My story with dogs….

by Daphne Tomblin

 Dogs have always been an integral part of my life. My parents always had dogs & my earliest memory is of my mother shooing a little black dog out the house with a broom.   They didn’t get on well. 

Apart from the first 2 years when my husband & I came to Canada, I have never been without one, two or more dogs. Those early years in Canada, I never actively sought a dog but somehow they seemed to come to me.  From various friends who needed a home for their dogs, to one memorable mutt who on a snowy March night wandered into the house following my German Shepherd. Bootleg was a survivor who in spite of developing Addison’s disease lived to the grand old age of 19 years. 

Over the course of years, I adopted and rescued 16 dogs ranging from a Dalmatian to a Chihuahua to a Border Collie.   I was hooked on Border Collies.  I loved their loyalty, intelligence and athleticism.  I soon realized that my work (running a business), left me little time to fulfill this breed’s need for attention and purpose. Many years later when I was 70, I sold the boarding kennel and got my first Border collie puppy, Ghillie. He was all I expected and more. 

 At that time, there wasn’t much of herding activity on the Island, so I embraced Agility.  It was a way of keeping my dogs & myself engaged & active. Time passed & more was seen of herding so I searched out & purchased a puppy, Lesp from a sheep farm.  He was a lovely puppy & Rudii (BCSDA member) helped me get him started on sheep. Sadly, at a year old he developed a severe case of epilepsy. He was euthanized at 4 years old, blind & with grand mal seizures.

My hopes for herding died with him.  I continued with Agility until my very special and talented dog Meg died. Then 7 years ago, I bought Sweep.  Bill Crawford (BCSDA member) had bought his litter mate Bella & we teamed up to travel many weekends to Stirling Acres to learn the art of herding from Lee Lumb (BCSDA member). Together we travelled far & wide to trials and clinics.   A passion for herding was re-ignited.  Now that I have had both knees replaced & gained my mobility I’m hoping to pursue my passion for years to come. This is my life with dogs in a nutshell, all 89 years!