Meg has been involved with dogs since the age of 14, when she obtained her first GSD. Although she enjoyed showing, her main interest lay in the development of a top winning working trials line, indeed, so successful in her breeding that Overhill's GSD's are much in demand by the Police and Prison Services as well as Working Trialists. She has bred Working Trial Champions, a 'Prison National' winner and several 'Police National' Finalists. At 16 Meg opened her first Overhill Boarding Kennels at her parents farm, then marriage and a family followed.

In 1978 the kennels were relocated to its present site in Pensford, amongst the glorious south Bristol countryside. The business expanded in 1981 with the opening of the quarantine block. The first two dogs booked in were two Akitas from the O'BJ Kennels in America, on their way to Ken & Thelma Taylor's Kyooma Kennels in Australia. Meg said "I opened the box and fell in love", and so began a lifelong devotion to the breed. Meg imported two bitches from the O'BJ Kennel, her much loved O'BJ White Hope and the bitch Meg credits with being the foundation of her Overhill Akitas - Am Ch. O'BJ Sachette No Okii Yubi, the dam of the first UK bred litter. Meg has continued to develop her knowledge and experience and is now much in demand as a speaker at seminars on the breed in such places as Barbados, Finland, Australia and New Zealand.
Her judging appointments always draw large entries and culminated in her 1998 Crufts appearance where she drew the largest Akita entry for a judge at a UK show. Meg has been invited, by the Japanese, for the second time, to attend the World Congress to discuss the future of the breed.  Meg has exported her Akitas all over the world and has made up Champions in eight countries. Closer to home, she was one of the founder members and Chairman of the first K.C. registered breed club, The Japanese Akita Association. In the light of her great experience, depth of knowledge, and following encouragement from those who want to know more, Meg has been persuaded to find time in her very busy life to produce this informative volume.

Designed and printed by: Bernard Kaymar LTD Published by: Meg Purnell Carpenter
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