My Beginning

I purchased my first sheltie in 1970. "Tanya", a 12-1/2" sable spent the first four years of her life being carried around in my arms; thoroughly spoiled, yet very smart. Finally, in 1974, while at a horse show, I met Carol McKee, who had a little sheltie that was a "show dog". We discussed our sheltie children and I expressed interest in learning more about dog shows. Carol very tactfully explained about training Tanya in obedience. Tanya reminded me of a little fox and although she was actually pretty cute, she was not an ideal representation of a sheltie.

Carol invited me to go with her the next time she went to training classes, which were being offered by the Ft. Lauderdale Dog Club. After I went to that first class, I was hooked. Then Carol introduced me to the breeder she had purchased her sheltie from, Dee Strahan of Cypress Shelties and before long I had joined both a sheltie club (at the time it was the "Shetland Sheepdog Club of Greater Miami" and is now the "Shetland Sheepdog Club of South-East Florida"); and an all-breed club, Fort Lauderdale Dog Club.

Dee was the best mentor anyone could ever ask for. She was always willing to educate if you wanted to learn and she spent endless hours going over structure and heads and moving dogs so I could feel and see first-hand what was right and what was wrong. I owe a lot to her.

My Goals

I realized immediately that obedience dogs were looked "down" upon by those showing in Conformation and made it my goal to produce dogs that excelled in both rings.

In my 30 years in Shelties, I have bred 14 litters. My current dogs consist of a puppy from my four most recent litters (Beacon, Badger, Glider and Spats). I have kept a puppy from all but two litters and except for Glider (and she's just too cute), everything I have kept has either finished a Championship, an OTCh, an advanced Obedience title or been pointed. A couple had both points and/or OTCH points but were not finished in either ring due to me having to temporarily retire from showing. My ultimate goal is to breed and finish a CH/OTCh.

My Dogs

My dogs live in the house, sleep in my bed and are first and foremost my pets and companions. I try to keep the number of dogs that I keep at four, but since they live with me for life, I sometimes exceed this self-imposed limit. Before breeding my dogs are cleared for hips, eyes, thyroid and vWD.

Past and Present Shelties of Highfields

Click on dogs highlighted, underlined name to visit it's individual page

Cypress Vanishing Act CDX (Willow) - My first "showdog" purchased from Dee Strahan of Cypress Shelties. Willow was by a "High Born" son out of a CH Meadow Ridge Good Night Steve daughter (BIS CH Kismet's Centurion x Cypress Cinnamon Candy CDX TD. Although Willow competed in the breed ring, she excelled in obedience and finished a CD and CDX with Dog World awards and had two legs in Utility when a bizarre accident cut her career short. Willow was the mother of "Branch", my first homebred Champion/UD.

Am/Can CH Highfields Edge of Dawn UD (Branch) - My first champion from my first litter, Branch was very special to me. Branch also had a UD and was #35 on the CH/UD list. His father, Am/Can CH Cypress Blue Buccaneer UD was also a CH/UD, I believe #38 on the CH/UD list.

Highfields Summer Storm CD (Summer) - My second bitch purchased from Dee Strahan. She was also by a CH "High Born" son and was out of a "High Born" grandduaghter (CH Kismet's Counterpoint x Cypress Afternoon Delight). She was the producer of my second homebred CH/UD "Rascal".

CH Highfields Summer Thunder UD (Rascal) - My second champion from my second litter. Rascal was #50 on the CH/UD list. While Rascal himself despised obedience (it took 50 shows to finish his UD, not because he couldn't do it, but because he chose not to), he produced many excellent obedience dogs, including two OTCH's (almost three - one had 86 points when a dislocated hip from an injury ended her career), and 8 with UD's. There were also quite a few with CD's and CDX's.

Highfields Dreaming is Free CDX (Acacia) - From Branch's first litter (bred by Tom Cobb), out of a CH Banchory Deep Purple daughter.

Highfields Promises to Keep UD (Flower) - By Rascal out of Acacia. Flower had 18 OTCH points and was the mother of Brooke

OTCh Highfields First Frost UD (Brooke) - My beloved Brooke was by Roranjoli's Buy Blue Jeans, (a CH Banchory Deep Purple son) out of Flower. She finished her CD, CDX and UD in less than 9 months qualifying her for a Dog World Award. In the 4 years (starting with her CD) she was campaigned she was always in the National Rankings, the first year just Shuman and Delaney, the last three years also for OTCH points. She had multiple HIT's and numerous High Combined scores but is not listed as a UDX because the title did not come into effect until after she was retired.

CH Klassic Misconduct (Lizzie) - Purchased as an eight-month old at the 1986 National in Dallas from Joan McCord of Klassic Shelties. Lizzie was a very nice 14 3/4" bi-black bitch. After Lizzie completed her Championship, she went to live with Bill and Irene Munsey of Donlyn Shelties for the remainder of her 16+ years.

Windstorms Only by Chance UD (Coon) - Coon was by Rascal out of a CH Dorlane Kings Ransom daughter. Tom (my now x-husband) was bored attending the shows with me and just watching and wanted a dog of his own to show, so I gave him Coon to show in Utility. He quickly put all three legs on him and had never shown a dog before! Somewhat in reverse of how most people do it!

Highfields on Target CDX (Arrow) - by CH Donlyns Iced Starfall out of Lizzie (both were line-bred on CH Banchory Formal Notice). Arrow was an over-sized bi-black male that became Tom's (my now x-husband) obedience dog. Tom put a CD and CDX title on Arrow. After having already put a UD on one of my dogs, he had to go back and learn how to train one for Novice.

Highfields Wind n' Rain UD (Blizzard) - My surprise litter by Arrow out of Brooke. Because it was an accidental breeding (Arrow was neutered after that) I never registered the litter with AKC so had to get an ILP number to be able show Bliz in obedience. Blizzard grew to be 20" tall. He was a great obedience dog and finished his UD before he was 17 months old with some nice placements, even though he had to show in the "B" classes. He picked up 26 OTCh points rapidly. Unfortunately, he started having problems with lameness whenever he jumped and was retired.

Highfields Silent Snowfall UDX (Banyan) - Banyan was by Linden Lucifur out of "Brooke". Banyan was pointed and had OTCH points but was never finished due to an unexpected divorce. Many who saw him felt he should have been finished, but unfortunately I had had him neutered when I thought I wasn't going to be able to show anymore. Banyan devoted his life to protecting me from all harm, real or imagined.

Highfields Out of the Depths (Cousteau) - Cousteau was a littermate to Banyan and was co-owned with Christy Clark, Glenlyle Shelties.  Cousteau earned his name after a fall in the swimming pool as a puppy. Cousteau lived with his co-owners, John and Christy Clark, and he was pointed.

Highfields Summer Wine CDX (Petal) - A good friend bred one of her bitches (a Rascal daughter out of a Branch daughter) to Banyan and gave me the tri bitch puppy from that breeding (Petal). She produced one puppy, Beacon, and then was spayed. Petal was being trained in Utility but much prefered being a bed dog so was officially retired to couch potato status.

Highfields Icebreaker CDX (Beacon) - Beacon is by VanKrols Fashion by Calvin (goes back to CH Tall Timbers Far Out Frisco)out of Petal. Also known as "Monkey Boy", Beacon is partially trained in Utility. Due to my current work schedule his training is on hold, but as soon as I am able I would like to finish a UD and UDX on him. He has an extremely outgoing personality once he gets to know you but can be somewhat standoffish with people he doesn't know. His pedigree combines all my original dogs, now all gone. My intention had been to breed him to Glider to combine my "old" and "new" lines, but unfortunately, after producing 2 other litters, he became sterile before I could breed him to Glider, so he was neutered.

Highfields Natures Showcase (Aspen) - Christy Clark of Glenlyle  Shelties and I purchased Aspen from Jennifer Houchins of Showcase Shelties. Aspen is line-bred on Ch. Alfenloch Ryan O'Neil . After two beautiful litters by CH Shadow Hill's Air Force One, which produced Badger and Glider who I kept, as well as Glenlyle Fly Bi Night (Lena) kept by her co-breeder, Christy Clark, Aspen was bred to Ch. Toven Wintertide (a Ch. Macdega Asterick Son, Timmy) A beautiful blue merle bitch from that breeding is now owned by Frank and MaryAnn Lannon of Larrikin Shelties and will be shown. Aspen has been spayed and has gone to live at my sisters doggie retirement home, along with one of her sons from the first "Boomer" breeding, Highfields Puddle Jumper (PJ).

Highfields Winter Weather (Badger) - By BIS/BISS Ch. Shadow Hills Air Force One (Boomer) out of Aspen. Badger started his adult show career with a 4 point Specialty win and currently has 10 points in limited showing. He has two pointed offspring, littermates, one with 11 points, both majors.
FLASH
On 11/7/04 Badger's son "Sky" went Winners Dog at the Seminole Dog Fanciers show for his third major (4 points)to become CH Vankrols Grand Horizon.

Highfields Free Flight (Glider) - By BIS/BISS Ch. Shadow Hills Air Force One (Boomer) out of Aspen. This was a repeat of the breeding that produced Badger. Glider is a lovely, balanced 14" bi-black bitch with excellent structure, beautiful expression and an adorable personality. SHE thinks she's really cute! Glider was bred to Shadow Hill's Polaris and produced Highfields Gone Flying CDX (Cessna), owned and loved by Mary Jane Kelley.

Highfields Wayward Wind (Spats)-by Badger out of VanKrols Showcase Signature, a CH GoldenHylites The Phantom daughter. Spats has outstanding temperment and expression. He is pointed from the bred-by class and is now being trained in obedience, hoping to make his debut in the spring of 2005. His littermate, Sky, finished his Championship in November 2004 with 3 majors! Sky can be seen on the Puppy page.

1) Updated February 2005