My name is Grace Smith. I am 16 and I got my first Border Collie (Millie) when I was 12. I have always been obsessed with dogs, even from a very young age, but 5 years ago I realized that Border Collies were for me.
I currently have 5 dogs, although only 3 are Border Collies. I train at Waggles (www.wagglesvt.com) and am very much looking forward to competing in Agility and USBCHA type herding trials. My dogs are first and foremost my companions. They all live in the house, and at least two sleep on my bed every night. My dogs are my life - I live dogs, I breathe dogs, I dream dogs. I strive to give them the best I possibly can, from the food I feed to the way I train, so they can be the happiest, healthiest, and most confident dogs possible. Someday, I hope to be a well known competitor in both Agility and herding, and compete with several dogs. Someday, I may breed (under the kennel name "EyeQ Border Collies"), but that is not my foremost goal. I believe strongly in preserving the Border Collie as a working dog, and believe that Border Collies should only be bred for their working ability and soundness of body and mind. Having a MACH, ADCH, or other titles or nice, but not what a dog should be bred for. If the dog has not proven himself on the trial field and on the farm in herding, he will not even be considered for breeding.
Besides the dogs, I also raise sheep. Currently, the flock is at around 70 head, including lambs. , who are all growing like weeds. During the summer I show my sheep at 3-5 shows in New England, and this year I will also attended the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival with two yearlings to show. I shear all my own sheep, and am also a "semi-professional" sheep shearer, traveling around northern Vermont shearing for small flocks of 3-6, with the help of my lovely and helpful mother as chauffeur. :-) I am also into photography, and am working towards professional photography as a profession.
I am very dedicated to the breeding and support of superior working Border Collies. In the future I plan to breed very selectively and in-frequently; only when I find two dogs that will make superior working puppies with phenomenal temperaments, who are sound of body and mind. I do not believe in breeding dogs just for the sake of breeding. I feel very strongly about always putting herding ability before everything else when considering breeding a dog. Herding is what makes the Border Collie what it is, and I would hate to see that lost. Agility and Obedience titles are great, showing the dog has versatility, however herding is the most important, Agility or Obedience titles are just a bonus. Temperment and health (hips, eyes, etc) are also very important factors when breeding, and are certainly not to be forgotten.
My human family consisits of Katie (19), Hannah (17), Me (15), Samuel (12), Esther (10), and Lydia (8), as well as my parents, Tom and Nancy who have been very supportive of my dreams and goals with my dogs - not every parent lets their child own 6 dogs!
Please enjoy Click's website, and be sure to sign the guestbook! Also check out his big sister Millie's website! http://www.lockeyemillie.4t.com/
Grace Smith
