Riitta:

I was a devoted cat person (still love them) until I got my first dog in 1990. Cassie was a Bearded Collie, and we drove down to Maryland to get her. The breeder told me that to get the puppy I wanted I had to show her. Well, I’d been to a few dog shows – how hard could that be? And that is how it all started.  

Cassie was amazing – we said she was a person in a furry suit.  A year later I got my second and third, and then, after showing and doing health tests, I bred my first Beardie litter in 1993 under the Autumnlane prefix. All my dogs lived with us, and we competed in Canada and the US in conformation and obedience. I bred occasionally, and produced nice Beardies, if I say so myself. Autumnlane’s highlight was when our Cooper, Can/Am/Int Ch. Autumnlane’s Li’l Deuce Coupe (co-owned with my great friend Jan) won the Bearded Collie Club of America’s National Specialty, owner-handled, being the first brown Beardie to ever do so, and doing so at the largest National to-date.  It’s a day I’ll never forget.

When my first marriage ended I needed to focus on being a Mom, and dog showing and breeding had to take a pause. My Beardies aged, and eventually we said good-bye to each. Thinking ahead, Paul and I knew that after our last boy Becker left us, and with the kids in university, we would be less tied down and could travel a bit and “do what we wanted” without worrying about letting the dogs out. We planned to do that for a couple of years.

I lasted six weeks after Becker’s passing when I knew I couldn’t be without a dog in our life. This started intense negotiations as Paul said his favourite breed was actually the Golden Retriever! From that to meeting Edie Ward (Baileymist), to getting Jake from her, and then Katie to now, it’s been a great adventure back into the show ring and the dog community.