We, my husband, Bruce and myself, are a small hobby kennel on the outskirts of the lower mainland, in British Columbia, Canada. I started in dogs in 1989, getting my first doberman. He was just a companion but he introduced me to the 'Land of Purebred Dogs' Up until then, we had always had mixed breeds. My doberman's name was Tanner and I purchased him from a lady in Surrey, who had used a "Westarr" sire to her girl and had puppies. I purchased Tanner when he was 6 months old, and as I was very much a newbie to dobermans and the importance of early socialization, especially that breed, was in for a bit of a challenge. But with help from trainers in my area and my determination, by the time he was 3 years old, we started to compete in obedience trials, with not so much success, but we were able to be in the venues and he be a happy guy! When I was looking at which breed i wanted to have, I choose the doberman, but had considered Rough Collies and believe it or not, Belgian Shepherds (in particular the Groenendael variety). The purchase of my first doberman, opened my life up to the world of dog shows. This also was the start to my Mom's, Debra Allen, Justice Cockers, out of WA, USA, line of American Cocker Spaniels, formerly DAKKOV, changed to JUSTICE when she remarried. As my mother is an exceptional groomer and although I could, we decided, that she would groom and I would handle all the kids. The many years I helped my mom with her gang, had given me the experince and the education needed to be able to present many different type of breeds.
After about a year of helping my mom with her cockers, I decided that I really wanted a dog I could show. Because of limited space and I was just barely in my twenties living at home, I had to make a very difficult choice. To get my own show dog, of a breed I wanted, I would have to place my Dobe, Tanner. When I decided to place him, I didn't just place him. I found him the perfect friend. They would go on dates, then sleep overs, and then finally the last time he came back, he whined when his buddy left. This is when I purchased my first Rough Collie. He was a blue merle, a little over a year old, and had just finished his Canadian Championship and would be a wonderful special for me to start my handling career with! Unfortunately, after 3 months, this was not to be and things just didn't work out, so I returned him to the breeder and became content with helping my mom out. I did become the sole owner of one of her buff males, Can Ch. Dakkov Autumn Snow, aka Aspen. I helped my mom plan this litter, whelp this litter and take care of this litter. Aspen was my lil buddy! I showed him to him finishing and he was my first champion that I handled from start to finish.
When Aspen was about 18 months old, I met a guy named Bruce, who has become my husband and best supporter, and moved out. I was unable to take Aspen with me as we lived in an apartment. That only lasted about 6 months, as apartment living was not for me, we found a house and Aspen came home to live permantly. Aspen and I did obedience and agility together. I have owned, help in the planning of litters then raising them and shown cockers with my mom through out the first few years of my dog breeding/handling career. Just before my husband and I were married, we decided we wanted another dog, only bigger! My husband and I decided on purchasing a doberman. I had one before and loved the breed and my husband had always admired them, although truth be told he is a "LAB" guy! Our search found us a beautiful Black and Tan male, although this time he was all "Westarr" lines (Doberman line belonging to then Cynthia lerfold, now Seeling)! His name was Ch. Westarr's Heaven Sent, aka Sabre. He was BPIS at the BC doberman club speciaty at 11 months under Butch McDonald, we have a beautiful bronze doberman puppy statue as a result, thank you Sabre. We did finish him and did try to special him, but unfortunately had to have him neutered at just over 2 years old due to a health scare, in which he became my husbands best buddy and fierce protector, including saving my husband about $3000.00 with of tools on more then one occasion. He passed away at 10 yrs old in 2007. he had indulged in too many cookies while we were sleeping. In that time, we together had owned a couple of cockers that never quite turned out, and dogsat a few smooth collies. My husband seemed to warming up to this breed, never having heard of this breed till he met me!
In 2001, while at a show, I met and fell in love with a little 10 week old blue merle smooth puppy. As I was speaking with the breeders about my collie history, as limited as it was, they mentioned that they were looking for a nice show home for him. All day, I thought about this. It didn't help the little bugger nuzzled his nose right into the crook of my neck, and sucked my in with those eyes! Well I was sold, now all I had to do is convince my hubby. A cocker and a doberman at home, a third dog? I don't know. I called him expecting to hear him say 'No', but instead he said " you mean a collie, smooth like the one we sat a little while ago, one like that?" "yes, I said". His words, "Bring Him Home". And so my life in collies began! My husband had come up with the best name for him. I was wanted to call him Pierce and call him Stilvalley Star speckeled Banner, (blue merle, remember) but alas, he became, "Caleb" Am/Can Ch. Stilvaleys Storming The Gates, HIC, in which his breeder, Danielle Skeeters (Stillvalley Collies was much happier about! Caleb gave us a whole new show experience. Our first American champion, our first speciaty winner! You get the picture. This dog was my best, and I mean best friend! A few have come close since then, but not like him!
I spent the next couple of years studying the breed, the family lines, getting to know breeders. Always in the back of mind, having the thoughts of owning a rough collie one day. That day came, when I met Nancy Anstuther of Tallywood Fame. When I started researching the collie breed and looking at pictures and seeing them in person, I knew this family of collies was what I wanted to see in my yard! Low and behold, a Tallywood dog, A beautiful Blue Rough one, was finally in my yard. He is the Collie Club of America 2008 Best of Breed winner, Am/Can Ch. Tallywood Transcendental, RN, HIC known to his friends as Tazo or Tazo Berry. And the rest as they say is History! A HUGE THANKS TO NANCY AND BOB for letting me be part of this outstanding family and especially this dog,"TRANSCENDING" ANYTHING I COULD HAVE EVER IMAGINED!
I am currently handling and grooming my own dogs, as well as showing for other kennels! I also train my own dogs and on occasion help to teach obedience to others. I do breed, but not very often as I do this only when I decide to keep the next generation, which means, 2 or 3 yrs go by before I do it again. And the last litter, I co bred with Pearl Fabbro, of Celticmoon Collies. She has been an absolute joy to have in my life! For the past 13 years, we have gotten to know each other and do a lot of dog things together, as well as non doggy things, our husband's would disagree! We usually can be found travelling to a show and setting up with each other.
After about a year of helping my mom with her cockers, I decided that I really wanted a dog I could show. Because of limited space and I was just barely in my twenties living at home, I had to make a very difficult choice. To get my own show dog, of a breed I wanted, I would have to place my Dobe, Tanner. When I decided to place him, I didn't just place him. I found him the perfect friend. They would go on dates, then sleep overs, and then finally the last time he came back, he whined when his buddy left. This is when I purchased my first Rough Collie. He was a blue merle, a little over a year old, and had just finished his Canadian Championship and would be a wonderful special for me to start my handling career with! Unfortunately, after 3 months, this was not to be and things just didn't work out, so I returned him to the breeder and became content with helping my mom out. I did become the sole owner of one of her buff males, Can Ch. Dakkov Autumn Snow, aka Aspen. I helped my mom plan this litter, whelp this litter and take care of this litter. Aspen was my lil buddy! I showed him to him finishing and he was my first champion that I handled from start to finish.
When Aspen was about 18 months old, I met a guy named Bruce, who has become my husband and best supporter, and moved out. I was unable to take Aspen with me as we lived in an apartment. That only lasted about 6 months, as apartment living was not for me, we found a house and Aspen came home to live permantly. Aspen and I did obedience and agility together. I have owned, help in the planning of litters then raising them and shown cockers with my mom through out the first few years of my dog breeding/handling career. Just before my husband and I were married, we decided we wanted another dog, only bigger! My husband and I decided on purchasing a doberman. I had one before and loved the breed and my husband had always admired them, although truth be told he is a "LAB" guy! Our search found us a beautiful Black and Tan male, although this time he was all "Westarr" lines (Doberman line belonging to then Cynthia lerfold, now Seeling)! His name was Ch. Westarr's Heaven Sent, aka Sabre. He was BPIS at the BC doberman club speciaty at 11 months under Butch McDonald, we have a beautiful bronze doberman puppy statue as a result, thank you Sabre. We did finish him and did try to special him, but unfortunately had to have him neutered at just over 2 years old due to a health scare, in which he became my husbands best buddy and fierce protector, including saving my husband about $3000.00 with of tools on more then one occasion. He passed away at 10 yrs old in 2007. he had indulged in too many cookies while we were sleeping. In that time, we together had owned a couple of cockers that never quite turned out, and dogsat a few smooth collies. My husband seemed to warming up to this breed, never having heard of this breed till he met me!
In 2001, while at a show, I met and fell in love with a little 10 week old blue merle smooth puppy. As I was speaking with the breeders about my collie history, as limited as it was, they mentioned that they were looking for a nice show home for him. All day, I thought about this. It didn't help the little bugger nuzzled his nose right into the crook of my neck, and sucked my in with those eyes! Well I was sold, now all I had to do is convince my hubby. A cocker and a doberman at home, a third dog? I don't know. I called him expecting to hear him say 'No', but instead he said " you mean a collie, smooth like the one we sat a little while ago, one like that?" "yes, I said". His words, "Bring Him Home". And so my life in collies began! My husband had come up with the best name for him. I was wanted to call him Pierce and call him Stilvalley Star speckeled Banner, (blue merle, remember) but alas, he became, "Caleb" Am/Can Ch. Stilvaleys Storming The Gates, HIC, in which his breeder, Danielle Skeeters (Stillvalley Collies was much happier about! Caleb gave us a whole new show experience. Our first American champion, our first speciaty winner! You get the picture. This dog was my best, and I mean best friend! A few have come close since then, but not like him!
I spent the next couple of years studying the breed, the family lines, getting to know breeders. Always in the back of mind, having the thoughts of owning a rough collie one day. That day came, when I met Nancy Anstuther of Tallywood Fame. When I started researching the collie breed and looking at pictures and seeing them in person, I knew this family of collies was what I wanted to see in my yard! Low and behold, a Tallywood dog, A beautiful Blue Rough one, was finally in my yard. He is the Collie Club of America 2008 Best of Breed winner, Am/Can Ch. Tallywood Transcendental, RN, HIC known to his friends as Tazo or Tazo Berry. And the rest as they say is History! A HUGE THANKS TO NANCY AND BOB for letting me be part of this outstanding family and especially this dog,"TRANSCENDING" ANYTHING I COULD HAVE EVER IMAGINED!
I am currently handling and grooming my own dogs, as well as showing for other kennels! I also train my own dogs and on occasion help to teach obedience to others. I do breed, but not very often as I do this only when I decide to keep the next generation, which means, 2 or 3 yrs go by before I do it again. And the last litter, I co bred with Pearl Fabbro, of Celticmoon Collies. She has been an absolute joy to have in my life! For the past 13 years, we have gotten to know each other and do a lot of dog things together, as well as non doggy things, our husband's would disagree! We usually can be found travelling to a show and setting up with each other.
