Welcome to Watson Creek Kennels!

I am a mother of four boys, a wife, and a dog mom! We live on a small hobby farm in SE MN that is adjacent to 100 acres of family land, so we have lots of room to roam. Other than the dogs I also have a couple horses, we have some cats, chickens and a few cows. When I got my first lab I wanted a basset hound, my husband wanted a hunting dog. So, I compromised with a dog that would be a good family dog and could also be a hunting dog (but not a basset). When I got my first female I was once again looking for a basset hound and my husband mentioned getting a female and having pups. He didn’t have to tell me twice and I wasn’t giving him the chance to change his mind, I was on the search for a female lab puppy. That is were it all started…. looking for a basset hound and ended up raising labs!

I have been breeding labs since 2009. When I started, I really didn’t know much about the breeding world or the importance of genetic testing but after a couple years of researching and learning I understood why all of this was important and I changed the way I ran my program. In the beginning I bred American/English lines, but it wasn’t long before I was drawn to the English Labradors big blocky features, and I had no doubt in my mind that going away from the American lines and breeding just English lines is what I wanted for my program going forward. I typically have 3-4 litters a year. I raise chocolate black and yellow (yellow can range from very light to very dark) these are the three colors recognized by AKC standards, I do not breed with the dilute gene.

My puppies are raised alongside of my family. The time and energy I put into my puppies, getting them socialized and thinking that everyone who comes to my house is here to see them is one of my biggest accomplishments. My husband often gripes that my dogs are loved more than them and the dogs get more attention than they do. Raising puppies is a huge commitment and it does take time away from my family; but getting my boys involved is good for them, and it has help them learn compassion, responsibility, commitment, and to learn to “love and let go”. I love my dogs; they are not just dogs but a part of my family. From the day the puppies are born to the day they go to their new homes, I love them, I love them as though I was going to keep them forever. Though my puppies find new families to call their own; one thing never changes, I will have always loved them first.

****After a few years I did get another basset hound her name was Millie. I had hoped to breed her, but she had some medical issues that didn’t make the breeding cut, so she lived out her life as a mascot and passed away in December of 2022. However, that is not the end of my basset story so stay tuned for those long ears may be returning to WCK!