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Like many in the Collie fancy, I was captivated at an early
age by the stories of Albert Payson Terhune. They are tales of
his Collies in the early 1900's. The most notable of his books
is Lad of Sunnybank. From that point until today Collies have held
their position as my favorite breed.
Heirlair Collies began in 1979 with the purchase of a lovely sable
and white bitch named Robet's Scottish Mist. She was never bred,
due to a heart condition, but she did spur me to thinking about seriously
breeding and showing Collies. For several years before actually acquiring
foundation stock I read all that I could find about Collies. I went
to dog shows, seminars, joined local all-breed clubs and then I visited
breeders. I wanted good eyes and hips, physically healthy and mentally
fit dogs. I wanted to be able to guarantee that each generation would
reflect the Collie standard for companionship as well as beauty.
In 1985 I purchased my foundation stock: a blue merle male who became
AKC Ch. Keenhaven's Mountain Sky and a tricolor bitch named Amberlyn
Mystique, who was pointed but never finished. These two were founded
on the Lick Creek and Parader families. They produced Ch. Heirlair
Bold 'N Blue in the first litter. In 1986 I joined the Collie Club
of America.
As good as they were, I needed the influence of another family of Collies.
So I went to Tartanside in 1987 and acquired a puppy: the Herding Group
winner who became Ch. Heirlair Raise A Windstorm. It is from here that
I have been able to cement the attributes I sought. These are the dominant
dogs behind my family line of Heirlair Collies.
 
The building blocks of a family of champion Collies do not come from
luck, purchases of "fad" winners or a single ribbon from
a show. It comes from patience and adherence to the objectives behind
the goal.
I had the misfortune to learn the hard way about the impact our environment
has on ourselves and our animals. I had moved to Nebraska in 1987.
It was a home with a kennel and 6 acres, boundaried all around by heavily
planted farm ground. I did not know about the pesticides and herbicides
used on such crops, since I originated from high desert country.
Mystery Begins…
Beginning in 1993, my dogs began to experience a number of bizarre
illnesses and diseases. Testicles would atrophy; bitches would resorb
litters by 30 days; autoimmune problems and cancers grew exponentially,
even in young puppies. I also acquired Multiple Sclerosis. However,
it took nearly two years to find the answer: the chemicals!
The farmer on the adjacent land was completely indiscriminate and careless
in his applications of these commercial toxins. A test of the surface
water and soil on my property and kennels by the EPA revealed that
we had been continuously exposed to not less than 30 times the toxic
levels of herbicides and pesticides which had run off from the adjacent
land.
When confronted, the farmer dismissed the deaths of 18 of my dogs and
the damaged systems of those remaining as inconsequential. I disagreed,
brought a law suit and won. Of course, before the victory I was forced
to leave my own land and salvage what I could. But the damage was done
and I knew that I would need to start over-in a different place.
We moved to SW Colorado in 1998. The dogs began to get well, my health
improved and I could seriously return to my breeding program. Even
though I had continued to handle and finish the Collies I had during
these years, breeding had become impossible.
Here We
Are Today….
HEIRLAIR COLLIES are back now, winning in the ring and producing
solidly healthy, beautiful puppies. There is no need for any kind
of chemical here and their custom kennel has been earned. Visitors
are always welcomed!
We have 18 acres, a 3 bedroom, 2 bath home and a complete boarding
and grooming facility. There are 18 indoor/outdoor covered runs on
a contoured cement pad. There are plexiglas "doggie doors" secondary
to the drop down guillotine doors which reduce interior climate loss
and incoming winds. The building has complete heating and air conditioning,
a grooming room and bathing area, plus a kitchen.
You can take a tour of
it later in this web site.
The dogs are all conditioned on a custom dry feed shipped in as
well as an elk and deer stew. So far there have been NO complaints.
Play areas are approx. 1/4 acre each, with shade, water and even a
small swimming pool. All of this is surrounded by a spectacular view
of the San Juan, Blue and Ute mountains; elevation 6965 ft. Neither
fleas nor heartworm live in this area of SW Colorado.
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