Karen Kirby Ash grew up in a lake front home built by her Italian father, a cabinet maker, in Braintree, Massachusetts. One of six children, Karen and her family vacationed summers at their water front summer home on Sias Point in Wareham, Massachusetts.
Karen's earliest recollection of the variety of pets who lived with the Farina family are of Clancy an Irish Setter. As well as memories of her cat, Pandora, parakeets and fish, Karen recalls an assortment of "man's best friends," which included Max a Great Dane, Rufus a black Labrador Retriever, Erin an Irish Setter, Tonya a German Shepherd and Sambo a miniature Poodle, who incidentally saved her four year old brother, Douglas, from drowning in the frozen lake her family has lived on for the past century.
Starting her education in the Braintree Public School System, Karen attended high school at Notre Dame Academy in Hingham, Massachusetts. A brief marriage left Karen with fifteen month old identical twin sons, David and Mark, and a newborn son, Matthew. After graduating from the Bryman Medical School as a medical technician Karen enlisted in the United States Air Force. Her Vietnam era military years were spent stationed at Malcolm Grow Medical Center on Andrews Air Force Base outside of Washington D.C. followed by David Grant Medical Center on Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California.
In December of 1976 while stationed in California, Karen met James a Cadet at the United States Mechant Marine Academy at King's Point on Long Island, New York. in his last year. Following graduation in 1977, James began sailing for Chevron Shipping out of Richmond, California. During his 22 years with Chevron, which took him to the rank of Captain, Karen traveled occasionally with James to places such as Honolulu, Hawaii, Valdez, Alaska, and along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico and southern Florida.
On their first wedding anniversary, Jim surprised Karen with Annie a year old Cocker Spaniel from the local shelter. Over time they had Razzmatazz a Cockapoo, Sepia a Peekapoo and three Golden Retrievers Apollo, Pakka and Bubba. Following the unexpected sudden death of their wonderful dog Bubba the Ashes began their search for a breed that did not shed as much.
In 1986, Karen graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Rhode Island School of Design. While attending RISD, Karen met a Portuguese Water Dog and knew that someday she would have one. In 1996, after obtaining The Complete Portuguese Water Dog Book written by Kathryn Braund and Deyanne Miller, Karen and James attended an American Kennel Club dog show at the Houston Astrohall and met Karen and Bob Arends. The Arends invited the Ashes to visit their home to meet their dogs. Here their love affair with the breed began. Karen located a breeder with an available male show puppy in Biloxi, Mississippi. Admiral Travis B. Clyde of Ferncliff, bred by Colville and Ann Jackson, was born on 13 January 1997 and joined the Ash family on 1 March 1997. The following November the Jackson's male Ch Brieah's Mississippi Gambler "Chance" sired a litter bred by Deborah Zorn and in January James brought home their second Portuguese Water Dog puppy, now CH Encanto Brio Butterfly Girl, AX AXJ CD WWD CGC HIC TDI GROM.
Travis was handled by C.J. Favre and completed his AKC championship on 28 November 1997. Later he was shown as a "breed special" ranking in the top 20 in 2000. and receiving an invitational. At the 1998 Portuguese Water Dog National Specialty in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Brio was awarded the 9-12 month bitch class by Portuguese Water Dog breeder and international judge Carla Molinari over 20 other puppy bitches. In May of 1999 Karen was awarded her Masters of Art in Psychology from the Marriage and Family Therapy Program at the University of Houston in Clear Lake and on 22 May Brio x Travis produced our first litter of puppies.
In the spring of 2000, Karen and Brio earned a Novice Standard Agility Title, Herding Instinct Certification, Canine Good Citizen Certification and Therapy Dog International Certification and were introduced to water work at the LoneStar Portuguese Water Dog Club while Karen was secretary of that club.
On 28 January 2000, the Ashes second PWD bitch "Sweet Tater" was born and in May of 2000, the gift of a lovely Whippet, "Britney", sired by the then three year running #1 Whippet in breed, CH Chelsea Made You Look of Sage, SC "Redford", joined their family.
In September of 2000 at the Minnesota Regional Specialty SaltyDawg Orion's Freya, became our first homebred champion finishing with a five point major. During the 2001 Portuguese Water Dog Club of America's National Specialty in Warwick, Rhode Island "Sunny" Ch SaltyDawg N Driftwood's Sun of Batman was awarded Best Senior Puppy in Futurity by judge Christi Overton and "Remington" Ch SaltyDawg On the Snow Trail made a clean sweep in his age group winning first in 6-9 month Futurity, Sweepstakes and breed as well as recognized as Best Puppy in Specialty Show by judge Linda Fowler. At the Minnesota Regional Specialty in September 2002, SaltyDawg's Aerial Skydancer also completed her championship with a five point major. In July 2004, Baker, Ch SaltyDawg Twice Baked became the first champion Karen showed from start to finish and on 14 August 2004 Karen finished her first champion out of the Bred By Exhibitor class with Harley, Ch SaltyDawg n DW Song About the Heartland.
After moving to New Hampshire in January 2001, Karen committed herself full time to breeding and caring for the SaltyDawgPWDs. Although Karen has bred/co-bred a total of 20 litters she has whelped 16 herself. At this writing, they have fifteen breed champions. Karen actively trains and competes in confirmation, agility, rally, obedience and water work. She and Jim are members of the Portuguese Water Dogs of the Northeast Club, The Nutmeg Club, The Portuguese Water Dog Club of America and several lurecoursing organizations. Karen also teaches Rally and Canine Good Citizen classes for the Lakes Region Kennel Club where she serves on the Board of Directors.
In 2004 & 2006 with Karen handling CH SaltyDawg Twice Baked, RN, NA, NAJ, CD WWD AOM was awarded Best of Breed at the National Dog show, which airs on Thanksgiving Day. Owner handled Baker finished 2006 ranked in the top ten Portuguese Water Dogs in breed and #13 in All Breed.
In 2007, Karen and Lakota, CH SaltyDawg's Dream Catcher had the honor of winning the bred by Exhibitor Group at the Cape Cod Kennel Club.
2008 brought changes to our home when Jim retired from the American Maritime Officers Union. The summer of 2008 Jim traveled to London and trained to be an Internationally Certified Ship Inspector. Currently Jim lives and works in the Beaumont, Texas area. Karen and the SaltyDawgs have remained in New Hampshire working on preformance titles.
In 2009 Karen & Dolly, SaltyDawg Slow Dancing with the Moon, RA, NA, CGC earned a Rally Novice title, Rally Advanced title, Novice Agility title and two legs towards Rally Excellent and one towards her CD (Companion Dog). Mariah earned her AKC Championship at 13 months, CH SaltyDawg's Boogie Woogie Baby & Baker (CH SaltyDawg Twice Baked RA, NA, NAJ, CD, WWD, CGC, TDI, AOM) earned his Working Water Dog title, Rally Advanced, Companion Dog, Novice Agility, Novice Agility Jumpers, and two legs towards his Rally Excellent. Princess Odette has earned two legs towards her Novice Agility Preferred title -- QUITE A YEAR!! GOOD DOGGIES -- TIRED MOMMY!
