Maureen Thompson + Peter Chapman

From the beginning of our involvement with Akitas in 1985 we have always believed in two totally seperate breeds. We are proud to be pioneers in achieving recognition for the Akita Inu by The Kennel Club in the UK on the 1st January 2006. We are both founder members and serving officers of the first breed club recognised in the UK.

We established our own breeding kennel under the Kitado affix for Dobermann and American Akita in the UK. With over 30 years experience of breeding, training and showing we have success in all areas. Our dogs consistently prove their worth at all levels and disciplines in show and obedience rings. Producing Championship show winning stock that is sound in body and mind. The Kitado kennel is privileged in attaining accredited breeder status, awarded by The Kennel Club in 2004.
Maureen is a Kennel Club approved championship show judge for Dobermann, American Akitas and Shiba Inu; is judging most breeds in the Working, Pastoral and Utility groups and a breed specialist judge of Akita Inu.

We joined up with our good friends Cherry + Alan Wilkinson to form a partnership kennel combining our resources enabled us to select and import the finest bloodlines as foundation stock. Our united experience, approach and intention is proving an excellent foundation on which to pioneer and develop the Akita Inu in the UK.

As a newly married couple in 1980, Alan and I made a decision that as soon as the time was right, we would establish a breeding kennel for dogs, with an emphasis on exhibition in the United Kingdom. The Kintoki kennel was born in 1986 and we have bred and exhibited our Akitas and Japanese Shiba Inu with moderate success. Our mission in both breeds is 'Quality First'.
 
We have always admired the Japanese Akita Inu which was exhibited in the UK alongside its larger cousin, the Akita. With Gerald and Kath Mitchell and Karyn Fowkes-Hallam we made a concious decision in 2000, as the only remaining members of the Japanese Akita Club of Great Britain, to lobby for the division of the two breeds. We worked hard to influence the establishment of the Japanese Akita Inu in the UK and were delighted when the Kennel Club gave the breed recognition in its own right. We continue to work as officers of the now established breed club.
  
With our friends, Maureen Thompson and Peter Chapman we joined forces and decided that we should buy our first Japanese Akita Inu. A decision that was not made lightly. We explored and researched a great deal in several areas before deciding on our first purchase. Other suitable high quality dogs have followed all of which have equipped our kennel to fulfill our hopes for the future. The TSOYU kennel now exhibits in the UK (the dogs handled by Maureen and occasionally by Sophie Ellis, our granddaughter). Our mission continues to be 'Quality First'.