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About - My Border Collies (upd 09/2009)
My Border Collies
I have had BC's since 1990. For me it has always been the breed first and then the many hobbies one is able to do with these type of dogs. I just love the way they are, I admire their enthusiasm and how they are so fanatic about one thing at a time, how they WANT to do things with you, how they can throw themselves into something 100%. It never ceases to amaze me. I get enormous pleasure seeing the look of enjoyment on their faces when training them. Naturally they have all been characters on their own right and made my life a whole lot richer! I tell more about their personalities in their own pages.
The start of it all
In 1989 I went to England for 6 weeks just to get to know the BC as a breed, before that it had been books and books. I stayed with Mr & Mrs Richardson near Manchester, they had this lovely BC dog called Mac, I think he was the reason why I wanted to have a male. He was wonderful. I had a lovely 4-week-stay and then went to Andover for two weeks. The rest is history as they say. Vicki and I wrote letters for a year after that and the next Autumn I packed my bags and went to stay with them for about 8 months. That's where I got Tris from - he was a present!
Besides competing with my BC's I also wanted to breed.. so I needed a bitch.. and I love a good pedigree so along came another.. ;) Although I occasionally breed a litter, my passion is competitive obedience and training dogs. So all of my own dogs are trained to do Obedience.
Their many hobbies — Obedience
So far I have qualified 5 BC's to compete in the highest class in FCI Obedience, and they all are Obedience Champion's (2 dogs, 3 bitches). I have won 2 CACIOBs with two different dogs, and one reserve-CACIOB with a third one (and would have 2 other reserves had those been given in the past..). I made up my first ObCh in 1995, that was Tris at the age of 4½ years. Spark became a champion in 8 months being less than 2½ years of age (in 2003). And having lived with me for 14 months only. He's an exceptionally good working dog. :)
Roo became a Champion in 2002, and Cloud in May 2006. Poor Cloud has always been my "nro2"-dog, taking the back seat to all others, still she managed the climb for the title with as little as 16 competitions! During six years... :) Nevada started her career in May 2006 and became a Champion only four months later being 17 months old!
WT, Agility, Herding & Breed Showing
Tristan, Roo and Cloud have achieved some Working Trials result (VK1/JK1), Roo, Cloud, Spark and Nevada have passed the BH test (behaviour test with obedience and city manners).
I've trained Agility to Tris, Roo and Cloud, and did basic stuff with Spark. I did seriously compete with Tristan, he was winning at highest level (Cl.3) being placed 3rd in Finnish ChampionShips in 1994, and ranked 9th Best Agility Dog in Finland in 1997. Roo did only a handful of competitions as I was not interested and still got 2 qualifiers from Cl.1. Cloud has one qualifier (clear run with 2nd place) from the two competitions I did with her. In 2007 she is again doing some Agility, with another handler.
Tristan has passed Sheepherding Test (ppr), two others, Spark & Cloud, have worked sheep. In 2008 and 2009 Nevada and Revyy have had a go, and shown instinct.
All have been shown in breed, Tris very succesfully (4xCACIB, 1reserve, 5 CCs) to his title of Show Champion, Cloud has two CCs from breed. Tris is dual Champion from two countries — Finnish and Estonian Show and Obedience Champion. The first ever dual champion in the breed in Finland! (back in 1995). He also won the Most Versatile Dog -prize for winning so well in Agility, Obedience and Breed during one weekend, against other BCs, Beardies and Kelpies. And he won it TWICE! He was a true allrounder.
Those are the sports where I have competed with them, they have done other things as well — their only limit seems to be their handler...
The present day
I have had to say the last farewells to Tristan due to his old age and to Roo who had cancer. End of an era to me, having to part with the two who started the Cabaroos..
And, very sadly, to my lovely merle boy Freak who was put to sleep in October 2005 to save further suffering. Spark went back to Belgium in 2004.
My star at the moment is Nevada who whizzed through the classes to her title in only 4 months in 2006. She's had two litters of pups. Nevada also acts as my demonstration dog when I give courses to others.
In June 2008 "Revyy" joined us. He has paws of fire and I've decided to do some Agility with him, and leave Obedience later.
My past and present BCs -
Fin & Est Sh & ObCh VK1 ppr Viber Comedy of Errors
- Tristan, a b&w male imported from UK, 1990-2004
Fin ObCh BH VK1 Stillmoor Make A Wish
- Roo, a tri female imported from UK, 1994-2007
Fin ObCh BH JK1 Firelynx Midnight Skye
- Cloud, a blue merle female imported from UK, born 1999
Fin ObCh BH Apache van de Vrundenhoeve
- Spark, a red tri male, a visitor from Belgium, born 2001
Cabaroo Crazy Coyote
- Freak, a blue merle male, bred by me, 2004-2005
Fin ObCh BH Cabaroo Glacier Gale
- Nevada, a b&w female, bred by me, born 2005
Let's Play Black Chevers
- Revyy, a red tri male imported from CZ, born 2008
My sincere THANKS to the breeders of these dogs for entrusting me with one of your pups. I hope I have made you proud. Ilse, thank you for my time with Spark.
- Katja
You'll find them all from The Dogs -page.
