George Robert Rohde reflects on his Collie journey, blending breeding, owner handling, mentorship, and a commitment to preserving the breed.
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George Robert Rohde: My introduction was deeply personal. A single photograph of my mother holding a Collie puppy became the defining image that inspired my path. From that symbolic starting point, Collies became not only my breed of choice but also my vocation. Over time, that initial inspiration evolved into a commitment to stewarding the breed through exhibition, preservation breeding, and eventually, judging.
George Robert Rohde: I have been active in purebred dogs for more than 20 years, starting as a Junior Handler at the age of 10. Nearly all of that time has been spent as an Owner Handler, a role that shaped my skills in presentation, discipline, and evaluation. Breeding followed soon thereafter, and I have now sustained a multi-generational program, producing Collies that reflect type, soundness, and purpose.
George Robert Rohde: Yes. I attended a few handling lessons early on at my local kennel club, including the privilege of learning from Neil Glazier and George Alston. Their instruction underscored the importance of discipline, timing, and the ability to bring out the best in one’s dog. I strongly recommend in-person seminars, as there is no substitute for structured feedback and real-time practice. I believe there is only one way to become a better handler—by doing it repeatedly, ringside and in class. Even today, I attend handling classes regularly with youngsters and young adults in my program. Handling is a skill honed only through practice, practice, practice.
George Robert Rohde: Virtual resources—whether videos, websites, social media, or AKC Canine College—may serve a purpose, but they cannot replace human interaction. In fact, I believe technology has, in some ways, handicapped newer fanciers who might otherwise have benefited from in-person mentorship. Social media is not a mentor; it cannot be. The irreplaceable lessons I learned came not from online platforms but from traveling multiple times each month to sit down with successful breeders, to observe, to listen, and to absorb knowledge like a sponge. That type of apprenticeship is what builds true understanding of the Collie and of the sport, and it cannot be replicated virtually.
George Robert Rohde: I do not compete in the National Owner-Handled Series, nor do I place much emphasis on rankings. Campaigning a dog has its place, and I understand the triad of relationships between breeders, owners, and handlers. But if we lose sight of breeding in favor of rankings, we risk hollowing out the very foundation of the sport. I’ve always kept in mind that a ranking is, at best, a reflection of the last performance, not the long-term contribution of a breeding program. Too often, I believe the sport has shifted toward an obsession with campaign statistics, rather than producing Collies that make a meaningful impact in the whelping box. To me, breeding is harder, more time-consuming, and requires far greater responsibility than showing alone. It demands selecting the right combinations, both phenotypically and genotypically, and ensuring the welfare of the puppies produced. Better dogs are made in the whelping box, not by chasing points.
George Robert Rohde: The Bred-By Exhibitor Class holds profound significance for me. It represents a breeder’s public affirmation of their work—the dogs they have planned, raised, and invested years of thought and effort into producing. Entering that ring is not simply about showing a dog; it is about presenting the continuity and integrity of one’s breeding program. It is a class that demands pride, accountability, and the very best one has to offer.
Specialties are equally vital. They are the proving grounds where you measure your breeding stock against others across the country. Attending local and national specialties forces you to ask the most important questions: Am I on the right track? Am I helping the Collie? Am I moving the breed forward? Where are the strengths in my breeding program? Specialties are where serious breeders come to be accountable to one another, and to the Collie itself.
George Robert Rohde: I do not believe it is inherently more challenging to compete with Collies as a Breeder/Owner Handler. Collies are, in many ways, a Breeder-Owner-Handler breed. Judges in our sport generally focus on the dogs themselves, as they should. That is how I approach judging as well—I evaluate the dog, not the exhibitor. I often could not tell you who was showing the dog, because that is irrelevant. My responsibility, whether in the ring as an exhibitor or at the table as a judge, is to find the best Collies.
George Robert Rohde: My mentors as both an Owner Handler and as a Breeder are inseparable. Joyce Weinmann of Vennessee laid the foundation upon which my program was built, alongside the influence of many other notable kennels and influential Collies who helped shape the direction of our breed. Over the years, I have also been profoundly guided by the mentorship of Richella Veatch, Kathy Drabik, and Daniel Cardoza. Breeding and handling are inherently intertwined, and the individuals who shaped me in one sphere inevitably left their mark on the other.
George Robert Rohde: The future of our sport belongs to the Breeders—specifically, the Breeder/Owner Handlers who are committed to preserving and moving their breeds forward. I believe the era of the massive kennels will continue to decline, replaced by small, dedicated preservation breeders. The best Collies of tomorrow will come not from mass production but from those who focus on quality, long-term planning, and multi-generational stewardship. The small breeders who roll up their sleeves, do the hard work, and commit to continuity will carry the breed into its future.
George Robert Rohde: Do not take breeding lightly. Seek out the very best mentor you can find. Choose the right bitch, the right stud dog, and do your homework. Breeding requires humility, patience, and the willingness to accept responsibility for every puppy you put on the ground. It is not just about creating winners—it is about advancing the breed generation after generation. Entering into breeding is entering into a long-term journey, one that is challenging but also deeply rewarding.
George Robert Rohde: My goals are firmly anchored in breeding. I aspire to develop a family of Collies that spans generations, consistently excelling in type, temperament, and health. To me, the true measure of success lies not in a single win but in the continuity of quality—producing sires and dams whose influence endures and whose virtues are reliably passed forward. The highest achievement I can imagine is to look at a Collie several generations removed and see, unmistakably, the stamp of my program: a dog that embodies intentional, preservation-focused breeding and strengthens the future of the breed.
George Robert Rohde: Yes. On one occasion, a young puppy named Maggie, bred by Joyce Weinmann, decided that my shoelaces were far more interesting than the judge. She proudly pranced beside me with the lace clutched in her mouth, much to the amusement of everyone ringside, including the judge. We did not win that day, but the moment served as a reminder that joy, spirit, and vitality are just as integral to this sport as discipline and success.
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