My motivation for breeding collies is the personal joy - and challenge - that comes from improvement through careful planning and development. That in itself is more rewarding than any trophy or title. I also want to bring happy, confident collies into the world that can enrich the lives of their owners, just as my collies make my life richer.
The prefix stems from my stay as a student in Scotland, home of the collie. For a year I lived in a beautiful building on Kensington Gate, pictured on the right - it reminds me of our regal, strong breed with proud roots.
My journey with the rough collie started when I was 7 years old. Always the animal lover, I had bought my first dog book with my own pocket money and instantly fell in love with a drawing of a blue merle collie. In primary school, the kiosk owner next to the school had a dark sable rough male called Dias who walked off leash outside the kiosk. I became best friends with Dias and spent my mornings with him until the school bell rang. For my 13th birthday, I finally got my blue merle collie puppy. Sadly, her life was dominated by anxiety and phobias. Although she was a loving and highly intelligent dog, it ruled her life, and even though I did my best to support her and make her life comfortable, I eventually had to put her down at age 6, due to repeated biting. Sadly, two of her littermates suffered the exact same fate.
I was crushed, and while it triggered my interest in the hereditary properties of temperament and mentality in animals, I did not think that I could return to the breed. Consequently, my next dog was a Doberman, a bold, happy and outgoing dog who taught me a lot. However, I realised that my love for the ideal collie would never go away and in 2007 I was pleased
The prefix stems from my stay as a student in Scotland, home of the collie. For a year I lived in a beautiful building on Kensington Gate, pictured on the right - it reminds me of our regal, strong breed with proud roots.
My journey with the rough collie started when I was 7 years old. Always the animal lover, I had bought my first dog book with my own pocket money and instantly fell in love with a drawing of a blue merle collie. In primary school, the kiosk owner next to the school had a dark sable rough male called Dias who walked off leash outside the kiosk. I became best friends with Dias and spent my mornings with him until the school bell rang. For my 13th birthday, I finally got my blue merle collie puppy. Sadly, her life was dominated by anxiety and phobias. Although she was a loving and highly intelligent dog, it ruled her life, and even though I did my best to support her and make her life comfortable, I eventually had to put her down at age 6, due to repeated biting. Sadly, two of her littermates suffered the exact same fate.
I was crushed, and while it triggered my interest in the hereditary properties of temperament and mentality in animals, I did not think that I could return to the breed. Consequently, my next dog was a Doberman, a bold, happy and outgoing dog who taught me a lot. However, I realised that my love for the ideal collie would never go away and in 2007 I was pleased
Kensington Gate, Glasgow
My first collie
to welcome Be Exclusive's Sea of Silence "Mikkel" into my life. Having fallen in love with the temperament as well as the look of the American Collie, I took a chance on this puppy who was 75% American. His outgoing and alert personality was a welcome addition to the household!
While Mikkel himself will not be part of any breeding program, he sparked the interest in me to start breeding collies with main focus on temperament, health and soundness. I also like my collies beautiful on the outside and I am conscious about how I perfer their exterior - however it is important to remember that a dog doesn't know what it looks like, but it is however acutely aware of how it feels, mentally and physically. Therefore, breeding for exterior details should be considered a luxury. Before we can breed great collies, we must breed great dogs. I will never knowingly compromise on temperament or health. That said, the overall quality threshold for my choice breeding stock should be considered highly discriminate. Every combination done at Kensington Gate has a purpose - to improve the line.
Breeding is however not an exact science and even when you obtain every fragment of information beforehand, every new mating is a test mating. There may certainly be disappointments along the way, but my aim will always be
Function and beauty in body and mind
While Mikkel himself will not be part of any breeding program, he sparked the interest in me to start breeding collies with main focus on temperament, health and soundness. I also like my collies beautiful on the outside and I am conscious about how I perfer their exterior - however it is important to remember that a dog doesn't know what it looks like, but it is however acutely aware of how it feels, mentally and physically. Therefore, breeding for exterior details should be considered a luxury. Before we can breed great collies, we must breed great dogs. I will never knowingly compromise on temperament or health. That said, the overall quality threshold for my choice breeding stock should be considered highly discriminate. Every combination done at Kensington Gate has a purpose - to improve the line.
Breeding is however not an exact science and even when you obtain every fragment of information beforehand, every new mating is a test mating. There may certainly be disappointments along the way, but my aim will always be
Function and beauty in body and mind
The collie is a working breed and I feel that it is important that its working qualities are nurtured in order to preserve the true identity of the breed. I personally enjoy training obedience, tracking and search & rescue with my collies and aim to place all Kensington Gate puppies in active, loving homes.
Kensington Gate Collies are based on North American bloodlines, more specifically lines that are traced back to the athletic and beautiful Parader dogs, such as Tartanside, Southland, Countryview and Twin City. I personally find that the American collies of these lines excel in temperament, substance and construction and they are closest to my own interpretation of the collie standard. I breed to the FCI standard.
I am very thankful for the friendship, guidance and mentorship supplied by Lolo Hawkins of Seamist Collies.
If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me.
linda@kensingtongatecollies.com
Memberships:
Norsk Kennel Klubb (Norwegian Kennel Club) NKK
Norsk Collie Klubb (Norwegian Collie Club) NCK
Nannestad & Omegn Hundeklubb
Collie Health Foundation
Courses:
NKK Oppdretterskolen del 1/2 (NKK Breeder School pt 1/2)
NKK Oppdretterskolen del 2/2 (NKK Breeder School pt 2/2)
Kensington Gate Collies are based on North American bloodlines, more specifically lines that are traced back to the athletic and beautiful Parader dogs, such as Tartanside, Southland, Countryview and Twin City. I personally find that the American collies of these lines excel in temperament, substance and construction and they are closest to my own interpretation of the collie standard. I breed to the FCI standard.
I am very thankful for the friendship, guidance and mentorship supplied by Lolo Hawkins of Seamist Collies.
If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me.
linda@kensingtongatecollies.com
Memberships:
Norsk Kennel Klubb (Norwegian Kennel Club) NKK
Norsk Collie Klubb (Norwegian Collie Club) NCK
Nannestad & Omegn Hundeklubb
Collie Health Foundation
Courses:
NKK Oppdretterskolen del 1/2 (NKK Breeder School pt 1/2)
NKK Oppdretterskolen del 2/2 (NKK Breeder School pt 2/2)
