I would like to start a breeding and training kennel but wondered how I would go about that, since my house is not big enough for that. Can you give me some tips?

This isn't really anything that I can outline for you in an email. Breeding isn't something I recommend undertaking without years of experience and research. If you don't have the place to live where you can set this up, then I would strongly recommend just getting one dog first and learning all you can about training and dog behavior. There are SO many breeders out there now and unless you are very well educated on bloodlines and have loads of experience it's probably not going to go the way you imagine.

Learn all you can about the breeds you are interested in, study bloodlines and pedigrees and visit lots of working dog events to see the dogs in action whenever you can. Go to seminars, etc. Don't be in a hurry to do any breeding, because it takes years to know enough to do the dogs justice. We stopped breeding dogs three years ago, because it's such a big responsibility to find great homes for the puppies and it's so much work. To do it right requires a huge investment of time and money. Things don't always go as planned, there are medical emergencies, litters that get sick, mother dogs that get sick, new breeders often can't sell the puppies because they don't have a "name" that people trust so they end up giving the puppies away or selling them to people who may not be the best choice in homes.

It's a very difficult business to do correctly especially for people new to dogs.

Thanks for the kind words about Elka, she was an amazing dog! I miss her every day.

Cindy