Our names are Jim & Jean Thomas.  As a couple we have been involved in the showing breeding and training of both dogs and horses for well over 30 years, and individually for much longer than that.

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Our first dog together was a Jack Russell called Tizzy. However our first venture into the show ring was with a GSD called Sheba (Royvons Flory) who was also one of the first (PAT DOGS) Proactive Therapy dogs. She was quickly followed by several others, and we enjoyed some considerable show ring / Obedience / Working Trials success with our dogs under our then prefix AROBRUCH.  We even started a local dog training club in Lyonshall Herefordshire that continued for many years after we moved back to Lancashire.

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We have always believed that the most important part of breeding, whether it be dogs, horses or anything else for that matter is the foundation of a strong female line.

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Our first introduction to Miniature Schnauzers was by accident, our daughter wanted a small dog as a pet, a friend of Jim's dad had bred a litter of miniature Schnauzer puppies, so Alice joined our GSD's and horses.  We had stopped showing dogs by this time as we were concentrating on Jim's long held passion of showing Hackney horses and ponies. 

 

However we were much taken with little Alice, so a few years later when most of our old GSD's had passed away we decided to get another Miniature Schnauzer.

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This time we did some homework and managed to find a nicely bred Black and Silver bitch with a view to showing. This wasn't a roaring success as we couldn't really get to grips with the grooming techniques needed to show so we limited ourselves to a few small shows.  By now though we were totally hooked on the breed so decided that we needed to try again.

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This time we identified the type and breeding lines that we wanted.  However finding someone to trust a couple of unknown newbies, with a well bred bitch to show and breed was virtually impossible,  as all the good breeders were very suspicious of our motives insisted on strict breeding restrictions. ( Incidentally all Kassava puppies leave home with strict breeding and export restrictions ).  After much research and just by luck we found a litter with a really good pedigree advertised on the internet and to our surprise the breeder didn't impose breeding restrictions, she also promised to help us with the grooming.  So Cassie joined us and we tried again to master the grooming, but again without success.  Fortunately for us the owner of Cassie's sire took us under her wing and offered to help us, so off we toddle to Yorkshire with our scruffy little girl that at the age of 7 months had never been properly striped. ( See Cassie's page ) by the time we left Cassie had been transformed as if by magic into a beautiful dog that actually resembled a proper show dog. and so began our passion for the Miniature Schnauzer and showing under our newly formed kennel name Kassava Miniature Schnauzers.  

 

We now believe that with the help and guidance of some lovely people including our mentor and friend Kirsty Sanders of Zakmayo Miniature Schnauzers, we have gained the knowledge and confidence to compete at the highest level, and have established a really strong bitch line, combining some of the very best of UK American & Canadian bloodlines.

 

Our aim now is to continue to improve our stock year on year, ensuring that we continue to produce Happy & Healthy dogs with superb character and temperaments and of course the correct breed type.