HOW AND WHEN DID YOU FIRST BECOME INVOLVED IN DOGS ? Early in the 1970’s, we had promised our daughters, Rose-Marie, Katrina and Mary-Louise that when we had a property large enough they could have a dog. We purchased a Rough Coated Collie for them from Mrs vera Sloan, and "Beauty" was excellent with our children. I started obedience with her and loved the competition, however I knew I needed a Border Collie as nothing could beat the intelligence.
HOW DID YOUR KENNEL NAME "CLAN ABBY"ORIGINATE ?
Our first import was a male from Victoria, Ch Checkmate Clansman. This is how the first part of our kennel name was developed. Secondly, we based our kennel name on the "Checkmate"lines, whose foundation and top brood bitch was A/ NZ ch Checkmate Gay Abby – so this is how we developed the second part of our kennel name.
WAS ANYONE INFLUENTIAL ON YOUR BREEDING PROGRAM IN THE EARLY DAYS?
Through our good friend Verity Logan, we met the late Molly Wormald of Victoria. We mentioned our need for a good brood bitch, and how we had seen our ideal bitch – Aust Ch Checkmate Gay Lady. Through Molly, we approached Mr and Mrs Jack and Joannie Thompson of Melbourne who owned the famous Gay lady. We were fortunate enough to purchase from them her daughter NZ Ch Cheviot Joanne ( Imp Aust ). "Joanne"was imported in whelp to top Victorian stud dog A / NZ Ch Crestvale Sono Thunder. It was from this litter that NZ’s first allbreed in show winner Ch Thunderboy of Clan-Abby was born.
DOES YOUR CURRENT STOCK GO BACK TO YOUR ORIGINAL DOGS?
Definitely yes. Interestingly enough, the two Grand Champions of the breed A / NZ Gr Ch Joy’s Casanova O Clan-Abby and A/ NZ Gr Ch Clan-Abby Phantom Of Love are both great-grandson’s of Ch Thunderboy of Clan-Abby. Every dog in our kennel (including our two UK imports ) can be traced back to our original dogs.
DO YOU MAINLY LINEBREED OR OUTCROSS IN YOUR BREEDING PROGRAM ?
Line Breeding holds type, but everyone must outcross every so often.
WITH THE LINE BREEDING THAT YOU DO, ARE THERE ANY PARTICULAR COMBINATIONS THAT YOU FIND WORK WELL ?
I have found that grandsire to grand daughter, or grandam to grandson is a very successful combination. Ch Thunderboy of Clan-Abby was the result of a half brother to half sister mating, although there was sufficient outcross through the alternative sides in both the sire and dam. I would never suggest or recommend anything closer than this though.
DO YOU FIND THAT SOMETIMES YOUR BEST IN SHOW WINNERS ARE NOT ALWAYS YOUR BEST PRODUCERS?
Yes, certainly. However we do not believe that in a litter, the pups are 50% the sire and 50% the dam. The dam is 60% of every puppy, and we believe a sound brood bitch is the key to a successful breeding program.
HOW MANY LITTERS HAVE YOU BREED?
Just over fifty litters in nearly twenty five years.
HOW OFTEN DO YOU BREED?
We average 2-3 litters a year. We prefer to have puppies in the spring / summer as the winter is too cold and wet. Sometimes we seem to have a run of litters, but then we will go for what seems ages without pups.
AT WHAT AGE DO YOU ASSES YOUR PUPPIES FOR POTENTIAL SHOW / BREEDING STOCK?
At six weeks I usually have decided what we will run on, and what will go as pets or working dogs. Breeding is a process of elimination and not everyone is gifted with an eye for selecting pups. Puppies never leave Clan-Abby before eight weeks, and select the puppy to suit the owners.
WHAT SHOW TRAINING DO YOU DO WITH YOUR PUPPIES AND AT WHAT AGE DO YOU START?
Lead training begins at about twelve weeks. We begin with a training collar, just for short periods on the lead at first and always keep the training fun. We begin to teach them to bait and show expression using their ears early on too, always rewarding food and lots of praise. Most of our pups love food and we start to teach them to take bait from the hand not the ground.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE CURRENT STANDARD OF BORDER COLLIES IN THIS COUNTRY? HOW DO THEY COMPARE TO ONES YOU HAVE BEEN OVERSEAS?
New Zealand formed the first standard for the Border Collie in 1927, with Australia following shortly after. Border Collies have been shown in the conformation ring in the two countries since this time. In the UK however, the breed was only recognised in 1976.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST MOMENT IN SHOWING OR BREEDING DOGS?
( in no particular order )
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE WHEN BUYING A PUPPY?
Firstly, buy a puppy from a reputable kennel. Check that the following important tasks are done by the breeder.
If you want a good puppy you must be prepared to wait and don’t expect too much too soon from a Border Collie as they are very slow in maturing.