I have been involved with shelties since 1978 having gotten my first as a pet when my son was born. I was hooked enough to get another two years later and a third, finally show quality dog a year after that. I started actively showing and breeding in 1982. I am a lifetime member of the CKC. I am also a member in good standing with the CSSA and the SSCBC. Recently I have been involved with the formation of a new Sheltie club, the West Coast Islands Shetland Sheepdog Association or WCISSA here on Vancouver Island. In the past, I served several terms as President and Editor of the SSCBC tri-annual newsletter as well as Director of the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island Zone. I have also served as a past Director of the BC/Yukon/NWT for the CSSA. My home has been honored with:
Multi Group winning Grand Can.Ch. Marpointe Smoke And Mirrors.
Multi Group placing Grand Can.Ch. Lasair Twilight At Marpointe
Champion Marpointe's Antebellum, ROM
BPISS Multi BB Ch. Marpointe's Lady Margaux ( one of the top #10 CSSA Sheltie pups in Canada 2009)
BIS Multi Group Ch. Marpointe Simply Delicious (#5 Shetland Sheepdog in Canada 2007)
Multi BB Ch. Marpointe's The Believer (2007)
Multi BB Ch. Marpointe's Lady Elizabeth
BPIS Multi-Group Ch. Marpointe's Sheba's Pride, JA (#3 sheltie puppy in Canada 1999)
Multi- BPIS Multi-Group Ch. Marpointe's Ice Is Nice (#3 sheltie puppy in Canada 2000)
BPIS Can. Ch. Marpointe's Walks In Beauty (#7 sheltie puppy in Canada 2000)
Multi Group Ch. Marpointe's Cool Hand Luke (2002/2003)
Multi Group Ch. Marpointe's Miss Kitty(2002/2003).
In 2005 we had 5 home-bred dogs finish their Canadian Championships
Since then more have been counted in such as:
Multi-Gr. GCh. Marpointes Crown Jewel
BBPIS Multi-Gr. GCh. Marpointes Sophies Choice...and more!
So far we have finished 43 homebred conformation champions, some of whom are dual champions, excelling in obedience and agility. We also have produced and placed dogs in performance homes where they are excelling in performance as regional champions and competitors in national championship shows for agility. I have also purchased dogs whom I finished to place into our breeding program here at Marpointe.
Throughout the years my personal situations have changed and there have been a series of ups and downs but through it all my devotion to producing shelties sound in mind and body has been a priority and a goal towards which I have been working. I breed for myself with view to having a sound dog, both in temperament and in structure for the conformation and performance rings...and occasionally have need for homes in which to place my retirees as well as those pups I have grown out that for some reason aren't suited for the conformation ring. When that happens, my main goal is a forever home for these loved ones, and anyone inquiring must be prepared to answer the questions I will ask in order to insure that they are a suitable home for a Marpointe dog.
Our journey has changed, as our life circumstances changed. More recently, for various reasons, we have found the need for a smaller dog with less coat care to continue our journey in promoting purebred dogs. Hence the introduction to our Russkiy (Russian) Toys! They are a lovely little breed with which to share our lives...and I have fallen in love with them. Then life pitched us another curve ball in that my elderly mom needed 24 hour care, so we again changed our life circumstance and made arrangements to move in with her to care for her. Which meant our canine companions lives also changed.
I have been able to work with a long time friend and fellow breeder to co-own my shelties while they take up residence in her home. We will be partners in everything sheltie-wise...working with my blood lines and helping her to establish a toe-hold in the sheltie world. She is well versed with the promotion and showing of purebred dogs, having first started with Shelties, then on to and remains with Chihuahuas. A few years ago we started collaborating with Shelties together and the relationship worked. So she has taken on the care of my dogs and works with my bloodlines and together we share a love and desire to produce sound dogs with good temperaments and structure that has always been my goal. I will be adding a new page to my homepage soon to introduce you to Kim and her dogs.
So now, it is just the Russkiy Toys who reside with us in our new home. We have added two to the originals and are having fun in the show ring with them. I hope you enjoy our journey with them.
The dogs are part of my family, whelping and raising of the litter happening right off the living room in my computer room, and when the pups are older, they live in a room just off my hallway right across from the master bedroom or right in the kitchen with us! All are well socialized by my numerous grandchildren and friends and leave my home as well adjusted members of their new family. I don't have many litters, with quality rather than quantity as my main goal and as such, I don't have a lot of pups to offer as pet companions, but those that are can be guaranteed to be healthy and well-bred. I have enjoyed the full spectrum of colors that Shelties have to offer... Blues (both bi and merles), tricolors, bi-blacks, and sables in all their various shades, and can offer this variety in a sound dog for all to enjoy.
Until recently, all my dogs were owner/handled to their wins. Then, because of health problems and bad knees, I have not shown as much myself, having to resort to handlers occasionally Recently though, I have taken back into the ring, finding much pleasure in showing my own dogs again. Whether I showed them or someone else showed them, I am very proud of my little family. I hope you will enjoy walking through these pages with me.
NEWS FLASH!! I recently have gone into a new, fairly rare to Canada breed...the Russkiy (Russian Toy) Peruse their page from my home page...and you will see what endeared them to me. Although I will still be breeding and showing shelties occasionally, these little guys will also be living here at Marpointe.