My dog training days started over 30 years ago and I have been very lucky to have owned some super dogs.
Velly – (Labrador/Springer Spaniel). She was called Velly (short for Velvet) because of her beautiful coat. She was like a smaller version of a black Labrador with long spaniel ears and used to laugh at me during heelwork. She won many rosettes at exemption shows in obedience and novelty classes.
	Zak – (German Shepherd Dog). He was a reject form the Police at eight months old as he wouldn’t attack, but when we had our eldest son Zak was the dog that lay by his pram during his siesta time. I again had fun with him in obedience and novelty classes
Fleet - (Working Sheepdog). He was a very, very special boy although when we first had him at eighteen months I wondered if I had done the right thing as he was a “bit sharp” to say the least. He and Zak never got on but as pack leader I was in control most of the time. Fleet turned out to be I thought my dog of a life time and we started competing in Open and Championship shows where he took me from Beginners to Championship C (the highest class possible in competitive obedience).. He left his legacy by being Great Granddad to Obedience Champion Twistie of Challysfar who won Crufts Obedience Championships in the 1980’s and some dogs still have his lines in their pedigree today thirty years later.
	Kes – (Border Collie). After owning Fleet my love of collies was now set in. Kes was an International Sheep Dog Society registered collie which means he came from working lines only. Completely different and very honest and he came through the classes and qualified to work Championship C gaining a 3rd place at Loughborough Champ Show.
Dekka – (Working Sheepdog). On paper his pedigree was brilliant!!!! – what a shock to the system. Basically he was thick, very loving but never quite right, although epilepsy was thought to be in the lines. He did manage to win his novices before I retired him at the age of three and became the demo dog for pet club but was the bain of my life for 15 years.
	Murry – (Working Sheepdog). When Fleet died in 1991 I heard about a litter in North Wales and after visiting the small holding came back with a four month old little boy. He was a very honest little dog but quite sensitive. Very pretty and was often mistaken for a bitch and he worked from Novice to Open C. We lost Murray to bone cancer in March 2008
Geordie – (Working Sheepdog). I had decided I wanted another pup but due to so many problems with the breed I was trying to be extra careful. I eventually travelled some 300 miles to Co Durham and came back with “The Thug”. Something that sticks in my memory is the “ball of worms” he produced on my lap on the way home!! Quite sensitive in some ways but also very strong and to be honest he should have done what he was bred to do, (both his father and brother work cattle). He proved to be my rock when I lost Darcy and has never left my side since. He worked from Novice to Test B.
	D’Arcy – (Working Sheepdog). My poor baby and dog of a lifetime who we lost at 2 years old. I only had him as his lines went back to Fleet some seven generations back. I had waited 30 years to get a dog like this and he was snatched away from me at such a tender age. Before he was two years old he had won five novice classes and was set for a brilliant future until tragedy struck in May 2004. To read his obituary click this link but make sure you have a tissue handy.
Remy – (Border Collie). I can honestly say I have never had such a nice dog – bit of a wuss but so loving and in your face. Rem has sheep dog working, show and obedience lines in his pedigree and to the best of my knowledge his line is free of any health problems. He will be two in March 2007 and his training is coming along slowly but surely. He may even be ready for competing in 2007 so watch this space. December 2009 - Rem has done really well having won out of novice and already has one A and one B plus other numerous places
	Keegan – Spur of the moment decision but I liked the look of the Longton’s dogs, stamina, clever and biddable spring to mind so Lou and I went to fetch Keegan (yes he is named after Kevin) a week before Christmas 2008. He is such a character and nothing seems to phase him. He comes from pure sheepdog lines and to my knowledge there are no health problems with his breeding. We saw his mother and other dogs by his sire and they all had lovely temperaments. He has just started bits of training and is coming along quite nicely. He does have a nickname and the initials are Funny F so I’ll leave that to your imagination. Check out this website www.rootenbrooksheepdogs.co.uk and his grandfather is Moss.

So now I amdown to only three dogs, but who knows what’s round the corner