In 1953, when I was six, my parents bought my first boxer, Duchess Bonnie Rose, a lovely, plain fawn bitch from Berolina lines. Bonnie lived to a few days short of her fifteenth birthday and began my lifelong love of the breed. I married my husband, Bob, in 1969, on the condition that we get a boxer puppy just as soon as possible. We did, a backyard bred bitch, again a plain fawn. I suspect she was rather ugly but we loved her and she helped raise our children. In 1982, we were lucky enough to get our next plain fawn bitch from Barbara and Susan Blue of Spicehill Boxers. Not only did they show in conformation but they were active in obedience and encouraged my efforts to get a Companion Dog title on Inge. Inge earned her CD and she also produced our first two conformation champions as well as our second Companion Dog. 
Bob and I have been breeding now for thirty-nine years and have produced many champions and have attained obedience titles on many dogs. Our goal has always been to breed boxers with wonderful temperaments who could perform in conformation and obedience but who could also be perfect companions for families. Our dogs are always well-loved family members and we remain in touch with their families for the life of the dog. Many of our families now own their second and third Schoental boxer. We fully health-test all our dogs and encourage all our buyers to continue the testing throughout the life of their puppy.
In 2000, I began what is probably the most fulfilling aspect of my breeding experience. I visited a friend who was in rehab after suffering a massive stroke. She missed "fur" and so I took Liesl along to visit. Everyone wanted to see Liesl and thus began my dogs' careers as therapy dogs. I still visit the nursing home and hospice weekly and Freddie is undoubtedly the best-known visitor there. The residents follow the careers of all the dogs and puppies and enjoy seeing rosettes and pictures from the shows.
 Our kennel name, Schoental, means beautiful valley in German. When our first litter was born, we lived on Bellvale Road which means beautiful valley in French. Since boxers are originally from Germany, it seemed appropriate. All our dogs also have German names. Our first, Baerbl, was named after me. Baerbl is German for Barbara! We later lived on a farm in a "beautiful valley" in northern Maryland just miles from the Pennsylvania border. After thirty two years, we are once again on Bellvale Road, seven houses from our old one!
Several years ago, my dear friend of over thirty years, Gyleen Fitzgerald purchased one of my bitches and joined our breeding program. Together, we have produced many champions and look forward to seeing several more finish soon. Recently, Kathleen Meehling has joined our breeding program.
We are members of the American Boxer Club, the Maryland Boxer Club and the American Boxer Charitable Foundation.
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