Well I suppose it was quite simply, I saw, I liked, I bought. – is this too short?

To be honest though, as long as I can remember I have loved the breed, but it was my father who, whilst working, first came into contact with two beautiful sable and white rough collies. This gave me my opportunity, and I bought the book “The Collie” by Margaret Osborne, and was immediately drawn to the picture of “Ch. Blue Princess Alexandra”. It was no use, I had to have a blue merle.

I eventually wore my father down, and was bought my first rough collie, a blue merle dog from Joyce Powell (Upperton) in 1972. we also went that year to watch the British Collie Club Champ Show, and I was bitten by the bug.

I met Derek in 1973, propping up the bar in his local (he says he doesn’t remember), and together we have enjoyed showing and breeding our dogs ever since. (HAVEN’T WE!).

Due to family commitments, for a while we were involved with obedience training, and enjoyed some success.

In 1992, whilst working with my vet, I passed with a credit the “Dog Breeding Certificate” course, run by the Animal Care College, and shortly after, was invited to become a member of the Institute of Animal Care Education. Because of my credit, and the various articles I wrote for their journals they offered me a Charter Membership, hence my initials, DBC, Ch.M.I.A.C.E.