Please take some time to browse through our pages and blog posts. In order to share with you the beauty which is the Collie, Deep River has many wonderful collie images throughout this site. Please experiment and click pictures, click on subject titles or headings, click on the quick links section in the sidebar, etc. Enjoy!
Joy, our friend Vicky, baby Chuck & lamb are celebrating Independence Day! Joy went with Claire to Berryville , VA to AHBA Herding Trials. Today 7/3/09, Joy earned her Large Flock III title and another point toward her AHBA championship! Thanks, Claire!
Vicky Playing with Joy/Charlie Puppies (6-weeks-old)
Charlene
Charlize
Charla
My close friend and herding instructor, Claire Apple, has an additional talent. Claire has a degree in graphic design and is an accomplished artist. She is offering original collie artwork in watercolor – generic or from the client’s personal photos. Please go to Claire’s page on the Navigation Bar to the right to see samples and contact information.
Our collies have been to a few shows this past month with some exciting results!
Jay Kim has piloted his CH Deep River’s in the Limelight (Diane) to 10 Herding Group placements so far this year! Way to go Jay & Diane! Diane’s record to date is one Group 1; two Group 2’s; four Group 3’s & three Group 4’s! Diane is by CH Bo-Dandy’s Rock Solid x Deep River’s a Glorious Light. Jay with Diane in their “younger days.” (Jay w/his arm around Diane @ 6months)
At Vacationland KC in ME, Kathy Weare’s tri smooth, BOO, became new CH Deep River’s Haunting Ewe with a 2 point win under Tom Coen & 4 pts. and BOV over specials. BOO is by Deep River Younghaven Alliance x CH Deep River’s Comfort and Joy RE, HASc, HXAsd (and a bunch of AHBA herding titles). BOO is a half brother to Scout through his sire and is his dam, Joy’s 5th champion offspring from 2 litters of 4 puppies each! Kathy’s other Joy offspring, Astrid, CH Deep River’s Bad to the Bone has a recent Group 4 to brag about!
BOO @ 11 months
Astrid
Peggy Moorman’s blue puppy Graycee has been out to 4 weekends of shows and has 11 points from the 6 to 9 class – including a 4 pt. major & a 5 pt. specialty major! Graycee is by CH Westwood Southern Yankee x CH Deep River’s Early Frost.
Mickie Elliott’s sable merle Scout daughter, Chanel, earned a 5 pt. specialty major & her championship at the CC of AL!
In Perry, GA, Micki Elliott’s, Lyric, (Ceilidh’s Deep River A Soft Goodbye) was WB twice from the puppy class for her first points under Robert Smith & Jim Noe. Lyric is by CH Westwood Steele Dust x CH Deep River’s Consider Her Mine.
Lyric @ 7 mos.
Monique & Bandit in Novice Rally! Monique Williams recently took her older boy out to play in Rally Obedience last weekend. He is out of our beloved CH Deep River Younghaven Snow ‘N Ice ROM.
A Wonderful Visit! Katy Harjes from Montana came to visit last week and picked up her baby boy, Brock-collie. Brock is 7-months-old and has been getting his basic herding skills by staying with me and training with Claire. Katy worked with Claire and Brock for a couple of days before the two flew back to the ranch that she and her husband Rich own in MT. They just sent the photos below of Brock at the ranch. He’s going to eventually help with a flock of 100 sheep!
Katy says: It was a busy day for Brock. He slept thru the night just fine and we were up early checking in on the sheep. He got to meet Max and Bella, our guardian dogs and take a short walk thru the pasture to see some of the girls and their lambs. We practiced our sits, downs and stays and are bomb proofing the recall (Venison jerky really helps with that one.) We’re also working on trying to understand what a gate is. The afternoon highlight was meeting Cyrus, one of our llamas, and looking in on the chicks while I changed out their water and filled up the feeders. This evening we had a break in the rainstorms so and we took a long walk where we saw the neighbor’s horses. I think he’ll sleep well tonight 
Kathy Weare & CH Deep River Rotten to the Core – Agility News! Kathy showed 6-year-old Cora this weekend in New England in Novice Preferred & earned 2 clean run Q with a 2nd & a 3rd place 6-20-09 & 6-21-09! Cora’s daughter, Eve, earned her first Open Standard Q with a 1st place.
Cora
Eve
Ballots for CCA members are out! If you are a member, please vote “yes” for a revision to include the NORMAL, HEALTHY, BEAUTIFUL sable merle in the Standard!
To read the latest merle gene research, please go to Colliesonline.com to read the Feature article ”The Coat of Many Colors” by yours truly with lots of help & expertise from veterinary geneticists Dr. Leigh Anne Clark & Dr. Phil Sponenberg and molecular biologist Dr. Mike Vaughan!
Our most recent sable merle winner, Scout @ CCA 2009!
NEW – JUST ADDED INFORMATION FROM DR. LEIGH ANNE CLARK OF TX A & M UNIVERSITY CONCERNING THE MERLE GENE TO THE SABLE MERLE PAGE WITH HER PERMISSION.
In preparation for my soap box on the issues surrounding sable merles and the Collie Club of America, please look at the photos below of sable merles of Deep River breeding that I have known and loved…several are champions & performance titled collies!
To read my thoughts on the issue of adding the sable merle to our Collie Breed Standard, please click on Sable Merle in the right column of this page to go to the new page on this subject. I HAVE ADDED A NEW SECTION TO MY ARTICLE SINCE READING THE ENTIRE TEXT OF THE SABLE MERLE BOOKLET FROM CCA. REVISION 4/5/09
Scout
Joy
Aaron
Pym
Misty
Sunny
Although very disappointed about not getting to attend the national myself, I am so very proud of our collies & owners who did! Two of our smooth champions were among the 7 recipients of Awards of Merit in an entry of 80+ contenders. Co-owners Pam Brown & Kathy Weare were on hand to cheer on Dona Williams with CH Deep River’s Bow and Arrow for his AOM as well as his 2nd out of 10 smooth stud dog class placement and his appearance as the # 1 smooth collie in the country for 2008 at the Top 20 Invitational! Thanks to owners Sara Sonntag & Cindy Doleshek for allowing Scout kids Jasper & Glory to represent his offspring in the stud dog class! Additional congrats on Glory’s championship obtained just after the national with an additional 4 pt. major! Jay Kim showed his Diane – CH Deep River’s in the Limelight to an AOM also! All reports from the national say that both Scout & Diane looked sensational!!!
Scout (candid from ringside – thanks, Carol)
Diane
Joan Scialdone and her boy Tanner, Deep River’s Chasing Shadows, earned a Q & a 3rd place in NAJ Agility at the national!
Tanner & Joan
We are also very proud of the wonderful class placements earned by our collies and their owners at the national! In roughs Sue Chung’s Cruz, Deep River’s Steele Wheels, was 2nd in a large 6-9 AOAC class. In smooths Fred Melnick showed his 6-month-old Sparkle, Deep River’s Sparkling Frost, to 2nd in the 6-9 class. Kathy Weare’s Deep River’s Haunting Ewe (BOO) was 3rd in the smooth 12-18 dog class. Cindy Doleshek & Louann Young’s Glory, Younghaven’s Glorious Day (Scout x Eva) was 4th in the Open Bitch class.
Pam Brown went into the ring to receive her Versatility Award for Ariel, CH Deep River’s Consider the Source RE, HSAd and was my proxy to receive Wiggy’s VC Award and Joy’s VCX Award!
We had fun this past weekend at the local herding trials in Sanford, NC! Deep River was well represented by Charlie, Sky, Kate & Moose. Among them, they earned 3 new titles! Charlie is now Kitleigh Charlie Brown PT; Sky is now CH Deep River’s Light the Night Sky PT, JHD & Kate is now CH Deep River Kate at Deer Leap HSAsd. Thanks, Claire!!!
Charlie PT qualified in 2 tries with only minimal previous exposure. Claire & I co-own this very smart boy! Thanks again Judy & Mike; we really love him a lot!
CH Kate HSAsd Q’d both days w/a 2nd & a 1st place. Owned by Mike & Tucky Vaughan.
Mike & Tucky’s youngster, Moose, had outrun, crossover troubles, but looked great otherwise. We’re proud of him too!
Susan Carbee handled her CH Deep River’s Light the Night Sky PT, JHD to Q’s both days to earn Sky’s PT. Way to go!
New photos of puppies from this litter added 5/2/09 & 5/7/09 with more information added.
Zoe Wilkenfeld and her puppy Lilly (was Song). Zoe and Lily will participate in 4-H activities this fall. Zoe & her mom, Alice, also have performance plans for Lily as she matures. Her puppy class begins in 3 weeks. The family lives in MD.
Selena Ivey, age 12, meets her new puppy, Harmony! Selena’s mom, Lilly, shows GSD’s, but has always loved collies also. When Selena asked for a dog of her own to show, she asked her mom for a rough collie! Selena will be doing the training and showing herself. The family lives in OH.
Katydid (was Jazz) and her buddy Chipper, the agility collie, relax on an outing with owner Catherine! Several friends have seen C atherine with these two at her vendor booth selling Chipper’s Dog Treats (all natural). Katydid has an entire repertoire that Catherine has taught her and will perform for all who ask! In fact, the Wilkenfeld family Alice, Jordan, Zoe, Zach & Ben (see photos above) attended the Timmonium shows to watch collies and talk with breeders, met Katydid and saw her performance! Katy is going to become an agility collie as soon as she’s old enough. The family lives in MD.
Dawson (was Chord) with his new best friends, Karly Meyers age 14-years & Madison the collie, age 2-years! Dawson is beginning puppy classes soon. Madison & Dawson are boon companions these days with Madison teaching the young lad how to behave! The family lives in FL.
Madison & Dawson
Connor (was Sounder) with his baby, 10-month-old Madison Johnson. Madison’s mom, Bri, has plans to show Connor in conformation. Her first Deep River collie, Devon, also a blue merle rough, was Bri’s constant companion as a teen and kept a watchful eye on her family, especially Madison, until he died from old age. The family lives in CO.
Gary placed the third tri rough girl with his niece and her new husband as a wedding gift. Gary kept the blue smooth boy from this litter himself. These two pups live in NE.
Robin Perry & Yvonne Shelton are proud of their boy Deep River Ironhill Dark Victory (Bogie)! He was WD, BOW & BOS at the PKC show for 2 pts. Sat. & for 1 pt. Sun. bringing his total to 11 pts. Congratulations!
We’re looking forward to the CCA national in Springfield, MA starting with the Herding Trials on April 4 & 5. Deep River will be well represented in performance & conformation! We have entries in herding, agility, obedience, rally & breed. And our Scout will be presented at the Top 20 Invitational as the #1 Smooth Collie in the country! Best of luck to everyone, and above all, HAVE FUN! We can’t wait to see all our friends from all over the country!
Words cannot express my extreme disappointment that I will not be able to attend the national afterall. Sometimes circumstances over which one has no control intervene. Best of luck to everyone. I’ll be thinking about you!!!
We had a good weekend in Raleigh. We showed in Rally Obedience 3 days and in conformation 2 days. Peggy Moorman’s girl Haylee (Deep River’s Cover Girl) was WB & BOW from BBE class for two points both days bringing her point total to 10. We also showed Peggy’s barely 6-month-old Graycee (Deep River’s Meloncollie Baby O’Tartan) who was RB to Haylee on Sat. Our 6-9 rough boy Cruz (Deep River’s Steele Wheels) was RD on Sunday – co-bred with Micki Elliott & owned by Sue Chung.
In Rally we had more terrific news. Pam Brown showed her Valerie & Ariel to Rally titles in Novice & Excellent with placements. Valerie is now CH Deep River’s Shock Value RN, HSAd, JHD and Ariel is now CH Deep River’s Consider the Source RE, HSAd, JHD. Ariel has now qualified to receive her Versatility title at the national next month!
Claire showed Joy for me in Rally Excellent and earned her title. Joy is now CH Deep River’s Comfort and Joy RE, HSAc, HXAsd, RFLIs, HTDIs, HRDIIIs, HTADIIIsd and has qualified to receive her Versatility Excellent at the national next month!
In Eustis, FL, Shirley Conley and her boy Blade (Ceilidh’s Forged at Deep River) earned a Rally Novice Q with a perfect score of 100 & a first place! Blade has a wonderful obedience future ahead! See Blade & Shirley below. Blade was co-bred with Micki. Aaron/Giselle son.
At a MA agility trial, Kathy Weare showed her Eve (Hi Cliff’s PS the Lady Eve NA, NAJ - Cora’s daughter) to a 3rd place in Open JWW and her title! See Eve below.
Many thanks to all the wonderful owners of Deep River collies for their excellent care and hard work!
Haylee
Cruz
Valerie
Ariel
Joy
Blade
Eve
Joan Scialdone & her wonderful boy Tanner (Deep River’s Chasing Shadows) made us oh so proud again on Sat., March 14. If you scroll down two blogs, you’ll see that Tanner went to his first AKC agility trial and was 1st in his JWW class a week ago yesterday. Sat. he and Joan went to an AKC obedience trial in Novice B where they earned HIT for Tanner’s first leg towatd his CD! In addition, they earned a first Q in Rally Advanced! Way to go!!! Tanner is by CH Deep River’s Shadow of Victory x CH Deep River Westwood Glamour Girl.
Deep River is proud to introduce our new boy, Charlie! He’s 14 months old & comes to us compliments of Judy & Mike Pitt of Kitleigh Collies. Charlie is by Southland’s Bardstown x Deep River Shekinah Siren. We adore Charlie for his lovely face, his intelligence, his soundness, wonderful temperament and excellent herding potential! Claire Apple & I will be co-owning him. He will be coming to conformation, herding, obedience, etc. shows & trials in the near future! Thanks, Judy & Mike!
Charlie’s first carting experience & first sheep experience!
Our owners report on their progress in training classes & competitions. We’re so proud of their hard work and their wonderful collies!
TANNER
Joan Scialdone took Tanner – aka Deep River’s Chasing Shadows RN to his first AKC agility trial a few days ago in NH. Tanner was entered in Novice Jumpers with Weaves and earned 1st place with a score of 95. Way to go Joan & Tanner!
MAX & HARLEY
MOOSE
Mike & Tucky Vaughan’s blue smooth boy, Moose, goes to his first AKC herding trial in Stated A Course sheep and earns an 88 in Berryville, VA for his first Q on his first attempt! He’s trained and handled by our friend Claire Apple.
BOGGIE
Yvonne Shelton & Robin Perry write:
Well the boy passed his Beginner I class last night and is starting Beginner II next week. He ran the whole course off-lead! His favorite schoolfriend is Layla, the boxer…. We think he may be a genius……well either a genius or incredibly food motivated….LOL.
Faye Elderedge writes:
Blade & Keegan are littermates!
CH DEEP RIVER’S BOW AND ARROW ADDS CCA HAWKIN’S SYSTEM # 1 SMOOTH COLLIE RANKING TO HIS OTHER # 1 RANKINGS. GOOD BOY, SCOUT!
Sharing recent photos below sent by 2008 puppy owners. If you have photos, we’d love to see them!
Faye writes about Falcon:
Falcon’s been wondering why his sheltie mom seems to be shrinking!?
Falcon practices gaiting – beautiful reach & drive!
Photos from the Brittons in AL of Nola (aka – Ellie). Ironically, their GSP is named Ellie! It’s hard to see her with Nola lying on top of her, but pointer Ellie is behind collie “Ellie” in this first photo!
But if you annoy your other doggie friends long enough, you can have stuff all to yourself!!!
Dave B. takes a photo of the rest of the family with Nola!
Sonny (aka Heath) plays with his collie pal-Sal from Collie Rescue of the Carolinas. Bobby says that Sal has taken Sonny under his wing!
Sonny’s brother, Brock-Collie, learns to be a ranch collie so that he can one day take care of 100 sheep for Katy & Rich Harjes.
A good stock dog is obedient!
A good stock dog goes to the pen when the shepherd says “gait.”
But then he waits to be told when to go in & bring the sheep out.
Sometimes you have to help with shearing, or trimming feet or medicating!
Next you go out & make those sheep stay together & behave.
When you’re done, you’re so happy & proud to have been such a good boy!
Jest sees sheep for the first time. First you watch Auntie Joy work for a while.
Then you might have to chase those sheep just to see what they’re all about!
Then you calm down & regroup.
Then you start to get the hang of it!
Peggy shares her shoestrings with Alistair & Graycee!
Alistair is a persistent boy! Graycee has more important stuff to do!
Sparkle meets these Dalmations before Fred & Sharon introduce her to the real thing!
Fred & Sharon took Sparkle on her first outing in Alabama!
After a long day of visiting new people and lots of petting & playing, a girl gets tried!
Sparkle & Graycee’s sister, Kia pictured below with Sheryl McDonald in TX getting ready for her careers in herding, agility & conformation! Sheryl writes:
“ Kia does love her sheep by the way. Can’t stop her. She keeps going and going. Good to see. As my husband was noting, it is just unbelievable to see this kind of instinct coming out in your dog especially when she is only 4 months old. It’s all that you want to see and its pretty cool. Looks like she has more driving instinct right now but that can change as she gets older.”
Claire works with 6-month-old Lyric for her 2nd time on sheep. Lyric belongs to Micki E. & me. Three from this litter have been exposed to stock so far and all show very nice potential if owners follow through.
Diane’s owner, Jay Kim, piloted Diane to another Group 3 under sheltie breeder judge Charlotte Clem McGowan! Diane is by CH Bo-Dandy’s Rock Solid out of Deep River’s a Glorious Light.
Jay & Diane garner a Group 4 in Lawrenceille, GA under Michele Billings 2/1/09!
We did very well at the Piedmont Collie Club Specialty Shows on Sat. & Sun.
In smooths Cindy Doleshek & Louann Young’s Younghaven’s Glorious Day (by CH Deep River’s Bow and Arrow x CH Younghaven Deep River DejaVue) was BOV from the classes both days. On Sat. under Mike Esch she was also the winner of the CCA Loving Cup in the Intervariety BOW competion with the rough BOW. On Sun. under Mark Lucas, Glory was BOS to BOB over her rough competition giving her a major. A BIG way-to-go to everyone on this lovely girl. Dona Williams showed Glory to the smooth BOV wins, and I showed her to her BOS to BOB win.
CH Deep River’s Crosswind Jake ‘O Latern was BOS to BOV smooth on Sat. shown by his owner Sandy Symmes. Sandy finished 14-month-old Jake in Dec.
In roughs we showed 3 puppies. On Sat. Sue Chung’s Deep River’s Steele Wheels (Cruz) was RD to the major on his 6-month birthday! Below is a candid shot of Cruz on Sat. He was co-bred with Micki Eliott. (by CH Westwood Steel Dust x CH Deep River’s Consider Her Mine)
On Sun. Nancy Parker & my 10-month-old tri rough girl, Spring was RB to the major. She is co-bred & co-owned with Nancy. (by CH Westwood Steel Dust x CH Bo-Dandy’s Itsawig CD, RE, HSAsdc, HIAd, RFL1s, HTAD1s, HRD1s) Me in Winner’s Class with 9-12 winner Spring & Kathy Drabik behind me with 6-9 winner Lyric (sister to Cruz). Dona showed Cruz & Spring in the classes, and I showed them in Winners class.
Congratulations!
Susan Carbee writes:
Hi Kathy,
I’m happy to report Sky earned his JHD at the AHBA trial this weekend at Debbie McCluske’s in Chesapeake. A friend took these pics Sat.
It may be coincidence but ever since he decided he really liked ducks, his interest in sheep has really improved. The last few times I’ve had him on sheep at Dee’s he has been consistently on contact, balancing pretty well, and more responsive to my body pressure (and the stock stick) . He works very close but he’s gentle. I’m going to enter him in PT at Dee’s in April. In the meantime I’m going to see if I can get him to work wider..and introduce the ’stop’:)
CH Deep River’s Light the Night Sky HT, JHD
CONGRATULATIONS, SKY & SUSAN!
Deep River End of the Year Summary – 2008 Conformation
We had a terrific collie year at Deep River. Our collies and their wonderful owners accomplished so much and made us very proud!
Conformation Summary: In 2008 three roughs and two smooths finished their championships:
CH Deep River’s Western Weare – Owners: Portie & Liz Weston
CH Deep River’s Strike a Match – Owner: Peggy Moorman
CH Deep River Shekinah Weston – Owner: Jim Holiday
CH Deep River Light the Night Sky HT – Owner: Susan Carbee
CH Deep River Crosswind Jake ‘O Lantern – Owner: Sandy Symmes
In addition to these, several of our other collies earned 14 majors (6 in roughs and 8 in smooths). Collies earning one or both majors in 2008 are:
Deep River’s Winter Shadows – Owner Irene Meier
Deep River’s Snow Fall at Blackpoint – Owner En Chang
Deep River’s Reflexion in Snow – Owner Wendy Lamp
Pine Cone Mountain Spring O’ Deep River – Owner Nancy Parker
Deep River’s Cover Girl – Owner Peggy Moorman
Jag-View Beyond A Glance – Owner Kathy Moll
Deep River’s Haunting Ewe – Owner Kathy Weare
Deep River’s A Light From Within (finished 1/4/09) – Owners Mike & Sue Preiskorn
Two 2008 champions pictured below & two with both majors also pictured.
CH Deep River’s Western Weare
CH Deep River’s Light the Night Sky HT
Two others earning both majors in 2008
Deep River’s Winter Shadows
1st champion of 2009 CH Deep River’s A Light From Within
Our CH Deep River’s Bow and Arrow finished 2008 as the # 1 Smooth Collie in the USA for both number of smooth collies defeated (475) and number of all-breed points based on Group placements (1,392) according to Canine Chronicle and Show Sight statistics. (CCA Hawkins stats unknown). Scout was handled by our friend Dona Williams. Owners: Nancy Parker, Kathy Weare, Pam Brown, Micki Elliott & his breeder (yours truly).
In the stud dog department, we are all very proud of Scout! In addition to the Weston’s new champion, Scout is also the sire of other major pointed offspring in 2008, including Cindy Doleshek & Louann Young’s Glory and Micki Elliott’s Channel & Chance!
Please continue to scroll down to see Summaries for 2008 Performance, Herding & Litters!