Zaffres means – “An impure oxide of cobalt, used to produce a blue color in enamel and in the making of smalt.”  

After years of searching for the “perfect” kennel name, Zaffres was chosen for it’s meaning.  The combination of Zaffres with other ingredients creates the winning blue color that we all strive for.  

ABOUT Me

My name is Kellie Miller and I am the heart and soul of Zaffres Kennels. I take pride in the fact that I’m a third generation dog lover and second generation Professional Handler.  I have always felt that being raised with animals has been a blessing for me.  I believe the animals teach me on a regular basis what it is like to communicate without words, and how to listen even when nothing is being said.   

I’ve attended dog shows ever since I was born, and was raised in the ex-pens and crates of my Mother’s friends.  I locked myself in crates at shows so I could take a nap, or would curl up with a dog in an ex-pen and cuddle.  I was playing with the dogs like I was in a show ring from the age of 2, and didn’t want anyone to help me to stack those big Labrador paws, or to hold that tail up!  

My first walk into a show was at the age of 7, showing one of my mother’s Labrador Retrievers.  Since then I have been hooked.   I finished a couple of my Grandmother’s Silky Terrier’s, showed Papillons for a family friend, and was allowed to show the occasional Labrador for my mother.   

During all of this, I attended my Obedience classes where my mother was an apprentice instructor.  I started working Mom’s silky Ch. Franmas Keoki of Jampat or “Keoki” for his Companion Dog title, but I was to shy to show him at an actual show.  Mom did the honors for us.  

After begging my mother for year’s to become a Junior Handler, she conceded when I was 14.  I had to work hard to convince her I was committed, but once convinced she stood behind me 100%.  Part of my agreement to show in Junior Showmanship was to put 2 titles on the end of my Juniors dog.  I hated to have to do it then, but I respect and admire my Mom’s fortitude to add that to my agreement.  I learned a lot while trying to accomplish those titles.  

I acquired my first Labrador at that time, Justes B October Song CD.  She was a 9 month old puppy when I first started working with her, but she was easy to train, and I managed to win the Novice Senior classes with her for my 3 wins to move to Open Senior in 3 shows.  The next year was a bit of a struggle, but I persevered.  All of the kids in my class had started in Juniors when they were 10 and I was starting at 14 with a Labrador, and didn’t know some of the finer points of showing dogs yet.  I managed to do all right for myself though.  

I eventually changed Juniors dogs to a Parti-Colored American Cocker, named Ch. Stancar’s N’Hi Kuntry’s Bul Ryder, otherwise known as “Rodeo”.  I co-owned “Rodeo” with Jay and Carol Acker of Golden, CO.  The intention for my Juniors dog change was not to be a permanent one, but to be a temporary change so I could show at the American Spaniel Club Summer show.   I worked for 6 months with Jay perfecting my handling ability with “Rodeo, and learning to groom him.  When the day of the National came I was so nervous.  The entry was rather large, especially in the Open classes.  My hard work paid off though.  I ended up going Best Junior Handler!   

I continued to show “Rodeo” in Juniors and became the #1 American Cocker Junior Handler in 1994, as well as the #2 Sporting Dog Junior Handler over-all.  I qualified for the Westminster Kennel Club Juniors Competition with 18 Best Juniors.  

While I continued to show “Rodeo” in Juniors, my agreement to put titles on the end of Song’s name continued.  I actually went Best Junior with “Rodeo” at the Southern CO KC shows in December of 1993 and finished “Song’s” CD 30 minutes later!   

I attempted to complete her Junior Hunter Title, but unfortunately, due to a few bad circumstances, I was only able to get 3 of the 4 legs required for that title.  I always say she had her honorary title though.  She deserved it!  

I took roughly 3 years off after Juniors, and began handling again in roughly 1998.  I was only showing part-time, as I had a full-time job at that point.  A few old friends started me off with a couple of dogs, and it wasn’t long before I was up and running again.  

I have been handling full-time for the last 7 years garnering FANTASTIC wins!  I cherish the friendships I’ve developed in last few years, and look forward to starting new ones in the future.   

Please take a look at my Album.  There are many pictures of me and the dogs that I have shown throughout the years.  

Kellie Miller