Meet my Bearded Collies
I can't bear to part with those now at Rainbow Bridge so they remain on this page - they are still very much loved.
Polly (Potterdale Angelica)
On June 3rd 2011 I lost Polly (Potterdale Angelica) – she was a ripe old age and had lived a healthy and happy life. Her loss left a huge hole in our lives here – my children had grown up in her company, she had spent time hillwalking with Bob and she had been 'nanny' and mentor to my younger dogs – Bonnie, Skye, Maddie and Gertie.
Polly had the perfect temperament – sweet, gentle, confident & clever. She was shown in the breed ring including at Crufts when she was younger, and did agility rarely coming home without a rosette, including a couple of red ones!! Her enjoyment of obedience was second to none – when she started I remember many rounds of sheer excited, barking heelwork, and she enjoyed send aways over huge distances- the bigger the distance the better!!! She gained the Senior Working Test with ease, and had quite a nose for seek backs & scent – something she very much enjoyed in training & right into old age. When she was 10 years old she proved that old dogs can learn new tricks and took up Heelwork to Music and Freestyle and competed in novice where she was in the places, and did many demonstrations including pairs routines with Skye.
Polly genuinely mourned the loss of Bertie (Sallen Delta) who I lost three years ago, and her loss has had a similar impact on Bonnie (Runival Sgurr an Lochain), who has just recently picked up and started being her old self again. Gertie (Runival Snowcrystal) was her last puppy to 'nanny' and their relationship still brings tears to my eyes – the licking faces together and the greetings that Gertie used to give Polly and vice versa, the lying together in the garden, and how Gertie would make Polly's tail wag more than anything else in life.
I've been touched by how many people remembered Polly and by the flowers and cards I received when she died. The reminisces of Polly have been so comforting and I have included them in her scrapbook which is now closed by her collar.
I will miss her always and there will always be a place in my heart that is Polly.
Polly had the perfect temperament – sweet, gentle, confident & clever. She was shown in the breed ring including at Crufts when she was younger, and did agility rarely coming home without a rosette, including a couple of red ones!! Her enjoyment of obedience was second to none – when she started I remember many rounds of sheer excited, barking heelwork, and she enjoyed send aways over huge distances- the bigger the distance the better!!! She gained the Senior Working Test with ease, and had quite a nose for seek backs & scent – something she very much enjoyed in training & right into old age. When she was 10 years old she proved that old dogs can learn new tricks and took up Heelwork to Music and Freestyle and competed in novice where she was in the places, and did many demonstrations including pairs routines with Skye.
Polly genuinely mourned the loss of Bertie (Sallen Delta) who I lost three years ago, and her loss has had a similar impact on Bonnie (Runival Sgurr an Lochain), who has just recently picked up and started being her old self again. Gertie (Runival Snowcrystal) was her last puppy to 'nanny' and their relationship still brings tears to my eyes – the licking faces together and the greetings that Gertie used to give Polly and vice versa, the lying together in the garden, and how Gertie would make Polly's tail wag more than anything else in life.
I've been touched by how many people remembered Polly and by the flowers and cards I received when she died. The reminisces of Polly have been so comforting and I have included them in her scrapbook which is now closed by her collar.
I will miss her always and there will always be a place in my heart that is Polly.
Bonnie (Runival Sgurr an Lochain HTM I Ex, FS A Ex)
Bonnie is almost 16 years old - time flies by and it seems like no time ago since I collected her from her breeder, Denise Barley of Runival Bearded Collies. I was lucky to have pick of this lovely litter and I chose Bonnie because she was the most confident and outgoing pup and she has remained a confident dog!
Bonnie has been shown in the breed ring, and has done agility and obedience. She is now retired having qualified for and competed in both the Heelwork to Music and Freestyle Finals at Crufts 2012 and done very creditable performances in both.
She first performed at Crufts having qualified for the Freestyle Final in 2009 and also represented Scotland that year in the International Freestyle Competition.
Bonnie has been shown in the breed ring, and has done agility and obedience. She is now retired having qualified for and competed in both the Heelwork to Music and Freestyle Finals at Crufts 2012 and done very creditable performances in both.
She first performed at Crufts having qualified for the Freestyle Final in 2009 and also represented Scotland that year in the International Freestyle Competition.
Skye (Catch Her in the Skye)
Skye was a rescue dog who I rehomed via Bearded Collie Rescue when she was about 18 months old. She was a working Bearded Collie who was not without initial problems but once these were overcome she has excelled in everything she has ever done - agility, obedience, and HTM, and was a very easily trained dog. She has also achieved her Senior Working Test.
She retired on a high note having qualified for the Crufts Semi Finals in both Heelwork and Freestyle, and represented Scotland over two years in the International Freestyle Final at Crufts & having finished in the top three, She 'danced' on Radio Scotland and took part in many demonstrations and was the first ever Scottish Advanced dog and made it in both heelwork to music and freestyle!
At 17 years old she was doing some herding and was still active until her last few days - sadly Skye left us last year almost reaching her 19th Birthday.
She is still missed sorely, and especially with a new puppy in our midst as she was such a nanny to all the new additions here.
Maddie (Moonlight Magic Dancer HTM A Ex, FS A Ex)
Maddie was born in August 2006 and was bred on a farm where her sire and dam worked sheep.
She has not been an easy dog and was initially nervous, however she had grown in confidence and rapidly progressed to being Advanced in both HTM and Freestyle and has performed at Crufts every year since 2009.
Maddie was the youngest dog when she first competed at Crufts in the HTM finals, and she has appeared on TV alongside her the other beardies, fronted the Go Walkies Fundraising Launch for Guide Dogs for the Blind, and demonstrated HTM on the Cesar Millan Live tour.
Her ability goes from strength to strength and she is a wonderfully creative dog to live with. She's still involved in demo's and has taken up hillwalking with her dad and friends.
Maddie has won the Heelwork Final at Crufts on three occasions, which is a great achievement. She represented Scotland in the International Freestyle where she finished on equal score to the overall winner in 2012 and has regularly been in the top three placings in the Freestyle finals at Crufts.
Gertie (Runival Snowcrystal HTM I Ex)
Gertie was bred by Denise Barley and is a much loved holy terror- she keeps all the big girls on thier toes... and me too, truth be told!!!
Gertie has won her first Novice in Obedience - sadly we don't get to many shows. She had her first place in Advanced HTM being placed second to Maddie - and she has won several Advanced Freestyle classes - she loves distance work and could give Maddie a run for her money in the speed demon stakes.
Having recovered from injury, Gertie enjoyed her first experience in the big ring at Crufts, though not her first time at Crufts as she was placed in the breed ring several years ago. Last year Gertie represented Scotland in both HTM and Freestyle at the Open European Championship in Belgium.
Gertie has won her first Novice in Obedience - sadly we don't get to many shows. She had her first place in Advanced HTM being placed second to Maddie - and she has won several Advanced Freestyle classes - she loves distance work and could give Maddie a run for her money in the speed demon stakes.
Having recovered from injury, Gertie enjoyed her first experience in the big ring at Crufts, though not her first time at Crufts as she was placed in the breed ring several years ago. Last year Gertie represented Scotland in both HTM and Freestyle at the Open European Championship in Belgium.
Dare (Dare to be a Daniel)
The Dog that wasn't meant to be! She's gone from multiple rescue to Crufts and last year was a finalist in the HTM at the Open European Championship in Belgium
You can read Dare's story in my new book - Dare's Diary - From Rescue to Crufts and Beyond, which can be purchased from myself directly or via Amazon
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dares-Diary-multiple-bravery-overcoming/dp/1977535453/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1532545355&sr=1-1&keywords=dare%27s+diary
The Dog that wasn't meant to be! She's gone from multiple rescue to Crufts and last year was a finalist in the HTM at the Open European Championship in Belgium
You can read Dare's story in my new book - Dare's Diary - From Rescue to Crufts and Beyond, which can be purchased from myself directly or via Amazon
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dares-Diary-multiple-bravery-overcoming/dp/1977535453/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1532545355&sr=1-1&keywords=dare%27s+diary
 Picture by Demelza van der Lans
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Dare, OEC, Belgium 2017 Picture by Dagmar Richter
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My little know it all has made it to Advanced Freestyle having done very few shows. So we have started looking at doing some heelwork together now.
She's been a busy girl with other activities. Involving herself in filming last year and taking it all in her stride. We have started doing Disc Dog together and we are both loving it.
Who knows what this smart young girl will get up to next!
And last but by no means least .......
Bertie (Sallen Delta)
(b. 23.12.93 d. 2.05.07)
Never an easy dog to train, but a joy to live with. Was loved by EVERY dog and person who ever met him. He was shown, did agility and obedience and starred on the stage - could he possibly be the biggest Toto ever to grace a theatre stage!!! Like my other girls he held the BCC Senior Working Test & in addition was a PAT dog.
He is still missed and always in my thoughts.