Brutus is out of our very first litter and one who we are very proud to call our first home-bred champion.  He is the first Champion to be registered under the "Soleil" name, and we could not be more proud of his career thus far. He is an AKC, UKC and an IABCA International Puppy Champion. He is also a Mult-Reserve Best Puppy in Show at the IABCA shows, all before hitting 20mos old. He has far exceeded all our expectations from the first time he stepped into the ring at the San Joaquin Valley Sanctioned B-Match taking Breed and a very competitive Puppy Group 1 (shown in Best in Match lineup), to picking up his and Katrina's first AKC points from the puppy classes, and finally to picking up both majors on very tough California circuits, the last all-important major being at the Kennel Club of Palm Springs, a supported entry during a Specialty weekend. (There were 100+ boxers entered that weekend!) Bru, as he is affectionaly known by most, became a IABCA International Puppy Champion, with all (4) SG-1 ratings (the highest a puppy can earn), many Puppy and Bred-By Puppy Working Group 1's (pictured are from his first set of IABCA shows at the Winter Sieger in Jan. 07 where he was 5.5mos) and even Reserve Best Puppy in Show (twice) and also Best Bred-By Puppy in Show! (pictured is from 5.5mos at the Winter Seiger 07.) These wins were under Judge Honey Glendinning (Can), Thomas Nesbitt (Can), and Darby McSorley (US), and later that year at the Fall Seiger 2007 Dr. Steve Keating (US/Can). Coincidentily Dr. Keating also awarded Brutus his first AKC major amongst very stiff California competition. March 2008 saw Bru also making his way into the UKC ring where he strut his stuff against some nice boxer competition and "guardian group" competition as well. In 1 weekend (4 shows) he earned enough wins (all competitive) to earn his UKC Championship, and his 1st win towards his UKC Grand Championship. Along with earning his UKC Championship, Bru also took Best of Breed 3 out of 4 shows, and received two Group 2 Placements and one Group 4.

When Bru was born, there was a big gap between his whelping, and his sister, and we were worried that something may be wrong.  Alas, Nikki gave a final push and out tumbled a flashy brindle boy.... just what we had our fingers crossed for.  We had high hopes for this little guy in the show ring, and sure enough he surpassed each and every one of them.

Initially we had placed Bru as a pup with our neighbors, but as time wore on, it was clear that it just was not going to be a perfect fit. We took him back, and Bru now lives a well-deserved retired life as the prince that he is. In June '08, Bru moved down to Los Angeles to live w/ Wally and Dian Whitney and their kids and grandkids who live next door. We are thrilled that this family w/ 40+ years of boxer experience fell in love w/ our sweet guy, and made him the first male to grace their household after all those years of girls. He's joined by new best friend, a white boxer girl named "Buttons", who is exactly 5mos older than he is. He's settling in nicely, and I'm looking to picture of dates of the two partners in crime. Brutus is lucky to have found such a loving forever home, and we are forever thankful for our mentor Maribess Johnson (Shelterwood Boxers) for helping find this match made in heaven!