Interview with Callie Bell, Breeder of Shorewind Border Collies Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Where do you live? How many years in dogs? How many years as a breeder? What is your kennel name? What are the hallmarks of your breed and why are they important for maintaining breed type? In your […]
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Callie Bell
1. My name is Callie Bell, and I began breeding and showing Border Collies in 1994 in my hometown of Long Beach, California, when they were recognized by the AKC (American Kennel Club). In 2021, I relocated to Sylvania, Georgia, where I now have lovely amounts of grass, trees, shade, and space for my beautiful dogs. My kennel name is Shorewind Border Collies, which pays tribute to the two kennels that gave me my start.
2. Border Collies are a highly intelligent breed known for their unique style and keen herding instinct. They have a different body type from other herding breeds, which when working, allows them to creep across the ground much like a cat stalking a bird. This requires the dog to have a good shoulder layback, an upper arm with good return and length, and generous space between the shoulder blades at the withers. This generous amount of space between the shoulder blades is necessary for the dog to lower its front end while working.
3. Boy, this is a tricky question. I think there would be plenty of great homes if puppies would only be brought into this world by responsible and purposeful breeders. My recommendation would be to have a list of homes prior to a breeding.
4. The science of DNA testing has been such a beneficial tool for breeding healthier dogs. It allows us to make more informed choices when planning future generations. While not necessarily new, science has benefited breeders with technology such as frozen semen and progesterone testing. This has allowed more opportunities to breeders and provides important data required for successful breedings.
Oh, the amazing world of the Internet and social media, where it is so easy now to connect with breeders throughout the world, learn from them, and have like-minded conversations about our breed! Some nice features (although not that new) are online entries, show results, and catalogs that many superintendents are incorporating now. As a breeder, I enjoy keeping track of dogs I have bred.
5. Yes, I feel there is a movement in the general public towards purebred dogs in my community. I am receiving more inquiries from families who have, or have had, a mixed breed dog but are looking for the predictable traits found in a purebred.
6. St. John’s suits, Kangaroo beaded leads, Best in Show trolleys, big hair, big attitudes, and big money are still the trendsetters of the sport. Everyone is there to present their dog to the judge; professional handlers, owner handlers, and breeders. We are all hoping to win the opinion of the judge, some points, and hopefully have a bit of fun along the way. The concern I have is for the breeders. Most of us are dedicated to our breed’s future, breeding forward, staying home, raising litters. We do not have the time or (normally) the cash flow to campaign a dog. If we are fortunate, we are able to place one of our best puppies in a home that is able to promote them. Breeders are the unsung heroes.
7. I feel the AKC is trying to engage more participation by offering introduction titles such as AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy and AKC Fetch. I am hopeful this will encourage puppy buyers and purebred dog owners to have a more interactive lifestyle with their dogs. Dogs increasingly are becoming a bigger part of their family’s day-to-day lives. Why not your workout buddy or hobby partner, too? The AKC seems to offer something for everyone!
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