I’ve always said I got my start in dogs by default.  I was 13 years old with a love for animals, particularly horses.  When my efforts to try and talk my parents into a horse failed, I turned my love for animals into training our mixed breed at a local AKC obedience school.  So begins my start in this wonderful sport of dogs.

When I couldn’t compete with my mixed breed at AKC obedience matches or shows; my parents were not easily persuaded that I needed another dog. Two years later, with baby sitting money I had saved, I purchased my first Springer, Ronlaine’s Roustabout.  Whimpy was hardheaded, a typical Springer who was a difficult dog to handle.  At 15, with no money,  I had no choice but to learn how to handle, train and groom him myself.   Whimpy ended his career with six points including one major and his C.D.X. degree.

Still living at home my parents had finally conceded to the fact that it was not a  “phase” with me.  In the summer of 1971 Moses, Ch. Salilyn’s Prophet C.D.X., arrived off the plane from Salilyn Kennels.  I had this love affair going on with Ch. Salilyn’s Aristocrat so I was thrilled to have a l/w son of his.  Moses was Best of Winners at the spring GLESSBA specialty show in March of 1972 for a 5 point major. A month later was Best of Winners at the WESSA specialty show in May of 1972 for another 5 point major.  At the fall GLESSBA specialty show in 1972 he was Best of Breed!  After showing Whimpy for 5 years to six points, this was a completely new experience for me!  Needless to say, he finished his championship fast.  Moses was my first owner handled champion and group winner.  I trained him through his C.D.X degree.

In December of 1972 I married my husband, Brion, which removed many of the limitations placed on me by living at home.  I did a couple of breedings in the mid seventies and early eighties, but for one reason or another the bitches had problems producing, and I still didn’t have what I would call my foundation bitch.  In 1980 I did produce a b/w male,  “Hockey”, Ch. Eldamar’s Slapshot U.D. (Ch. Salilyn’s Prophet C.D.X. x Ch. Neogahbow’s Magic Marker), my first homebred champion and my first dog to complete his Utility degree.

I had worked closely with Nancy Newell of Neogahbow (Knee-o-gah-bow) Springers.  Nancy saw the difficulties I was having trying to get a bitch I had purchased from her pregnant (Ch. Neogahbow’s Magic Marker). Since her circumstances had changed  she offered me “Summer”, Ch. Neogahbow’s Indian Summer (Ch. Winacko’s Classic Replay x Ch. Salilyn’s Sincerely Yours CD).  Summer was five at the time I received her so I only did three breedings with her: one to Ch. Telltale Royal Stuart and two to Ch. Telltale’s Author.  From these breedings she produced seven champions, including two bitches from which my current dogs come.

The first bitch, Ch. Eldamar’s Summer Echo, was out of  Ch. Telltale’s Author.  Echo, Winners Bitch at the 1986 ESSFTA in Plymouth, Michigan, was also an owner handled, group-winning bitch.  Once again having fertility problems, Echo never produced very many puppies.  One many of you might know is a singleton puppy out of Ch. Canamar Top Priority, “Star”,  Ch. Eldamar’s Morning Star. 

Summer’s other daughter that remains present in my lines today is that of “Spinner”, Ch. Neogahbow’s Eldamar Spin-Off.  Spinner was also out of Ch. Telltale’s Author and was a bitch that  I would consider to be every breeder’s dream.  She was a natural in the ring, at home or in the whelping box.  Spinner loved to show, and in the words of Annie Clark after the 1993 ESSFTA Nationals, “She moved like a bat out of hell.”  Spinner was  a multiple breed and group winning bitch.  She won the WESSA Specialty show in 1986, was 1^st in the Veteran bitch class at the ESSFTA Nationals in 1993, along with being Best of Opposite Sex in Veteran Sweeps at that show, plus an Award of Merit winner.  She was the mother of 14 champions, junior showmanship companion to my kids, and had a personality that would easily win your heart.

This brings me back to Star, Ch. Eldamar’s Morning Star, who holds another important spot in our current string of dogs.  Star is also a group winning, specialty winning bitch, mother of 13 champions, ESSFTA dam of the year in 1996, runner up in 1997 and 1998.  She was Best of Opposite Sex in Veteran Sweeps at the ESSFTA Nationals in 1996 in Sturbridge, MA.  She is the mother of Ch. Eldamar’s Star Gazer (Ch. Eldamar’s High Flyer x Star) 1993 Best of Winners at the ESSFTA Nationals in Rochester, MN. She was bred three times to Ch. Goodwill Genuwin Remarque with those breedings producing more than one specialty and group placing offspring.  Ch. Eldamar’s Wil-Orion Daystar, “Kayla”, is one of Star’s get who has ended up in the top ten for bitches in breed and group  competition for 1997 and again in 1999.  Kayla took time off in 1998 to have puppies and is raising a litter right now. 

I have loved all aspects of this sport for as long as I can remember.  From breeding to grooming to showing to training, there has been a lot of trial and error.  I have had many people to thank along the way, but much of what I have learned I’ve had to learn on my own.  I have tried to set my priorities in breeding and stick with them. Since  I often pick puppies based on soundness and movement, not on markings, I am often referred to as that “lady with the dark dogs.”  Along the way, besides the successes, there have been mistakes, heartaches, and tough decisions to make.  In order to persevere you learn from your mistakes and you move on.  Raising a family and working, I have kept the number of Springers I own at home to usually no more than six.

I have seen this breed weather many storms.  When I was first getting into Springers it was hips, then eyes, then temperament and now epilepsy.  Each time, as breeders, we take up the challenge to keep producing sound, healthy, competitive dogs. Much depends in this breed on the soundness in both mind and body of the Springers we breed.  A healthy, stable dog, in my opinion, can be worked and trained in many different areas, besides making great companions and pets for most of the people who end up with our puppies.  That has been and will continue to be my goal for the future. I am proud of the accomplishments over the years and look forward to more.  I still yearn for that breeder owner handled Best in Show as well as some day maybe getting back to the obedience ring, maybe even trying  my hand at Agility!