WHO WE ARE

Dawn Mahaffey, Owner. Dawn has lived with dogs all of her life. Her first job, at age 14, was at a professional breeding, boarding and grooming kennel which bred and exhibited Dachshunds. She became involved with Labradors in 1976. She began exhibiting in 1977 and bred her first litter in 1978. Her first Border Terrier arrived in 1995. Dawn has over 30 years experience in grooming and training and over 25 years experience in handling show dogs. She is also an NDGAA Certified groomer. Dawn holds a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology and a Master of Science degree in counseling from Virginia Commonwealth University and is currently the Social Work Supervisor at a local Virginia Department of Social Services. She is a past President and Secretary of the Northern Neck Kennel Club, is a member of the Labrador Retriever Club of the Potomac, The National Labrador Retriever Club, Border Terrier Club of America, the National Dog Groomer's Association and the Northumberland County Chamber of Commerce. She has put AKC championships, UKC Championships, AKC obedience titles, AKC Earthdog titles, Canine Good Citizen titles and Therapy Dog International certifications on her dogs. She operates Lorien Kennels with the assistance of her husband, George.

George Mahaffey, Co-Owner. George is a retired social worker who officially became a "dog person" when Dawn asked him to raise a potential show puppy for her in 1997 - and married him in 1998! Since then, George has learned all the appropriate dog terminology and has become the chief "pooper-scooper and bowl washer." In all seriousness, George is a natural dog person, who became a successful exhibitor in the breed ring and earned a Canine Good Citizen Title and Certified Therapy Dog title on his dog until serious health conditions forced him to retire from canine competition. George holds a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from the University of Pittsburgh. He is a past president of the Northern Neck Kennel Club, and is a past member of the Labrador Retriever Club of the Potomac, the National Labrador Retriever Club and the Border Terrier Club of America. His favorite line is, "My wife's the dog lady - I'm just crazy about the dog lady!"