Why choose a Desert Collie?
1. Old fashioned Lassie temperament: I strive to preserve the old fashioned Lassies that I grew up with. The original herding instincts and temperament famous in Albert Payson Terhune's books and seen in the old black and white tv series.
2. Trainability: since obedience trials are my favorite passion I have 4 generations of collies with several obedience titles each.
Any AKC title can be verified and downloaded from their website with a research pedigree or competitor points progression report.
3. Herding Instincts: I try to maintain the original herding instincts that make the collie the outstanding family dog that it is famous for.
4. Health Guarantee: for each puppy.
5. Lifelong Advice: for each puppy.
6. Generations of health tested collies: listed on the OFA website so anyone can verify the test results.
7. CHIC dogs: My collies are health tested according to the Collie Club of America recommendations and have their CHIC numbers to prove it.
8. Disease panel tests: My collies are tested with the disease panels recommended by the Collie Health Foundation here.
9. Coloboma testing: I am adding coloboma genetic testing to help the breed per the Collie Health Foundation's research efforts here.
10. von Willebrand's testing: I am adding von Willebrand's genetic testing to help the breed per the Collie Health Foundation here.
All of my tested collies are Clear/non-carriers of von Willebrand's and listed on the OFA website.
11. Hyperuricosuria (HUU) testing: At some clients requests I have tested all of my current collies and all are Clear/non-carriers of (HUU).
It takes time and money to post test results to the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), if you do not see a test result please ask.
12. AKC show and trial wins and awards can be verified by the show results on the superintendent's website or on the AKC website by looking up the club and their
past event results.
13. UKC (United Kennel Club) show and trial wins and awards can be verified on the UKC website results page.
14. My dogs and I enjoy competing in the conformation ring (like Westminster) but obedience braces (2 dogs working as one) are my real passion.
I enjoy living with my collies most of all. We practice herding the ducks and goats, go hiking, camping and bicycling. They love traveling and recognize all
of the local dog parks. We are hoping to start agility soon.
2. Trainability: since obedience trials are my favorite passion I have 4 generations of collies with several obedience titles each.
Any AKC title can be verified and downloaded from their website with a research pedigree or competitor points progression report.
3. Herding Instincts: I try to maintain the original herding instincts that make the collie the outstanding family dog that it is famous for.
4. Health Guarantee: for each puppy.
5. Lifelong Advice: for each puppy.
6. Generations of health tested collies: listed on the OFA website so anyone can verify the test results.
7. CHIC dogs: My collies are health tested according to the Collie Club of America recommendations and have their CHIC numbers to prove it.
8. Disease panel tests: My collies are tested with the disease panels recommended by the Collie Health Foundation here.
9. Coloboma testing: I am adding coloboma genetic testing to help the breed per the Collie Health Foundation's research efforts here.
10. von Willebrand's testing: I am adding von Willebrand's genetic testing to help the breed per the Collie Health Foundation here.
All of my tested collies are Clear/non-carriers of von Willebrand's and listed on the OFA website.
11. Hyperuricosuria (HUU) testing: At some clients requests I have tested all of my current collies and all are Clear/non-carriers of (HUU).
It takes time and money to post test results to the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), if you do not see a test result please ask.
12. AKC show and trial wins and awards can be verified by the show results on the superintendent's website or on the AKC website by looking up the club and their
past event results.
13. UKC (United Kennel Club) show and trial wins and awards can be verified on the UKC website results page.
14. My dogs and I enjoy competing in the conformation ring (like Westminster) but obedience braces (2 dogs working as one) are my real passion.
I enjoy living with my collies most of all. We practice herding the ducks and goats, go hiking, camping and bicycling. They love traveling and recognize all
of the local dog parks. We are hoping to start agility soon.
Desert Kennels: Past, Present and Future
History: Training and showing dogs was my first and favorite 4-H project as a child. I am still active with 4-H and try to help members whenever I can. I have been fortunate in that I have been able to enjoy dogs most of my life. I have been involved in the fancy on the east coast as well as in Wyoming. I was "born and bred" a Collie person.
Present: Obedience and Rally Trials are my favorite competitions. The Collies also enjoy herding, agility and conformation when we have time. I groom, train and compete with all of my dogs myself. It is much more fun and affordable than sending them out with professional handlers. Sometimes my children help me at the dog shows. The Collies are American Kennel Club and United Kennel Club registered and shown in obedience and conformation. Some of their pups do very well in 4-H and UKC conformation. I select for original herding instinct in my Collies since it is the foundation for the breed's wonderful family dog personality. I attend a few shows a year.
Future: I hope to maintain and enhance original working instincts. I also health test my adult dogs for the future of the breed.
Puppies: I believe in personality first. All puppy personalities are evaluated before they go home. I can recommend a puppy for you or you can pick one out yourself. Puppies are also encouraged to pick their own people, as they are very good at it! All puppies go home with health records, breed specific information, and lifelong advice. Health and personality guarantees are available. Some puppies may go home with breed books. All AKC puppies go home with "limited" papers. However "breeding rights" are available for an extra fee when the puppy is purchased. OR If you do the health testing and reporting in the puppy contract I do not charge extra for the breeding rights. There may be a small paperwork fee from the registry to change "limited" papers to "full" with breeding rights.
Litters: Please contact me regarding the next planned litter and the number of advanced reservations that I can still accept. I average one or two Collie litters per year. I can accept non refundable deposits to hold specific puppies. An advanced deposit will also hold your place in line to pick a puppy. Deposits are subtracted from the total price. Deposits are only refunded if I can't deliver a healthy puppy. Sometimes I can drive up to 150 miles for some gasoline money to meet people, depending on the time of year.
Memberships: I am currently a member of the Livestock Guardian Dog Association forum, the Collie Health Foundation and local Kennel Clubs. Collies and Doberman puppies are registered with the American Kennel Club and can be registered with the United Kennel Club. Some of my adult dogs are also registered with the United Kennel Club.
Visitor Policy: To protect the dogs and puppies to young to vaccinate, and from diseases that have no vaccine and dog nappers - we have had to stop inviting people to the ranch. The current Canine Flu outbreak is just one of many concerns that may be on shoes or car tires. I know where my vehicles and I have been. No offense but I don't know what is on the ground from your area. And of course contagions are microscopic. 6 times my puppies have been stolen from their new homes! Please be careful with your new puppy! Consider staying outside with your puppy if it is young enough to be stolen.
1. A blue merle Sheltie that went to Riverton, WY years ago was stolen from the fenced yard twice by neighborhood children and recovered upon a walk
through the area. When the family moved out of town the dog disappeared from a fenced yard and was never found.
2. A Pyr puppy went to Casper, WY. The same day the family called asking for help because the puppy had disappeared from their fenced yard the first
time they put her out to go to the bathroom. The family went back in the house and left her alone outside for "5 minutes". The following year when a
Pyr puppy went to Casper the woman told me that the year before a "shady" character was walking up and down the streets trying to sell a puppy just
like hers for quick cash!
3. A smooth sable Collie that went to Wheatland, WY was barking in the fenced back yard one day. Then she yelped. The owner went out to see what
had happened and found no dog, but there was a white van driving away down the alley. The next day the owner put it together when neighbors told
her that 4 other dogs had disappeared from their fenced back yards along the same alley!
4. A litter of puppies was reported stolen from a local yard last year while the family was at work.
5. A Wyoming school bus driver mentioned that 4 of her students on the same street had lost their dogs from fenced yards "yesterday". Driving the route
that afternoon she noticed a car with a driver that appeared to be watching a border collie in someone's front fenced yard. I have not heard if that
border collie or that car have been seen since.