Hello, my name is Molly and I have been a dog owner & dog lover for over 40 years. My family always had Yellow Labradors as I was growing up, and the dogs were my best friends & constant companions. Even as a child I loved researching dog breeds, reading about dog care and was all-around "dog crazy", so it was only natural that I purchased my very first purebred dog as soon as I could afford it.
I started breeding purebred dogs in 1998, when, after much research, I co-bred a very beautiful litter of American Staffordshire Terriers. I selectively bred American Pit Bull Terriers & American Staffordshire Terriers for 5 years, but then after purchasing my first Chihuahua in 2002, I decided to focus my attention on my Chis. I registered my kennel name "Arcreya" with the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) in 2003 and I have been breeding CKC reg'd Chihuahuas exclusively ever since.
I started my post secondary education by taking the Chemical Engineering Technician course at Cambrian College. In June 2007 I graduated, with honours, from the Animal Sciences program from Penn Foster College, with special focus on Cynology & Theriogenology. After graduation I went to work as a Veterinary Assistant for the Simcoe Animal Clinic in Simcoe, and later, the Ostrander Veterinary Clinic in Tillsonburg. My positions at both clinics helped me continue my education by providing hands on experience with all aspects of canine health care & nutrition, from the everyday to emergency care.
I have also continued my education with numerous seminars & upgrading courses, including Canine Theriogenology (University of Minnesota coursera 2013), Animal Behaviour (University of Melbourne coursera 2013), Animal Behaviour and Welfare (University of Edinburgh coursera 2017) and Canine Emotion and Cognition (Duke University coursera 2017).
After leaving the Ostrander Vet clinic, due to a growing frustration with my long commute and the time it was taking away from my dogs, I accepted a position as an Animal Nutrition Specialist for a leading Canadian Pet food & supply store, with in store grooming salon. Although I mainly worked out of my local store, my position took me all over Canada, setting up new stores and training staff. As usual, I love all opportunities to continue updating my knowledge in canine nutrition, training & grooming, with a bonus of meeting so many wonderful pet loving people along the way.
I have a never-ending interest in canine health, husbandry, nutrition, training & behaviour. I have been very lucky to have some wonderful experienced breeders & trainers as mentors along the way to help with every little question I had, and still do have! I have had many wonderful opportunities, from teaching puppy socialization classes & obedience classes, to being able to handle some of the top show dogs in the province. This is a lifelong commitment and a lifelong learning experience! Many thanks ladies for all your help and support! You know who you are ;)
As of 2013 I left the hustle and bustle of "city life" in Southern Ontario; I am now back up in Northern Ontario, on beautiful Manitoulin Island. I met my hubby, Malcolm, in 2014 and I moved in with him only 6 months later, bringing my (then) 7 dogs to join his already large pet family on his family's homestead farm. What an adventure! We left the farm and moved into our tiny home in the Gore Bay area in 2016. We then moved into our current larger home, also in the Gore Bay area, in 2019. We have been enjoying quiet rural living and the slow paced lifestyle of a small town.
When not at work (or at a dog show!) , I spend my free time working around the house, doing gardening, baking, sorting through the rock tumblers and my endless rock & fossil collection.. and of course, tending to the dogs! Along with the pooches, there's a menagerie of critters, from guinea pigs & rabbits to cats & cattle, to keep us all busy and entertained. Between our home and the homestead farm we now have Skinny Pigs & Lakeland Guinea Pigs, a few aquariums of tropical fish, as well as my in-laws Red Angus Cattle and Pygmy goats, to keep us occupied!
Malcolm and I also volunteer with & foster dogs for our local all-breed pet rescue MANITOULIN PET RESCUE, as well as our Guinea Pig rescue, so there's often an extra pooch or piggy here, spending their days with our pack until a forever home can be found.
What is next for the Arcreya crew? We plan on continuing to produce, raise & show our quality CKC reg'd Short-coat Chihuahuas (with an occasional Long-coat) well into the future, for as long as we can. I will continue to strive to improve, promote & preserve this breed for generations to come. Watch for us in the show ring, and possibly the obedience ring too!
Please contact me for any additional information, or to schedule a visit!
I started breeding purebred dogs in 1998, when, after much research, I co-bred a very beautiful litter of American Staffordshire Terriers. I selectively bred American Pit Bull Terriers & American Staffordshire Terriers for 5 years, but then after purchasing my first Chihuahua in 2002, I decided to focus my attention on my Chis. I registered my kennel name "Arcreya" with the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) in 2003 and I have been breeding CKC reg'd Chihuahuas exclusively ever since.
I started my post secondary education by taking the Chemical Engineering Technician course at Cambrian College. In June 2007 I graduated, with honours, from the Animal Sciences program from Penn Foster College, with special focus on Cynology & Theriogenology. After graduation I went to work as a Veterinary Assistant for the Simcoe Animal Clinic in Simcoe, and later, the Ostrander Veterinary Clinic in Tillsonburg. My positions at both clinics helped me continue my education by providing hands on experience with all aspects of canine health care & nutrition, from the everyday to emergency care.
I have also continued my education with numerous seminars & upgrading courses, including Canine Theriogenology (University of Minnesota coursera 2013), Animal Behaviour (University of Melbourne coursera 2013), Animal Behaviour and Welfare (University of Edinburgh coursera 2017) and Canine Emotion and Cognition (Duke University coursera 2017).
After leaving the Ostrander Vet clinic, due to a growing frustration with my long commute and the time it was taking away from my dogs, I accepted a position as an Animal Nutrition Specialist for a leading Canadian Pet food & supply store, with in store grooming salon. Although I mainly worked out of my local store, my position took me all over Canada, setting up new stores and training staff. As usual, I love all opportunities to continue updating my knowledge in canine nutrition, training & grooming, with a bonus of meeting so many wonderful pet loving people along the way.
I have a never-ending interest in canine health, husbandry, nutrition, training & behaviour. I have been very lucky to have some wonderful experienced breeders & trainers as mentors along the way to help with every little question I had, and still do have! I have had many wonderful opportunities, from teaching puppy socialization classes & obedience classes, to being able to handle some of the top show dogs in the province. This is a lifelong commitment and a lifelong learning experience! Many thanks ladies for all your help and support! You know who you are ;)
As of 2013 I left the hustle and bustle of "city life" in Southern Ontario; I am now back up in Northern Ontario, on beautiful Manitoulin Island. I met my hubby, Malcolm, in 2014 and I moved in with him only 6 months later, bringing my (then) 7 dogs to join his already large pet family on his family's homestead farm. What an adventure! We left the farm and moved into our tiny home in the Gore Bay area in 2016. We then moved into our current larger home, also in the Gore Bay area, in 2019. We have been enjoying quiet rural living and the slow paced lifestyle of a small town.
When not at work (or at a dog show!) , I spend my free time working around the house, doing gardening, baking, sorting through the rock tumblers and my endless rock & fossil collection.. and of course, tending to the dogs! Along with the pooches, there's a menagerie of critters, from guinea pigs & rabbits to cats & cattle, to keep us all busy and entertained. Between our home and the homestead farm we now have Skinny Pigs & Lakeland Guinea Pigs, a few aquariums of tropical fish, as well as my in-laws Red Angus Cattle and Pygmy goats, to keep us occupied!
Malcolm and I also volunteer with & foster dogs for our local all-breed pet rescue MANITOULIN PET RESCUE, as well as our Guinea Pig rescue, so there's often an extra pooch or piggy here, spending their days with our pack until a forever home can be found.
What is next for the Arcreya crew? We plan on continuing to produce, raise & show our quality CKC reg'd Short-coat Chihuahuas (with an occasional Long-coat) well into the future, for as long as we can. I will continue to strive to improve, promote & preserve this breed for generations to come. Watch for us in the show ring, and possibly the obedience ring too!
Please contact me for any additional information, or to schedule a visit!