Hi! My Name is Marie Stenberg, and my husband Norman and I own Stormin' Kennels. I'm pretty average. I have too many dogs, and love every one of them. My vet goes to Tahiti every year on what I spend in vet bills (he should have named his new office area 'The Stenberg Wing'.) I have fond memories over the years of many hysterical moments in there.

I think the popular term for me is hobby breeder (Norman says 'nut.') I'm not a kennel despite the name, unless being a kennel means having eight bed dogs. (The boys' aren't allowed; I have had my pillow peed on too many times to remember.) I spend hours doing dog laundry, and minutes doing peoples'. I was very excited to tell all the girls down at the bar that Norman bought me the latest edition of Merks' Home Vet Guide (What a guy!) My daughter Sarah's second word was Chihuahua (right after 'points' and before 'McDonalds,') and I've camped overnight in a car at a dog show more than most homeless people in an alley. Other Chihuahua breeders don't seem to know how to take me. Some like me, some don't. Probably because I speak my mind and don't care who hears. If I kept my mouth shut I would have more friends but, hey, that's what the dogs are for.

I breed a litter here and there, and sometimes have a pup to sell. Mostly I help other people sell their puppies because they all breed more than me. If you look under the 'for sale' page on this site you will see what I mean. I don't sell dogs designated 'show quality.' What is that, anyway? Just someone's opinion. I always end up paying more, but I let it happen because I know what I want. My Mom bred and showed Chihuahuas before I was born and after I came along, and I finished my first dog at 11 years of age. I spent summers with Mom's show friends and winters raising pups and training. I know my stuff. The last 5 years have been harried and I had to slow down to less than 10 shows a year, but I've still finished 6 Chihuahuas (Cameo, Dangermouse, Emma, Captain Crunch, Look Marvelous, and Li'l Red Corvette) and several Chinese Cresteds. I no longer have the Cresteds--it was just too much. But I know people who do.

You know the kind of people I like? People with dog hair on their clothes, and who ask lots of questions. People who come in and plop down on the floor with all the pups and the older dogs sniffing them, and who come prepared with a picture of their last dog all tattered from much handling and perhaps a tear or two. People who don't judge me on the cleanliness of my house, just the health and happiness of my family and my dogs. People who laugh when our African Grey parrot yells out "I said shut up, Gizmo!" People at dog shows who are nice to my back as well as my face. And people who want a puppy to love, not to win.

So if you're interested in a pup or older dog, please e-mail me or call 1-509-784-7052. If I don't have what your looking for I'll know who does. And remember: puppies are for people, not for backyards or basements or purple ribbons. Viva La Dog Hair!

Marie