The Impact of Alstead Collies

 I’m not familiar with the history of other dog breeds, I’m sure each breed has a fascinating story to tell of its development and history over hundreds of years.  My main focus has always been on the history of the collie in general, and the American collie in particular.  Fortunately for me, the history of the collie has been such a huge topic of interest to collie owners and breeders that there have been countless books written on the subject.  The rough and smooth collies, two coat varieties of the same breed, have their roots planted firmly in Scottish soil. The breed began in Scotland, caught the interest of Queen Victoria in the 1860’s, and was quickly imported into her Royal dog kennel. They first debuted at the British dog show in 1861.

American J.P Morgan first brought collies to America in 1888, to begin his Cragston Kennel on the banks of the Hudson River.  Because of his beautiful dogs, interest in the collie breed began to spread.  Morgan and other famous collie breeders began importing the British collies in earnest during this time period.  It is through their efforts and contributions, in creating their own kennel lines, that the collie breed developed so quickly in our country.  The collie became one of the most popular dog breeds of the time, and by the 1900’s there were already 700 collies registered.  From 1900 through 1910 there were a recorded 78 collies earning their championship, but sadly only 4 of these were smooth collies!

The American Kennel Club, or AKC, was formed on September 17, 1884.  The Collie Club of America was formed just two years later in 1886, making it one of the oldest specialty clubs in America.  The CCA collie breed standard was adopted from the English and Scottish standards, and the standard is how collies are judged and evaluated today.  Just six years later, in 1902, Clara Lunt formed her Alstead collie kennel in New Jersey.  Through her imports of British collies, and the creation of her own kennel line, she helped form the American collie.

During the 1900’s there were only 25 dog shows a year throughout the entire country! People had to travel by wagon, train or boat, so getting to those dog shows could be challenging, but Mrs. Lunt still managed to finish her first collie champion in 1906.  She was one of the few successful female dog breeders in the male dominated sport.  She bred close to 40 champions between 1906 and 1947, when her last collie champion earned the title.  Mrs. Lunt served as president of the Collie Club of America for four years, and she also served as a collie judge for over forty years.

Alstead kennels also played a prominent role in developing the pedigrees of other influential collie breeders of that time.  Mrs. Lunt was know to be generous with her breeding stock, allowing other collie breeders to use her beautiful collies in their breeding programs, which benefited the entire breed.  Thanks in large part to Alstead collies, by 1925 the American collie had surpassed the quality of its British counterparts.  Lauded for their high quality, we have the collies imported by Mrs. Lunt as the foundation of her kennel, to thank for our present day collies.

CH Alstead Parbold President

Eng. CH Alstead Laund Luminous 

CH Alstead Spotland Sterling

Eng. CH Alstead Seedley Sterling

CH Alstead Seedley Queen

Eng. CH Alstead Eden Emerald

All of these collies helped in the creation of the Alstead line, but the most influential of them is CH Alstead Eden Emerald.  Some famous early collie kennels, such as Tokalon, Arken, Arrowhill and Tazewell, all used Emerald in their breeding programs.  He was such a great producer, that all present day American collies trace back to Emerald.  Without Mrs. Lunt’s carefully chosen imports and selective breeding program the American collie may not have developed into the beautiful and treasured collie we see today.

Where have all the collies gone?

 Collies have this remarkable ability to make people smile.  When older people see a collie, the rough variety in particular, they are transported back to their younger years.  They often remark, “I always watched Lassie on Television, never missed an episode!”  Others will talk about going to the movies, to watch the old Lassie movies on the silver screen.  Some will tell us stories of their childhood collie, back when the collie breed was more popular.  Invariably they will say, “you never see collies anymore.”

It always makes me wonder, if people have such fond memories of collies, why aren’t they more popular? Is it that people don’t know how to find a collie rescue group or a reputable breeder?  I do know that there aren’t a lot of collies available through rescue, at least in comparison to other dog breeds.  This is due, in part, to not being one of the more currently popular breeds, so there aren’t as many litters produced each year.   Since there is a high demand, you will see a lot of advertisements for litters of yorkies, labs, goldens, French Bulldogs, and so on.  But I think it’s also because there is such a strong network among collie breeders that whenever a collie ends up in a shelter word goes out immediately, and the collie is pulled from the shelter.  The Collie Rescue Foundation’s motto is “all collies belong to you and me,” and this is a reflection of how collie owners and breeders feel about our breed. 

As for obtaining a collie puppy or adult from a reputable breeder, I’m beginning to think people just don’t know where to look. A couple years ago,  I was at a park with a couple of my smooth girls, and I was surprised to see a stranger enter with a blue Merle, smooth collie!  I didn’t know anyone else in my town had a smooth collie.  I immediately approached her to say hello, and we began talking about smooth collies.  As I know all the collie breeders in our State and surrounding areas, I asked her where she got her boy.  She told me she drove down to Tennessee to get him, as she couldn’t find any collie breeders up here!  I was shocked, as the East Coast in particular has always had more collie breeders than any other area of the country.  So why was it so difficult for her to find a reputable collie breeder?

Last week I was at a nearby pet supply store, which has a few do-it-yourself dog bathing stations.  I had my Scarlett in the tub, giving her a bath, and other customers kept stopping by to comment on her.  Some wanted to tell me she was beautiful, some couldn’t believe how good she was being, some wanted to know what kind of dog breed she was…and one couple wanted to talk “collies.”  They were long time collie owners, and were excited to see another collie.  They said they had an 8 month old collie puppy at home. I asked where they got him, and they named a town about 40 minutes away.  I knew of this breeder, and he wasn’t someone I would recommend.  He doesn’t health test, he doesn’t put any titles on his dogs and doesn’t belong to any breed clubs.  (I’ll get to why that is important in a moment.)  So how did this very nice couple end up getting a puppy from him?  He was the only collie breeder they could find!

Unfortunately, these type of dog breeders are the ones advertising their litters in local papers and on Craig’s list.  Both are sources that reputable breeders avoid, as they want to ensure their puppies end up in safe, loving homes.  So breeders who do not health test or title their dogs, or belong to collie clubs, are where the general public are finding their new puppies.  Health testing is important, as you don’t want to find yourself with a dog that has a genetically inherited (and preventable) health problem.  There is no way to predict all future health problems a dog may develop over his or her lifetime, no one can foresee every possibility, but this is a good place to start.   And a breeder that has titles on their dogs has proven a few things. One, their dogs have good conformation, meaning they meet the breed standard. Two, they have good temperaments and can compete in herding, obedience, agility, nose work, pet therapy, or many other sports and activities.  You can find these well bred dogs by looking for reputable dog breeders who have earned the AKC title, “Breeder of Merit.”  And finally, it’s important that a dog breeder is a member in good standing of their National Breed Club. Breeders who are members of the Collie Club of America have to adhere to a code of ethics that others do not.

There are resources for finding a reputable collie breeder, which I will share below.  I hope they will help aid others in finding their future collie, as they are out there, just waiting to meet you!

How to find a collie:

Collie rescue is always a great option, especially if you are looking for an adult collie. Here is a link for the Collie Rescue Foundation’s website: https://collierescuefoundation.org/   They have links to collie rescue groups all over the country on their website.

The Collie Club of America has district directors for different regions of the country.  They can often provide contact info for CCA collie breeders who have puppies available.  You can find the list of district directors here: https://collieclubofamerica.org/contacts.html

You can use AKC’s website to search for Breeders who have earned the title of “Breeder of Merit”  by clicking here: https://www.apps.akc.org/apps/breederofmerit/breederofmerit_list.cfm

You can try the breeder’s referral page on Colliesonline:

Breeders Directory

You can also reach out to your local collie specialty club, as they will know who has puppies, adults, or upcoming litters planned.  I don’t have a comprehensive list of local collie specialty clubs yet, but I may try to put one together.  You can usually find them by searching online for “local collie specialty clubs,” and many have Facebook pages (***I want to specify these are collie club pages, not Facebook groups) where they announce their upcoming shows and events.

***I do want to caution you against utilizing the various Facebook groups as your main source.  I have seen people recommending collie breeders with poor reputations or limited experience with the breed, and trying to convince others to buy their next puppy from these individuals.  While I do believe they mean well, this is not an ideal way to find a heritage breeder. 

What’s In A Name?

 Choosing the perfect name for your dog can be very difficult.  And if you are planning on registering your dog with the American Kennel Club, or AKC, you will need to choose two names!  The first is your dog’s call name, the name that will be used every day to train and communicate with your new best friend.  The second name, is the more formal, registered name.  This name is used to track any titles or awards your dog may win.  The registered name is assigned an ID number, which is used when entering any competitions.

Most purebred dogs have a registered name, but mixed breeds can also apply for a registered name if their owners want to compete in various dog sports, like obedience, agility or flyball.  They can also earn titles like CGC, which stands for Canine Good Citizen, THD/Therapy Dog, or even Trick Dog titles!  They’re so many fun things to try with your dog, and they all start with the AKC registration name.

For purebred dogs, the registration name will include the breeder’s kennel name, followed by whatever name the owner and/or breeder choose.  The names can be poetic or inspirational, funny or dramatic, anything you can imagine.  The name chosen may be something special to the owner, or something created to be unforgettable, to help the dog stand out in competitions.  A really fun name can even inspire the crowds of spectators to cheer for a particular dog at a show.  The registered names are limited to 50 characters, including spaces, so you have to be careful the name isn’t too long.

How do people come up with an AKC registered name? For me, I try to do at least one of two things.  The first, I try to come up with a registration name that reflects the call name in some way.  For example, our Holly had a registered name of CH Accent Marchello Holiday, and both names were chosen because she was born on Christmas Day. The second way I will try to come up with a registered name, is to include or refer back to the Sire and Dam’s registered names.  Our Kori’s registered name is Marchello’s Must Be An Angel, so I named her daughter, Maizie, Marchello’s Littlest Angel. (She was the smallest puppy in her litter.)  But sometimes, like with Addison, Winterberry’s Neverending Story, I just wanted to create something fun.

With the hot and humid weather we’ve been having, I have been spending more time indoors.  With the extra time, I’ve taken to perusing my collection of old volumes of the Collie Club of America’s Library of Champions.  There are currently 8 volumes, starting with volume 1, which begins in 1884 with the very first collie champions.  The 8th volume includes collie champions from the years 2004 - 2006.  The CCA has been working on volume 9, but no one knows when it will be completed, as it's been in the works for many years.  

I love learning about my beloved breed, and these books are such a great tool when researching our history!  I enjoy looking through all the volumes, and finding the names and pictures of our own collies and their sires and dams.  I also find it fascinating, when looking through all the pictures of the past champions, to see what registered names were used and how they have evolved.  For many of the original collie champions, the registered names were very short, often just one or two words.  

CH Christopher - born 4-16-1887

CH Bellhaven Laund Logic - born 1917

CH Sunnybank Sigurd - born 1919

I have found that some names have been used often over the many generations of collies, prefaced with different kennel names, and some are completely unique.  Using a name that was previously used is sometimes unintentional, but occasionally it’s done as a way to remember and honor those past collies who contributed so greatly to our breed.  So when choosing you dog’s registered name, remember that future generations may be looking back and reading about his or her accomplishments, and studying the registered name you chose….so make it a good one!

It all started with a book!

 When I was a young girl I would stay with my grandparents while my Mother was working.  With the beach at the end of the street, Summers were always fun, there was swimming, exploring the beach and collecting sea glass with the other neighborhood kids.  But in the cold New England Winters there was less to do, less to entertain children.  And while there was always television, this was back when families only had one TV, a limited number of channels, and a ten year old was not usually interested in watching soap operas with Grandma.  On one of those days a random act had a profound impact on my life.

Searching for entertainment, an old, worn book cover caught my eye.  I pulled it off the shelf, recognizing it as one of my Uncle Fran’s books, which he had left behind many years ago.  I immediately knew it was his because it had a collie on the cover.  From my earliest memories of my Uncle, every time he would visit with his children, he would have at least one collie by his side.  The book was about a collie named Lad.

I still remember reading that book for the first time.  I fell in love with the beautiful, heroic collie named Lad.  I had always loved the Lassie movies, which were usually shown on Sunday afternoons, along with the old black and white Shirley Temple and Tarzan movies.  But when I discovered Albert Payton Terhune’s books about his collies, I knew I had to have my own collie one day.  Those books weren’t works of fiction to me, I believed every story about his amazing dogs.  The collies were real, he wrote about his own beloved Sunnybank Collies, and some of the stories actually did happen.  Some of the stories were slight fictionalizations, some were true stories about other dogs incorporated into his books, and some were pure fiction.  But at the time, I believed every word, and vowed I would have a collie to love.

When I was little, all of my Uncle’s collies were rough coated.  It wasn’t until the late 1980’s that he got his first smooth collie.  I didn’t like the way the smooths looked at first, they were so different in appearance from the famous Lad and Lassie, and my Uncle’s other collies.  It took a while, but since they had the same great collie temperaments as the rough coated variety, they soon won me over.  They didn’t resemble the collies that graced the pages of Terhune’s books, in fact he never mentions smooths in any of his stories.  But if you look into their eyes, you can see that smooths are just as devoted and loving as any collie found in the pages of a book.

So when my daughter and I finally got our first collie twenty years ago, he ended up being a sable and white smooth collie, and of course we named him Lad.  He may not have had the beautiful, majestic coat like Sunnybank Lad, and during his lifetime he may not have performed any of the heroic acts found on the pages of Terhune’s books, but he was perfect in our eyes.  Our Lad taught us just how amazing life with a collie truly was and how much joy this wonderful dog breed elicits in the hearts of their families.

There have been many collies in our family, each beautiful and unique, and their stories can be found in past and future posts on our blog.  I may not have the talent to write entire books about my collies, but I can share them here, with you.  They are all loved and every day with them is treasured, and my life with collies started with the opening of a book.

New Kids on the Block

Our collie family has grown since 2020….and we were very excited to welcome these two new faces this past Spring!  They have brought a lot of fun to our family with their puppy antics, and quickly became best friends to my two grandsons.

Meet Rosie

And ZuZu

We will definitely share more of their adventures as they grow up!

Quick update

 I love writing, and I missed it greatly.  That’s why I decided to resurrect the collie blog, to once again have a creative outlet for writing, and to enjoy the camaraderie of the blogging community.  I always kept intending to return, but life just kept getting in the way. So what’s new?

Since my last post in 2020 I have become a Grandma to two perfect little boys! And of course, being a new Grandma, I want to spend all my free time with them.  They are 2 years old and 8 months old, and so adorable.  The puppies I posted about back in 2020 have grown up and begun their show careers.  COVID delayed their competing in shows, but finally things have returned to normal, and Addison and Peyton have both started earning points towards their championships.  

I had some health problems, which resulted in a hospital stay.  I’m mostly recovered, but now dealing with chronic conditions.  My Mom fell last year and fractured her neck, so I moved in with her.  The collies have adapted to the change, and enjoy living so close to the beach.  We take long walks, when it’s not 90+ degrees, and have a favorite spot by a creek to sit and enjoy the sunsets.

I’m not sure how often I’ll post, but I will definitely try to make it at least monthly, and share pictures of all the collies!

Merry Christmas!

 Still backdating some posts while we try to update the blog! Here is a video I made of our collie Christmas tree! It took a while to collect enough ornaments to make a tree dedicated to just the collies, but I love how it came out!

Happy (belated) Halloween!

 I’m actually writing this in July, but since Autumn is my favorite time of year to take pictures of the collies, I decided to backdate this post.  Just because we didn’t post on the collie blog, doesn’t mean we didn’t take lots of pictures!  I’ll admit to being obsessed, as collies seem to just shine during this particular season. So here we go….

Autumn 2022

I’m sure our long time readers will remember these guys…Ryder and Kori!

One of favorite picture spots!

And of course, our beautiful Scarlett!

Little Addison, down by the creek

I think I’ll backdate our 2021 Autumn pictures in another post, they are definitely worth sharing!  What’s your favorite season or holiday to photograph your best friends?