I thought I would take this opportunity to share with you our story. This is how Jordyalan Border Collies was born, and how Topper & Coop changed my life -
My story started in April 1995: This was when I added a beautiful Black and White male Border Collie puppy to my family.
His name was Coop, and he was the start of my addiction to the Border Collie breed.
Coop was a fantastic puppy and he grew into the most intelligent dog you could ever meet.
But fate was to set in though, and Coop only lived to 20 mths old. This was due to a horrific accident when he was out on his morning run with his dad. They were struck down by a hit-run driver, and Coop was dragged 200 metres up the road and died instantly.
Coop actually saved my husband's life, as he always ran on the right hand side of his master. But for reasons that can only be associated with the Angels above, just a few split seconds before the car hit them he backed off behind his Dad and changed sides!!
It was as if he knew he had to save his master and would of course sacrifice himself.
His Dad was badly shaken but was ok thank goodness; it was an extremely traumatic thing for him to have to go through though.
Our family was distraught and it took such a long time to heal the wounds in our hearts.
I had fallen so much in love with Coop's temperament that I had already ordered another puppy from the same breeder Moystonhill Kennels, before the accident happened. So we decided as a family that we just had to still take him, especially since he was from the same bloodlines and we called him Topper (from the movie "Hot Shots" - Topper Harley - because his Sires name really was Harley!!)
Topper was Coop's nephew and he joined our family helping heal the grief of losing his uncle, making it just a little bit easier to get through. So as time passed and our Topper matured and he turned into such an adorable dog, it only made me realize even more that what I really wanted to do with my life was to start breeding and showing Border Collies. These boys were never used for breeding.
Yet another curve ball came though in 1999, when I was diagnosed with Mitochondrial Cytopathy (a Muscular Dystrophy). This is a non curable and non treatable muscle disease, so my life as I knew it was gone forever.
As my disease progressed and my marriage collapsed because of it, my children and I knew that if I was ever going to fulfill my dreams I was going to have to do it on my own.
But fate once again stepped in and in early 2004 a wonderful man entered my life and we married that September. Even though with him knowing fully well what the future would hold for me with my disease, he made it very clear that we would get through it together and my dreams could still come true!.
So as my birthday present in 2004 I was given an adorable female black/white Border Collie puppy from my new husband, and I called her Coco (my favorite perfume).
She was to start my dream off he said, and so Jordyalan Kennels was officially born!. Coco had three adorable litters of puppies, having poduced 21 beautiful and perfectly marked black/white babies over her three and a half years as our Dam. Coco has now been retired to the couch and number one pet!!.
Our beautiful Topper passed away on the 22nd November 2005, and was nine and a quarter years old. He was absolutely a Border Collie with a personality that astounded everyone!!. He is so greatly missed every single day as is our Coop, the unconditional love that these boys gave us can still take my breath away!!
We then decided to purchase a blue/white male Border Collie called Alby (Bert) in late 2005 from Braeloch Kennels, he is our stud dog here at Jordyalan Border Collies. He sired two of Coco's litters for us, and has also sired our first all blue/white litter with a lovely bitch called Belle from Deitmahr kennels in early 2008. He is now looking forward to many more meetings with some new girlfriends in the future!!.
Our Bert is an absolutely wonderful boy to own too, and he knows that if I am having a bad day and really in pain and I need to stay in bed, he just settles down for a day in front of the TV (he loves TV!!). He then watches over me until his Dad comes home from work!! (My very own therapy/companion dog).
In December 2007 even though I know I am getting worse, we still decided to get a new Dam for our Kennel now that Coco had been retired.
I know that I have wonderful family and friends around me, and that they are there to help and no-one wants me give up on my dreams. So I took possession of the cutest little chocolate/white Border Collie puppy I had ever seen, from Dunwurkn kennels in Queensland and I called her Elsa (after the lioness in the "Born Free" movie).
Now in 2008 as the severe muscle pain and lethargy is progressing at a fast rate, and my mobility has been severely affected. I can sit back in my new electric wheelchair at any outing or event, and watch my husband or friend running my dogs around at the trial or dog show. And by them doing this for me I can still feel as involved as ever, even if someone else has to be my "Legs". I truly feel blessed to have been able to fulfill my dreams, despite having such a severe disalbility.
It is with no doubt at all that I can say, my dogs truly make my life complete!!
Topper & Coop totally changed my life for the better once they entered it, and for that I will always be forever grateful. "RIP My Beautiful Angel Boys"
