WORLD
BREEDERS  
           		TIAKINA SHELTIES      
                                                                                 5
HEALTH
I asked Margaret how she thinks about the health problems shelties breeders have got to deal with.

MARGARET:
"Of course there are problems with CEA, occasionally PRA and a scare every now and then H.D. To set out to eradicate a problem may open up the door to other ills. I would urge all breeders to be vigilant and listen to owners of those pet puppies. We don’t want a strain of shelties clear of CEA, but dying at 7 or 8 years of heart, liver or kidney problems.

I have had visitors whose main aim was to count teeth, bring out their measures, shine torches in their eyes – all this but not noticing the dog as a whole. How sad. My advice is always to look at the dog as a whole."

How about the openness with respect to health problems?

 MARGARET:
"I have found nothing but frank friendly discussions. There is no point in being paranoid about health problems in either ourselves or our canine friends. A kennel that keeps it’s ‘oldies’ is a living advertisement to the success of that particular strain of sheltie."


 Francehill High Jinks (1994)
THE FUTURE

Francehill has produced more champions than any other British present-day kennel, including Champions in all three colours. Are there still challenges?

MARGARET:
"Now, this must sound a very laid-back statement. My plans for the future are to be happy, to enjoy the company of the Francehills, to appreciate what I’ve got and to do my very best to see that they are in the best of health, loved, groomed and walked each day.

I love having visitors to Hilltop and ‘talking shelties’ to other fanciers with a balanced outlook. About the young hopefuls, I shall continue going to a few shows.

photo: Francehill Only Me		 I am somewhat housebound these days as I never leave my shelties unattended, so rely on friends and neighbours to housesit at Hilltop if I want to go out to a show. This limits the campaigning – but we still like to make an appearance.

With my best wishes, sincerely

MARGARET NORMAN

 


Thank you Margaret, for having enabled me to make this
lovely world breeders' portrait. Ineke.