Now as I've placed ourselves on the map, maybe it's time to tell you a bit of my background with collies. We have to go all the way back to 1979 when I out of the blue bought a dog for my, now exhusband's 30th anniversary. At that time Collie was just another dog for both of us, and buying a Collie for him was just a coincidence. We know nothing about the breed, and certainly nothing about pedigree and breed standard. To put it very short, we knew nothing, and that is not the best point in where to start. But we have all been a first time dog owner, and at one point we've been pretty unknown to what we are heading towards. So in our case as well, but I had the advantage of being able to read English books about the breed from which I have learnt ever so much.

There are 2 persons in particular, there are many others as well, but these 2 has been most important to me and my interest in the breed for now nearly 30 years. The first is Mrs. Randi Narvesen, Crubow Collies, and the other is the late Mrs. Betty Eglin of the world famous Rokeby collies.
I HAVE to tell you how proud I was, in the beginning, of my dog's tail, rolling it over his back with cascades of fluffy hair around his back part. Sometimes he also had a pricked ear, and as newcomers we thought he looked ever so cute (God forbid), and we were the proudest of the proud when we returned home with some firsts and honoursprizes from the shows. Sometimes Scotty was too thin, and he was given the best money can buy to put on that weight. Next time he was too fat, and he was put on a diet. I have been in that starting block you see.
So one day I approached the winner (Randi), and asked what she thought of our dog. She is a lucky woman, as the one asking did so in order to learn and not getting hurt. Haveing repeated over and over again that I really wanted her opinion, I had the "verdict". Verbally she became the slaughter of our dog. But--- she told me in details what was wrong and showed me, and by that I learned a lesson never to be forgotten. In 2010 Randi and I can celebrate 30 years of friendship.

The late Mrs. Betty Eglin also taught me details I never would think of, and even today they can be hard to focus on viewing a Collie. But they are there, and I am indeed grateful from what I have learned from these two outstanding personalities in the collie world.

FIRST DOGS WE/I HAVE HAD:

Scotty, or as official name, Hiamber's Duntiblae Scotty Boy, born 30.04.1979. His sire was GBCH Geoffdon Hillbilly x Hiamber's Marvellous Springtime. He became 10 years.

My very first own Collie was Hiamber's Shanty, born 1980. She had several res.CC's, but had to be put to sleep at the tender age of nearly 4. As far as I know she is the only Collie in Norway with the diagnosis PSS (Porto Systemic Shunt), a disease I should know far better when dealing with Irish Wolfhounds. Before Shanty died, I bought Rokeby Aimee Rose, born 23.02,1983, from England.Aimee gave birth to the first litter under the Dignity affix in 1987, and she was mated to NUCH Crubow's Glenn Miller, see litters.
 

It has never been easy for me to a breeder. Firstly, I have very strong requests to health, which has led to rough discussions with well known and less known breeders from all over the world. Secondly, I find it hard to sell the puppies out. As long as they are with me and if anything should happen to them, I am to blame. Having sold them I find it hard to correct people when I see something is wrong.Thirdly, the puppies will always be "mine", and it's easy to become a scapegoat to people who disagree in my "policy" of breeding.

But the exitement wheater I have succeeded in getting as close to standard as possible, wheather the puppies are healthy, wheather everything works out well for the owner's and the puppies, and my love of the breed keeps me going and I'll never be able to let go of Collies. The breed's unconditional love, loyalty and preservance could teach every person a little bit about attitudes. That is why I keep going. That is why there will always be a Collie with me as the the most precious I can have. I love Collies from the bottom of my heart.