July 31, 2020

A Guest Blog from Ari Katz on His Dog Kennel

I love all animals, and I share my Bedford, New York farm with many - dogs, cats, canaries, horses, donkeys, a pony, chickens, geese, Guinea fowl, peafowl, pigeons, and a myriad of wild creatures. Caring for my pets is a huge responsibility. It requires a lot of work and commitment to ensure they are all happy and healthy. My friend, Ari Katz, is also very passionate about animals. He enjoys breeding, raising, and showing champion chickens. He also loves dogs. Not long ago, I asked Ari to do a guest blog about the new kennel he built at his family's farm. Enjoy.

I am an avid animal lover and enthusiast. When I was born, my parents had two chocolate Labrador Retrievers named Kaela and Joey whom we loved dearly. These Labradors were my first introductions to this wonderful sporting group breed. When I was 10, my parents purchased another chocolate Labrador, Maggie, from a reputable breeder and friend, Vicky Creamer of Belquest Kennels. I knew I wanted to show Maggie, and at age 11, I entered her in our first conformation dog show. After that one show - I was hooked.

After four years of shows every three weekends or so, I decided I needed to take a break to focus on finishing high school. I remained involved in the Labrador Retriever community and still attended some local shows with my yellow Labrador, Goodie. A few months before graduating, I contacted one of my closest friends and mentors, Fabian Negron of Gallivant Labradors. Fabian and I have been friends since I was 12 and remained in touch throughout my break from showing dogs. Fabian told me he had a female Labrador he thought I might be interested in co-owning with him. Her name was Safari. Safari is my prized Labrador Retriever and one of the prettiest dogs I have ever seen. On the day of my high school graduation, I drove to visit Fabian and met Safari. The rest is history. Last June, Safari was ranked #4 Labrador Retriever in the United States and #2 female Labrador in the country. Safari, and Fabian, renewed my love for showing dogs. Recently, I built a kennel for my Labradors on my family's farm.

Here are some photos and a bit about my business, AK Labradors.