain myself!! :)

2009-05-29T20:49:00.000-07:00

This is Blue- he is the best dog ever! He is enjoying the wildflowers at Carrizo plains in this picture. He is much loved by his family and loves to snuggle with them. He is a great running partner, and his ball is his best friend. Thank you Brasken Kennels for a great family member.

Pelt & Marisa

Update on Darwin, F1b chocolate labradoodle

2009-05-24T08:15:00.000-07:00

I am so glad you mentioned that Orange Collar Boy was still available last year because we'd be Darwin-less if not! Truly he has etched his place, indelibly, into each of our hearts. You should have seen Chris come home last night from work. For all of his silly teasing, he really missed Darwin also. The house seemed so empty yesterday as we waited for the groomer to call for pickup!

I think I may have mentioned, but if not... Maggie calls him "my protector". She can't really fall asleep unless he's in her room at night.

It's just an awesome feeling when he sees us first thing in the morning and runs up with his tail wagging, but more like circling counter-clockwise whirling motion. He might be a helicopter dog! I don't know if this is typical with Labradoodles, but he often acts like a cat. He'll push through our legs and present his bum for scratches and wrap around to try to give kisses or grab his tail and encircle one leg. It's quite funny! You may have seen the photo of Maggie and Darwin on my FB, but it reallly captures their bond. She was having a rough week (and growing pains to boot!) and Darwin could just tell. This is one of my fave photos of them.

2009-04-30T11:38:00.001-07:00

Update on Elsea, 11 months:

Elsea was the first one "out of the shoot" from Sammie and Cisco's litter, and she continues to show leadership qualities at 11 months old, bossing around and playing "mommy" to her 4-year-old Golden Retriever brother! But at the same time, she is a sweet little marshmallow who loves to cuddle and is very obedient to her human alphas. And she snores. :) Her expressiveness, sweet heart and "quircks" are so endearing, she is more than "just a dog" to us, and she is very unique. We are so sold on the labradoodle experience with her, we can't wait to add one more to our pack in the near future! Lisa and Wayne Rosenberger, Jamul, California

Jack update

2009-03-03T10:25:00.000-08:00

Kristen & Brandon-

I hope all is well with you and all the dogs! I had to share this pic...although not very good resolution.We are absolutely in love with Jack and this breed in general. We could not have asked for a more loving, faithful, sweet, smart dog. I totally get the fascination with this breed!Take care -The Moebius Family

Darwin Update

2009-03-03T10:22:00.000-08:00

I've attached a photo of Darwin post-dog park on Saturday. We had a nice break in the rain and while Maggie was at Junior Rangers we took him to the dog park and then had lunch at the Ale House. He drew lots of attention from passers-by on foot and driving down First St. He's such a good boy! -Andie and Family

Bogey Update

2009-03-03T10:19:00.001-08:00

Kristen-
I just love Bogey. He is such a sweetheart and just the best dog. He is a perfect match for us. He listens and learns quickly. On command he sits, shakes, goes down, stays and comes. He has to work hard on the come. Up the hill from us is a Golden doodle and he and Bogey are best friends. It also seems that just this last week he is 99% house broken. I say that as he is probably having an accident. -Gabler Family

Wags and Red Update

2009-03-03T10:17:00.001-08:00

A long overdue note to tell you how great the puppies are doing! Everyone remarks about how sweet and good they are--and of course how cute. We are truly enjoying them, and I think they are very happy as well. Starting some professional training next week at our house. I know they will be super easy to train, but just didn't think I could train both. I'm sure they will be very good students. They have now had all their shots and love going for walks and playing with other people and dogs. They are super social. I don't see any kind of pack mentality with having two boys. Sometimes they sleep on top of each other, and sometimes they choose to sleep far apart. They have been great with kids of all ages and sizes. Not too much mouthing or jumping--only in the early morning when they wake up and are ready for fun. Sleeping through the night and very few accidents. Wags is very food oriented and we have found him on top of the kitchen table a few times. Of course we reprimand him, but it is awfully funny with this furry little guy smack in the middle of the table as if there is nothing wrong with the idea. Red is so sensitive and probably the only dog who actually wants you to look him in the eyes and tell him what you want. He has this very majestic posture sometimes, so I call him Captain Red. And Wags likes nothing better than napping, tummy side up, on top of the boys or Bill.
Love, the Baker Family

Pena-Bear Update

2009-03-03T10:14:00.000-08:00

Dear Kristen,
I thought I send another update on Pena. We are really starting to see his great personality now. The doggie teenage years have come and he has become quite michievious lately. But he is so smart and is obendient most of the time. I now groom him myself as he hold so still for me on the table and the clippers which he was so afriad of a few month ago seem to be not big deal now. He will jump right in the car and only gets carsick on long trip over an hour. His poor little heart ussed to race so fast but even now that seems ok. Attached is a picture of me grooming him. And he is being just perfect prince! Hope all is well with you and the dogs.
Best wishes,
Shelley and Pena-Bear

Blue Update

2009-03-03T10:10:00.000-08:00

Kristen & Brandon-

We just love Blue. His temperament has not changed a bit since we picked him from the litter. He is still a complete love bug. He loves to cuddle. Since he doesn't shed- we let him up on our family room couch. He seems to love his place in the family. As soon as one of us sits down, he hops right up to keep our lap warm. I know some people don't allow their dogs on the couch- but I think this has only increased our bonds with him. He doesn't beg for food or attention- he's just content to be near us!
Headrick family

The most handsome puppy in the world!

2009-02-04T10:56:00.000-08:00

Meet Darwin- see is one of our F1b labradoodle puppies- living with his family in Northern CA!

Another F1b puppy is growing up!

2009-02-04T10:54:00.000-08:00

Here's another of our F1b labradoodle puppies at 9 months!

More on our growing Bear!

2009-02-04T10:52:00.000-08:00

Here's another picture of one of our F1b labradoodle puppies. He is now 9 months old!

Jack in San Diego

2009-01-12T15:31:00.000-08:00

Here is Jack Moebius. He is a california labradoodle living in San Diego, CA. He is from our October, 2008 F1b litter.

Here is Red!

2009-01-12T15:24:00.000-08:00

Red is a handsome boy! He is a California labadoodle, living wih his new family in Redondo Beach, CA. Red is from our October, 2008 F1b labradoodle puppies litter.

Cutest Thing Ever!

2009-01-12T15:20:00.000-08:00

Here is one of our chocolate F1b babies. He was born in October, 2008. He is staying a California Labradoodle since he is living with his new family, the Rosendin's in Livermore. His name is Darwin.

Red and Wags

2009-01-12T15:18:00.000-08:00

Here are brothers Red and Wags with their family on their first snow trip! These are chocolate F1b puppies from our October, 2008 litter.

Our Puppies are growing!

2009-01-12T15:15:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple pictures of Kapena- he is from our May, 2008 F1b litter. He is happy and living now near Los Angeles, CA with the Kemp family.

2008-07-29T10:27:00.001-07:00

This is Shelby. She is one of Brasken Kennels' puppies that recently went home with her new family to Santa Cruz, CA. According to her new owners she has adjusted very quickly and is following them all around the house, and hasn't had any accidents!

I am so blessed to receive these updates from our new owners- please keep them coming!

Puppies at one month

2008-06-17T13:13:00.000-07:00

Puppies are growing so fast! They are now one month old, and are playful and sweet. Visit http://www.brskenkennels.com/ to reserve one for yourself!

Puppies Born!

2008-05-27T10:48:00.000-07:00

11 F1b labradoodle puppies born May 20th! We have 5 girls and 6 boys available in eiher black or choolate. The puppies are $1,800. You can view them all on our website at www.braskenkennels.com.

Puppies coming in May

2008-04-11T15:19:00.000-07:00

For all those families out there looking for a great pet, consider a labradoodle. They have an excellent temperment like a lab, but shed much less!

Brasken Kennels is expecting a litter in late May. Visit our site at http://www.braskenkennels.com/ for more information.

Here's what our puppies will look like (but could be many different colors)...