My involvement with Portuguese Water Dogs began with the purchase of Janka (Ch Alstrum's Abadessa G Baco Janka) from Alstrum's kennels, Sweden in May –94. Janka, a black and white wavy bitch was a joy to live with. She was the most beautiful and sensible– in all ways!

By two years old, she earned Swedish and Norwegian Championships, and less than a year later, she became an International Champion.
The first Abadessan litter was whelped in December 1996. The litter of seven was sired by Multichampion and Multiwinner Ebano do Vale Negro with Janka as the Dam.

A dog from that litter, Abadessan's Escondidinho, earned both his Nordic and International Championships by the age of three. Dino passed away July 27th 2006.
A bitch from that litter, Kerry (Abadessan's Querida), was placed with a family, but was used in the Abadessan breeding program. She was only shown once, and was BOS and got the CAC.

Marco (Ch Marco Polo do Vale Negro), my second PWD, came to live with us when he was nearly two. He was a powerfully built dog with an impressive head, bred by Carla Molinaro at  do Vale Negro kennels in Portugal.
While living in Denmark with his previous owner, Mr Torben Haerslev, Marco earned several impressive titles; Winner of Amsterdam –96, Youth World Winner –96 and Youth European Winner –96. Marco became Nordic Champion.

In December of 1997 Janka whelped six pups sired by Marco. Janka’s second litter has 5 Champions! One of the males, Molle (Ch Abadessan’s Moleiro) was sent to Chiangté kennels in South Africa in July 2002 to join Calista, the female from Kerry and Aramis’ litter born in 2001. Molle finished his Swedish Championship a few weeks after he was hit by a car and broke his rear leg. After his arrival in South Africa he quickly finished his ZA Championship as well.

A bitch from that litter, Meia (Ch Abadessan's Minha Marchella Meia), became the third member of the Abadessan crew. Meia was shown a few times and easily earned her Swedish Championship. She's a lovely black wavy with white markings. She has an abundance of attitude, pretty side-gait, and nice head and tail carriage. On the day Meia finished her Championship, she was also awarded BOB and was placed group-3 at a Swedish Kennel Club show. Meia blessed Abadessan with two quality litters and is now living with a family.

1998 was a very exciting year at Abadessan. I was lucky to get in touch with Kris Cofiell, CnSand Kennels in the US. I'd seen an ad in the Courier and fell totally in love with her male Rugby (Ch KPort Ruff Sport at CnSand AWD NA BROM). I bought frozen semen from him and by the end of the year, I had a “Yankee-litter”!

At the same time, a bitch from CnSand Kennels, Rhyme (Ch CnSand Cosmos Poetry in Ocean), a black wavy, was sent to Denmark to live with a family for six months, so she could be imported to Sweden without four months of quarantine. Rhyme won one Danish Certificate while living there, and when she came to Sweden, she quickly earned her three Certificates, and became Swedish and Danish Champion.  She brings an interesting pedigree to Abadessan with the famous American Pinehaven Kennels and the famous Portuguese do Vale Negro Kennels, throughout. She is very feminine, with an exquisite head and muzzle.

In February 2001 Kerry (Abadessan's Querida), came back to Abadessan and gave birth to ten healthy pups. She was bred to a male from American and Portuguese lines, Aramis (Ch Lacustrine Tt-On-Toast). Two of the pups were exported, Birdie (Abadessan's Classica d'Caramba), who moved to Pennsylvania in the US and Calista (Abadessan's Calista d'Caramba), who made PWD history by being the first Portuguese Water Dog to be registered in South Africa. She became South African Champion and was also group placed several times.
Milton (Ch Abadessan’s Cacau d’Caramba) is a male from this litter who has done (and still does) very well in the show rings. In 2004 he was PWD of the year in Sweden.

In April 2001 Meia was bred to Aramis (Ch Lacustrine Tt-On-Toast) and gave birth to nine pups.  Two different American lines are meeting in the pups pedigrees and they all have the Renaissance-name in their pedigrees. “Kai”(Abadessan's Renaissance Devil) and “Daisy” (Abadessan's Renaissance Dana) were exported to Connecticut in the US. A bitch from this litter, Debbie (Ch Abadessan's Renaissance Da Boom) was saved for breeding purposes and became the foundation bitch for WaterCoat kennels in Sweden.

Rhyme (Ch CnSand Cosmos Poetry In Ocean) finally was bred and had her first litter July 2002. She had 7 pups.  The sire was Milton (Ch Abadessan’s Cacau d’Caramba) from my 4th litter. Rhyme and Milton produced Abadessan’s first Champion in the US, Cuckoo (AmCh Abadessan’s Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs). Cuckoo was tragically killed by a car, 31st of July 2006. Cuckoo was owned and loved by Kris Cofiell, CnSand kennels and the Dutton Family in CT.

One of the males Dexter (Abadessan’s Caffé Espresso) also moved to the US.
Another bitch from that litter has earned her Swedish Championship, Heidi (Abadessan’s Caffé Latte). Heidi’s biggest win was in May-05 when she was shown under judge Luis Pinto Texieira from Portugal. 32 adult PWD’s were shown and Heidi was BOB with CAC and CACIB! The male “Fido” (Abadessan’s Caffé Doppio) moved to the Czeck Republic and earned his Championship there, and sired the first litter born in the country.

Abadessan also has a mascot! “The Little Lion Dog”(Lowchen) Thambo (Ch Chiangté African Sun) arrived from South Africa July 2003. Thambo got his Swedish Championship at his 4^th show in Sweden, and has been rarely shown since. Late 2006 Thambo will be shown again but in other countries. He is a cute little boy to live with. He thinks he’s a PWD and he is just as crazy in the water as the rest of my crew!

In December 2003 Meia whelped her AI – litter of 3 beautiful females. Sire was Jack (BISS AmCh Watermark Toby’s Black Jack) from the US. Two of the girls were sent to the US. Zsa Zsa (Abadessan’s Tantrums And Tiaras) went to Kris Cofiell, CnSand kennels in CT. And the last girl, Troia (Ch Abadessan’s Turnin Tricks) stayed at Abadessan. Troia was shown a couple of times as a youngster, and when I started to show her in the Spring -06, she got her three necessary CAC’s in three shows and finished her Swedish Championship. Troia is a lovely girl with lots of style and attitude, “Once you meet her, you can’t forget her”!

In June 2004, Rhyme had her second and last litter, just before her 7th birthday. She was mated to “Triton” (Ch Gnupens Mäktiga Triton) and had 7 pups. Two of the pups were sent to the US. Gotti (Abadessan’s Marked Man At CnSand) started his show career getting a Major at a Supported Entry.! He is a very handsome male, shown to his best by his mom Sheryl Chiles. Gotti is Co-owned by Kris Cofiell, CnSand kennels in CT. Another male from this litter, Kenzo (Ch Abadessan’s Monsieur Kenzo), finished his Championship very quick and has been BOB several times and even placed in groups! Kenzo won BIS at a small show in Gothenburg as well. Wilma (Abadessan’s Madmoiselle Fallicia) was saved for future breeding. By the time she became two, she had 3 CAC’s. Her show career started when she was 4½ months old where she awarded BEST IN SHOW PUPPY among more than 60 different breeds.

In August 2005, Heidi (Ch Abadessan’s Caffé Latte) gave birth to 6 puppies, one female and five males. Heidi was bred to a 7 year old male, Emmet (Ch Isostar’s Elegante Emmet the Seakin). One male went to Norway, Oscar (Abadessan’s Hot Choklate King Oscar), one male to Finland, Victor (Abadessan’s Hot Choklate FinnVictor. And one male moved to Denmark, Jazon (Abadessan’s Hot Choklate Jazon King). Two males and the only female in the litter live in Sweden. Watch out for these BROWN kids in the ring!

In late October 2005, a new female arrived at Abadessan. From CnSand kennels in the US, a black and white female “J-lo” (CnSand Junk In The Trunk). J-lo is a granddaughter of Rhyme’s litter sister Tequila (Ch CnSand Cosmos Aquaholic) while the other part of her pedigree is new to Abadessan.
J-lo has the most wonderful temperament and fits in well with the rest of the crew at Abadessan. I am very happy and proud to have J-lo and also very thankful to Kris at CnSand who kept J-lo until she was 10 months old before she was sent to Sweden.

In July 2006 Wilma (Abadessan’s Madmoiselle Fallicia) gave birth to 10 pups at Abadessan, they are the “Symphony–Litter”! Sire is “Sigge” (Björklundens Helgon Snälle-Sigge). Two of the pups lives in the US (Abadessan's Prestissimo "Pepper" & Abadessan's Beethoven "Oliver"), "Chanell" (Abadessan's Symphony to Moussaillon) moved to Canada. One of the girls "Töffa" (Abadessan's March Of The Trolls) moved to Norway.

In late September I travelled to the US, to visit Kris Cofiell at CnSand in Connecticut. I  brought the two pups for the American families as well as the girl who was going to Canada. And my girl Heidi (Ch Abadessan's Caffé Latte) came with us, she is staying at CnSand for about a year, and will hopefully give Kris a nice litter in the Spring of 2007.

After a few, but very busy days at Cnsand- it was time to go home again. I brought Chuck (Can Am Ch Moussaillon Chuck The Survivor), a new male back to Abadessan! Chuck is 5 years old, heavy- boned and of good size, with a powerful head and muzzle, and with great movements! I hope Chuck will confirm what Abadessan stands for, when it comes to type and temperament!

During my visit in the US, I was also able to meet some of the dogs I have bred and sent to the States through the years.
Zsa Zsa (AmCh Abadessan's Tantrums and Tiaras) who lives with Kris at CnSand, Gotti (Abadessan's Marked Man at CnSand) with his mom Sheryl who also show Gotti herself,
Gucci (Abadessan's Made Man at CnSand) with his wonderful family, as well as Kai (Abadessan's Renaissance Devil) and Daisy (Abadessan's Renaissance Dana) with their lovely families!!!
And finally I met Rugby (Ch KPort Ruff Sport at CnSand) who was the sire of my 3rd litter back in 1998! Hard to believe that guy is 11½ years old!

And not to forget... the new families who have pups from the Symphony Litter, the Gregorski's who has Pepper, the Porter Family with Oliver, and of course, Chuck's breeder Manon Bousquet, who has Chanell.

In late November 2006 I brought my lowchen Thambo to Holland, where he became Dutch Champion and Winner of Amsterdam -06. From there Thambo started his "European Tour"!

Troia gave birth to 9 pups in late April 2007. Sire of the litter is our new male Chuck. Five males and four females. Posh (Abadessan's Speaking Of Love) stays here at Abadessan.

In April 2008 J-lo whelped 7 gorgeous pups, and sire is our Chuck.

Heidi (Ch Abadessan's Caffé Latte) came back from the States in early October -07 and she whelped  ten beautiful pups one month later!!! Sire of the litter is Ch DownEast Elf About Town "Dobby" who brings an interesting pedigree with Dillon and also the old Cartmel part!

At Abadessan, temperament is very important. I work very hard to produce dogs with happy, outgoing working temperaments. With the help of my kids, and my wonderful grandson Sebastian, we make sure that puppies receive lots of early socialization, which is so important to their future development. My dogs have style and presence. All dogs in my breeding are free from hips dysplasia, and at least one dog in each breeding is tested Optigen Normal (or Optigen Normal by parents). We believe strongly in producing quality over quantity. Each litter is bred with the hope of producing healthy, happy Portuguese Water Dogs with excellent type.