KAMEK consists of the first initial of the names "Kari", "Anders", "Mattias", "Erika" and "Kristina". Our surname is "Vakkala".

The children have now all moved away from home, leaving Kari, Kristina and (at the moment) four bullmastiff bitches.

We both have our roots and frames of reference in the Swedish Working Breeds’ Club. Kari 17 years old with alsatian (i.e. german shepherd) met Kristina 13 years old with a boxer, and it ended up in marriage. Both are trained instructors and were initially very active in the SWBC’s youth section at the time. We had demonstration groups, held shows with other youth sections, served as officials at competitions etc.

In 1974, Kari discovered the bullmastiff’s charm, and we joined the new breed club at the time in conjunction with the purchase of our first bullmastiffs, Suojan Darjus and subsequently SCh. Suojan Single Girl, and stayed with the breed.

We have both had seats on the board of the breed club for many years. I (Kristina) served as chairperson for a number of years. I was also previously on the board of the Södermanland (County) Kennel Club for eight years.

In 1975 we signed the SKC agreement "Basic Rules for Breeders" and had our first litter of boxers that year. We ultimately produced six boxer litters with a few certificates and service dogs along the way until bullmastiffs took over completely.

We adopted the kennel name "KAMEK" in 1984. Our breeding was based on Britta Petterson’s SCh. Duralex Fawn Faithful Lass ("Cindy"). We also owned Cindy’s brother, the highly successful N SCh. Duralex Fawn Count Bévis.

Over the past 29 years, we have produced 28 bullmastiff litters, a pace about right, enabling us to be discriminating in our choice of puppy buyers . Having a large number of wonderful puppy buyers is very gratifying to us. Some have become friends with whom we socialise. We always strive to maintain contacts with them. Actually, we have to rely to a great extent on puppy buyers keeping in touch with us, as it is impossible for us in practice to call them all on a regular basis. In our view, the price of a puppy also includes advice and guidance as often and as long as the buyer needs it.

We have imported two bitches from England, SCh. Britannia of Bunsoro and SCh. Bunsoro Bangle. Another important purchase was SCh. Bogerudåsens Flora, bred in Norway out of Cindy’s daughter, Kameks Astrea.

The next bitch ‘in line’ was Flora’s daughter, SCh. Kameks Solitaire, who, in turn, gave us Kameks Julia. Kameks Lilla Vackra Anna ("Nellie"), out of Julia sadly left us in september 2006, a little more than 10 years old. Still with us is her granddaughter Kameks Walking in the Rain ("Hulda") and her grandgranddaughter SCh Kamek´s Morwenna "Selma".
Also very sadly, we lost Nellies daughter Kamek’s Margaritha ("Frida") in may 2006, 8 years old. We really miss these two wonderful old ladies! They both made a deep impression on everyone who met them, because of their calmness and kindness towards humans as well as four-legged acquaintances.
Thanks to Frida – and her mummy Nellie, we now have this “rule” all our bitches follows, that says:”When it comes to raising a litter, we all give a hand!” We truely feel that this is a very sound start in life for the little puppy, to have a bunch of x-tra mummys, who both cuddle and discipline them.
One who really lived by those rules were "Fridas" daughter – "Selmas" mother Ch Kamek´s Jeanne d´Arc. We lost her in april 2008, but before that, she participated in the upbringing of "Huldas" and "Selmas" puppies. She both nursed and suckled them!

SCh. Kameks Kaiser was the most memorable dog we ever bred. He had an extremely strong personality, as anyone who saw him is sure to attest. At stud, he was also very good at passing on his personality and exceptional temperament.

Our dogs are family-raised and have always been. We believe this is especially important for young puppies.

We have always used a puppy box and puppy pen, as close to the kitchen as possible. We believe that contacts with and handling by people are extremely important to puppies, right from birth.

When breeders name the puppies in a litter, they almost always give them names starting with the same letter of the alphabet. After reaching “e” with boxer puppies, following the same procedure with bullmastiffs seemed a little tame.

So we give the puppies in a litter names based on a common theme, e.g. fictional characters such as Kameks Meghan Cleary, Heathcliff, Varg (Wolf)-Larsen etc. One litter had Shakespeare as a common denominator, e.g. Kameks Julia, Romeo, King Lear etc. Another litter was named after heroes and heroines, e.g. Kameks Jeanne d’Arc. Braveheart, Gladiator, Lady Godiva etc.

For us, the bullmastiff is the perfect companion and family dog with a strong personality and a huge sense of humour, ebulliently eager to try anything, a dog with a powerful physical presence but still eminently huggable.