| Fox Meadow Croft where merriment and just a little mayhem abound! |
My dogs are pets first and foremost, all treasured members of my family, they live in my
home with me and do not know what the word "kennel" means. We live a pretty simple life
but we do have some adventures together every now and then, and have seen our 15
minutes of fame from time to time.
My dogs have been Featured on the cover of Dog Fancy magazine, as well as in Time,
Sports Illustrated, Canine Chronicles, Show Sight and Baltimore Dog magazines. There
have been numerous newspaper articles featuring them too. My Multi-Champion Isi
Kaffisukkolathi has been filmed by NBC sports as well as several other news services and
has been seen as far away as Moscow news networks.
My involvement with these dogs has granted me opportunities that I may never have known
without them, and certainly never thought I would be involved in. I have become friendly
with people across the United States and abroad because of them. The puppies I raise
have brought joy to strangers who are now "extended family," my adults have brought
comfort to those who are troubled, my absolute proudest moments. Kaffi and I have
traveled to Germany together, and I have taken "day trips" to Europe to pick up a new
puppies. (I NEVER saw that coming! ) I've collected and shipped semen from my boys to
Europe and they have become the first North American studs to sire litters in Europe.
We've traveled to NYC and have competed in the Westminster Dog show, it was like a dream
come true. All things as a dog owner I never saw myself doing, we have become members
of "Canine Community" now instead of merely dog and master. These dogs provide me
with endless hours of entertainment through their antics, the laugh lines around my eyes
are all their fault.
I can never fully express my gratitude to those breeders who entrusted their puppies to me
to raise as my own, and to those friends we have made along the way for all of their
encouragement, support and mentoring. They and their dogs have truly have enriched my
life.
The Icelandic Sheepdog is a wonderful breed, but may not fit well into everyone's living
situation. They are first and foremost a working dog, bred to be an independent thinker
and problem solver, they do require a lot of personal time from their owner. If you have
any questions about the breed please feel free to call or email to ask.
It never ceases to amaze me how one small event in someones life can influence what path
you travel. For me, it was bringing home my first Icelandic Sheepdog Viking Lilja in 2003,
that influenced the road I'm on now. The path I travel seems to have frequent bumps in my
lane of the canine variety. I don't know how it happened but I am thrilled that it has!
I have always had dogs. My father is a Labrador Retriever enthusiast and some of my
earliest memories were of spending time with my father and his Retrievers stomping around
the woods, or of going to obedience classes with my mother. With my father's guidance I
learned the pleasures of having animals in my life and the responsibility we have to them.
As a teen, our family adopted a Samoyed X Lab mix named Shanna and my love for Spitz
breeds was born. Shanna is still one of the best dogs I have ever known.
As an adult, I traveled extensively with my faithful Keeshonden, Corry. She and I traveled
from Florida, to Japan, California, Alaska, and trips home to Connecticut until we finally
settled in Maryland, she had more frequent flier miles than most people I knew back then.
When she passed away at 12 years old, I began a search for the perfect breed for me.
I had wanted another Spitz type dog but wanted one without the time consuming coat
maintenance. So I began a shopping list that included everything I desired my new dog to
be. They must be friendly, easily trained, medium sized dog so that you can take
everywhere ( and I do!) , and there should be no desire to eat the chickens, cat or
neighborhood children. I didn't think a breed existed that encompassed everything I was
looking for until we happened across a photo in a dog magazine tucked down in the corner,
with the same exact description - medium sized Spitz type Herding breed, friendly, clean,
easily trained good with children and other animals. It was CH. PineRidge Elska and I was in
love at first sight. After meeting our first Icelandic Sheepdogs, at Liz and Bob Hurley's
house I was hooked. I came home with Hippi and Lilja 10 months later from then ISAA Vice
President and founding member Elisabet Stacy Hurley of Viking Icelandic Sheepdogs. It soon
became apparent that I was not going to just have 2 dogs.
I became involved with the breeds National club, the Icelandic Sheepdog Association of
America (ISAA) and served on the Health and Genetics Committee, was Chairman of the
Advertising Committee, Health and Genetics Committee, Breeding Review and Compliance
Committee and served as Vice President of the ISAA. I also began and ran the ISAA's largest
regional Chapter on the East Coast, the AISC, organizing the largest attended events for
three years. I renewed my interest in genetics and continue educating myself on this topic
as it relates to dogs and inherited conditions.
Today, I spend time tending our sheep, bees and occasional flock of ring necked pheasants,
spinning wool, working in the garden, and raising and showing my Icelandic Sheepdogs while
working a full time job. My art work has been photographed in homes featured in Country
Living and Country Collectibles magazine.
I am committed to raising good tempered healthy pups with good conformation, while
trying to increase the diversity within the breed. I consider myself a steward of this breed,
not just an owner. I am a lifetime member of the ISAA, I follow the AKC standard and my
breed clubs breeding guidelines, health test my dogs and register them with the AKC to
insure the health and future of the breed. I support the efforts of the country of origin to
keep the breed a healthy, good tempered working dog.
For those wondering, in the years prior to 2011 we had been listed on the Icelandic Sheepdog
Association of America's "Approved Breeders Page" of the ISAA website. In December 2010 I
voluntarily removed myself from this page as the club established a per puppy fee attached
to having a breeders link on that page. If you are not having litters advertising on that page
remains a free service. In years previous, a breeders link on the "Approved Breeders Page"
was a benefit of membership to members in good standing. Currently the policy for an
"Approved Breeders listing" allows foreign members ( Canadian and European) who do not
sell their puppies in the USA are not charged a fee for their breeder link, studs are also not
charged a fee to be listed on the ISAA website. As I had never homed a puppy from a
contact made through the ISAA's website I felt this was an expense I did not need to pass
along to new owners. I do still abide by the breed club's breeding guidelines.
I do show my dogs in conformation, the points and titles that they might earn are to validate
their being used in a breeding program and add value to these dogs pedigree for their
puppies new owners, not so that I can charge a higher fee for my puppies. The dogs and I
really do enjoy going to Dog Shows, just spending the day together with good friends. I have
never been super competitive and spending a lot of money traveling to shows and hiring
professional handlers to have the top ranked dog just isn't somewhere I want to go. No one
was more surprised than I when in 2010 my Isi Kaffisukkolathi was ranked the #3 dog in
Breed and the #1 Icelandic Sheepdog male in 2010. This was done with very limited
exhibition.
you travel. For me, it was bringing home my first Icelandic Sheepdog Viking Lilja in 2003,
that influenced the road I'm on now. The path I travel seems to have frequent bumps in my
lane of the canine variety. I don't know how it happened but I am thrilled that it has!
I have always had dogs. My father is a Labrador Retriever enthusiast and some of my
earliest memories were of spending time with my father and his Retrievers stomping around
the woods, or of going to obedience classes with my mother. With my father's guidance I
learned the pleasures of having animals in my life and the responsibility we have to them.
As a teen, our family adopted a Samoyed X Lab mix named Shanna and my love for Spitz
breeds was born. Shanna is still one of the best dogs I have ever known.
As an adult, I traveled extensively with my faithful Keeshonden, Corry. She and I traveled
from Florida, to Japan, California, Alaska, and trips home to Connecticut until we finally
settled in Maryland, she had more frequent flier miles than most people I knew back then.
When she passed away at 12 years old, I began a search for the perfect breed for me.
I had wanted another Spitz type dog but wanted one without the time consuming coat
maintenance. So I began a shopping list that included everything I desired my new dog to
be. They must be friendly, easily trained, medium sized dog so that you can take
everywhere ( and I do!) , and there should be no desire to eat the chickens, cat or
neighborhood children. I didn't think a breed existed that encompassed everything I was
looking for until we happened across a photo in a dog magazine tucked down in the corner,
with the same exact description - medium sized Spitz type Herding breed, friendly, clean,
easily trained good with children and other animals. It was CH. PineRidge Elska and I was in
love at first sight. After meeting our first Icelandic Sheepdogs, at Liz and Bob Hurley's
house I was hooked. I came home with Hippi and Lilja 10 months later from then ISAA Vice
President and founding member Elisabet Stacy Hurley of Viking Icelandic Sheepdogs. It soon
became apparent that I was not going to just have 2 dogs.
I became involved with the breeds National club, the Icelandic Sheepdog Association of
America (ISAA) and served on the Health and Genetics Committee, was Chairman of the
Advertising Committee, Health and Genetics Committee, Breeding Review and Compliance
Committee and served as Vice President of the ISAA. I also began and ran the ISAA's largest
regional Chapter on the East Coast, the AISC, organizing the largest attended events for
three years. I renewed my interest in genetics and continue educating myself on this topic
as it relates to dogs and inherited conditions.
Today, I spend time tending our sheep, bees and occasional flock of ring necked pheasants,
spinning wool, working in the garden, and raising and showing my Icelandic Sheepdogs while
working a full time job. My art work has been photographed in homes featured in Country
Living and Country Collectibles magazine.
I am committed to raising good tempered healthy pups with good conformation, while
trying to increase the diversity within the breed. I consider myself a steward of this breed,
not just an owner. I am a lifetime member of the ISAA, I follow the AKC standard and my
breed clubs breeding guidelines, health test my dogs and register them with the AKC to
insure the health and future of the breed. I support the efforts of the country of origin to
keep the breed a healthy, good tempered working dog.
For those wondering, in the years prior to 2011 we had been listed on the Icelandic Sheepdog
Association of America's "Approved Breeders Page" of the ISAA website. In December 2010 I
voluntarily removed myself from this page as the club established a per puppy fee attached
to having a breeders link on that page. If you are not having litters advertising on that page
remains a free service. In years previous, a breeders link on the "Approved Breeders Page"
was a benefit of membership to members in good standing. Currently the policy for an
"Approved Breeders listing" allows foreign members ( Canadian and European) who do not
sell their puppies in the USA are not charged a fee for their breeder link, studs are also not
charged a fee to be listed on the ISAA website. As I had never homed a puppy from a
contact made through the ISAA's website I felt this was an expense I did not need to pass
along to new owners. I do still abide by the breed club's breeding guidelines.
I do show my dogs in conformation, the points and titles that they might earn are to validate
their being used in a breeding program and add value to these dogs pedigree for their
puppies new owners, not so that I can charge a higher fee for my puppies. The dogs and I
really do enjoy going to Dog Shows, just spending the day together with good friends. I have
never been super competitive and spending a lot of money traveling to shows and hiring
professional handlers to have the top ranked dog just isn't somewhere I want to go. No one
was more surprised than I when in 2010 my Isi Kaffisukkolathi was ranked the #3 dog in
Breed and the #1 Icelandic Sheepdog male in 2010. This was done with very limited
exhibition.