Jennifer Broome, Founder

Quinebaug Kennels, LLC was founded by Jennifer Broome in 2001. Her experience extends from years of training and teaching. She is a highly professional, published author, and expert in raising and training dogs. Jennifer began her dog training career as a child. Her love of animals encouraged her to begin a dog walking and pet sitting service in her neighborhood. She quickly became an entrusted employee to many families that sought after her loving care and dedication to their beloved pets. As an avid outdoors woman and successful hunter, Jennifer simply loves spending time in the field with dogs. Clients travel from all over New England seeking Jennifer's advice as a prominent gun dog trainer. Her other passions include her artwork, fishing, shooting, and competing with her Arabian horse in endurance riding.

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Jan Kopec

Thank goodness for a license plate that read "Lab Lvr"! I saw this on a car parked at a bank and decided to leave my Quinebaug Kennels card on the window. Well it must have been fate, because that car owner quit her job (as a banker!) and has been with us for 8 years! Jan Kopec is the manager at Quinebaug Kennels, and she is truly spectacular. Jan loves dogs, plain and simple. Her yellow lab, Owen, and her black lab Jezzie, are her best friends. Jan is compassionate, caring, and manages the kennel superbly. She will give you updates on your dogs while they are here. For the many that stay with us for extended training, Jan will shed tears when they leave us! Our clients find Jan as well as the Quinebaug Kennels staff so personable, it is no surprise that many become our friends. Thank you Jan for all your hard work and dedication!

Patricia Barkas

Patricia Barkas has been with us for 5 years. She is our kennel assistant manager as well as our wonderful groomer. Patricia comes with a lifetime of dog handling experience and feels at ease helping with all aspects of canine care, from nutritional and health needs, to exercising and training. Patricia is simply in tune with the needs of dogs and quickly assesses each of our boarder’s temperaments and requirements so that they can be matched up with playmates (or NOT!). She knows how to keep our boarders happy, comfortable and content. Patricia is like a family member at Quinebaug Kennels and we adore her! “P” as we all call her is also extremely passionate about greyhound rescue and owns a wonderful greyhound rescue, Frankie, whom she has beautifully trained and given a wonderful loving home. Her newest pup is a lovely standard poodle named Chowder. Thank you so much Patricia for your outstanding dedication, devotion and commitment to Quinebaug Kennels!

Rob Becher

Born and raised in Connecticut, Rob grew up with Collies. Dogs have always been a part of his life. His passion is his Labrador Retriever, Cody, who has been both an Orvis and L.L. Bean catalog model as well as a therapy dog for the VA. Whether during the season, or in the off-season there is nothing Rob thinks about more than the aspects of waterfowling, upland bird hunting or fishing with his lab Cody. Rob assists the QK team through sales and networking. He works full time as a salesman in the boat department at Cabela's in East Hartford. Rob helps with some of our shows and demonstrations and is always willing and able to provide great information and insight into our training program and events. Rob believes that the dedication and devotion to both dogs, waterfowling and fishing will create memories for a lifetime. Rob has hunted and fished all over and has met some of the nicest people while doing so. Rob believes the education and understanding of both dogs, waterfowling and fishing needs to be correctly taught to our youngsters, and in doing so will provide them with the same fire that burns in many of us.

Mike Ernest

Mike is from Sterling, CT and has been involved in training and competing pointing dogs for AKC field trials and hunt tests since 1983. Mike is passionate about his German Shorthaired Pointers and Tennessee Walking Horses! He believes there’s nothing better than seeing a pointing dog slam to a point and watching its brace mate honor the pointing dog all from the back of a smooth gaited Tennessee Walking Horse. Mike is an AKC Judge for Field Trials and Hunting Tests for the pointing breeds. In 1995 Mike graduated from the Connecticut State Police K-9 Academy with his new partner Max. Mike and Max spent the next eight years on the streets of Norwich, Connecticut. Mike is also involved with breeding his German Shorthaired Pointers always looking to improve the breed. He is a long standing member of the Nutmeg German Shorthaired Pointer Club and is always ready to talk about dogs! Mike enjoys helping to improve dog/owner relationships, improve communication, and enabling dogs to be wonderful family members. Mike will help you with your dog training from basic obedience, problem dogs, hunting, or if you are more competitive in nature....he will guide you through achieving hunt test titles or field champions titles!