Our History
Like most other breeders, we have had set backs and have had to start over multiple times for different personal reasons. We have some pedigree connections to some of the original dogs we were graciously offered. We value all of the connections and learning experiences we have encountered in pursuit of building our own line of dogs.
After doing some studying of the breed, watching what was in the ring, and what drew our eye we set out on finding mentors and breeders who would help us begin our Collie journey. When we began breeding Collies we lived in Central Florida but we were prepared to look all over the country to find what we desired as a foundation.
My first champion was “Broker” CH Marko’s Preferred Stock. I went all the way to the West coast, WA state, to get him. Broker was a beautiful, sound tri dog, with many of the traits I wanted for my breeding program.
Broker’s breeder, Marie Markovich, became my first mentor in Collies. She was kind enough to sell a newcomer dogs that would be a good foundation for a kennel. Broker finished his championship in 10 shows. It took 3 weekends. Marie finished him in WA for me and then I picked him up at the 1998 CCA Nationals in Virginia Beach.
In 2000 I bought my second show dog from Marie. A beautiful blue bitch “Lacey” Marko’s Silver Lace. Although circumstances prevented my using Lacey as I had hoped to, she was an integral part of our family for all of her life. She helped raise my grandchildren and all the puppies raised at Ceilidh during her lifetime. She died here at the age of 13, and we will always miss and love her.
In 2001 I finished my first homebred champion, CH Ceilidh’s Celtic Sabre CD RN, He was by “Broker” out of Marko’s Love Me Tender. He went to live the rest of his life with my good friend and earned some back-end titles.
At about that time I met my second mentor in Cocoa Beach, FL- Judy Pitt of Kitleigh Collies. I was able to purchase 2 dogs from her line that phenotypically fit with my Markos Collies. Her stud dog, CH Kitleigh Knickerbocker was of tremendous import at that time to the breed and was the type that I liked. I was fortunate to find a friend closer to home who was willing to teach me the finer points of Collies. I was also very grateful to Frank Jewitt, my handler at the time, who was a very dear friend and always very generous with his knowledge.
In 2006, after some personal tragedies, I had to start my kennel over again with several girls from various kennels. “Candy” CH Marko’s Sweet Temptation out of CH Kanebrier Clockwise, “Natty” Ceilidh’s Natty Knickers a double up great-granddaughter of Knickerbocker, and two more girls: “Mya” CH Deep River Consider Her Mine and “Sunny” CH Deep River Northshields Soleil, from Kathy Moll of Deep River.
Sunny was our first foray into smooths and we never looked back. Despite never being able to breed Sunny, her silly temperament sold us on the variety. We unfortunately never got to move forward with anything from Mya either.
I also want to mention another girl that I was privileged to own, and although I was not able to keep anything from her, her littermates are still in my pedigrees. Her name was “Summer” Two Jays Summertime Blues. She was a rough daughter of “Andre” CH Pinewynds Sparkling Brut and had many qualities which I have tried to reproduce.
The first smooth bitch that contributed to our kennel was “Gizelle” CH DeepRiver Westwood Glamour Girl ROM-P. We acquired her from Deep River after she was already a finished champion and proven with a litter. Gizelle was a maternal granddaughter of Andre and sired by CH Tartanside Power Play whom stood with Taylor and Dona Williams.
Gizelle produced two smooth puppies for us that went on to influence ours and others programs: “Armani” GCHG Ceilidh’s Project Runway HSAS and “Shakira” CH Ceilidh’s Underneath Her Clothes. Gizelle stayed with us for the rest of her life until she passed away at 14 years old.
Ceilidh Collies 