… and they call it puppy love!

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How it all started:

My name is Jill Lanese. I had collies most of my life. Like most kids from my generation I grew up watching Lassie. I loved Lassie and I wished I had a dog just like her! What other dog but a collie would do everything from talk, to save any and everybody who needed to be saved, and teach all the community lessons about loyalty, friendship and love! As a kid I was completely enthralled how Lassie loved all animals and back then I didn’t know that this amongst many of the other traits I so love about Lassie were all typical collie traits!

One day when I was about 17 years old my cousin asked me to join her visiting a friend.  That was the clincher for me in my love-affair with collies. Off we went to this great house.. actually more like a ranch.. and there was a beautiful ti colored collie who sat devotedly by the side of the girl we visited.. I sat there in awe. I knew right then and there that one-day I’d have a collie of my own! So, when I was old enough to make the decision on what breed of dog I wanted – there was NO question about it.. I wanted a collie. My first was a collie-mix (collie and Samoyed).. a rescue dog named King. He was beautiful, loyal and loving, and although quite a protector, he was extremely patient and gentle with children. He lived to be almost 18 years old.

Shortly thereafter I got my first purebred collie -‘Champ’. He was the spitting’ image of Lassie. He was a rescue dog and when I saw him.. there was no question in my mind that he’d be coming home with me.. and so began my life’s adventure(s) with collies!

A couple of years later, I got my beloved Lucky as a 19-week-old pup. He taught me what collies are all about. He was protective, loyal and very loving. Lucky wasn’t show quality and it didn’t matter – in Lucky I found the BEST FRIEND ever!

He viewed life as a never-ending series of wonderful life experiences – he was always so very happy and if ever a dog can live life to its fullest – Lucky did!  He had a GLEE in his eye that I’ll never forget.  From him I learned a lot about friendship, love and life. When he passed suddenly in fall of 1999 I was devastated.

A few weeks after he passed (thanks to my ex-husband Louis’ relentless persuasion) – I got my first ‘show prospect’ pup -Magic. Even as a small pup Magic was a striking tri-colored collie that literally took my breath away. A couple of weeks before getting Magic I had looked on-line and found a small handful of breeders that caught my eye in the USA and Canada who I contacted in hopes of getting a pup.

At the time, none had any pups available. Then I found Cornerstone Collies in Canada and saw Am/Canadian Ch. Cornerstone Monogramm I was spellbound. In my eyes he was the epitome of what I felt a collie should be, but I didn’t make any contacts at that time because Lucky had just passed and I wasn’t sure if I was ready to get another dog. I thought about it and kept going back to the Cornerstone Collies website. After a few days I contacted Irene Snow (the breeder) and after some discussions I put in my reservation for a puppy from an upcoming Monogramm litter. In the meantime I got Magic and we both waited patiently (ok.. so I wasn’t all that patient!) for Cornerstone Infinity (who was being bred to Ch Cornerstone Monogramm) to go into season. I must have emailed Irene every day – ‘is she in season yet?’ Along the way, as Irene puts it.. The show bug bit me. Well, Infinity finally did come into season.. and the litter was born on February 1, 2000.

A couple of weeks before the pup was due to be shipped to me Irene gave me the choice between the male sable and a female tri.

For days I labored over deciding which pup to get. Finally, after driving Irene and everyone I knew crazy I decided on the female tri and have NEVER regretted the decision. I think I heard Irene applaud all the way from Canada to NY when I finally made the decision.. any decision would suffice – just decide already haha!

The female tri arrived a few weeks later and instantaneously she won me over! My ‘Destiny’ was not only beautiful in her own way, she was smart, loving and loyal and was the most devoted and loyal of my 3 collies! She was my ‘shadow’. At times I think we were connected at the hip! At the time I was still a novice of the show world but soon came to realize that Destiny was impeccably bred from the Alfenloch and Carnwath lines, and she whelped the first litter here at Spellbound Collies. She was not the perfect show dog but she was a nice producer!

Then in December 2001.. along came Crystal and that really changed my life.  I joined the Keystone Collie Club that had been a lifetime dream of mine. Around the same time I had the great fortune to meet John Buddie and David Supplee who were wonderful mentors and great friends.  Although Crystal came from another line, they helped me with her and also with Spellbound Collies first litter sired by Ch. Tartanside Illumination out of Cornerstone Destiny.

I have so many wonderful memories of starting out in collies including the first time I ever went into the ring. It was the summer of 2000. I handled Magic. He won his class (in a class of 3) which for me, at that time, was like I won Best of Breed! I was psyched – even though I made so many handling mistakes in the ring – I was a nervous wreck but it was exhilarating and fun! In March of 2001, I fulfilled a dream of mine – showing to Patricia Starkweather. My dad and family was there to watch.

The first time I met Pat was at Westminster in February 2002. I was talking to Dr. Cindi Bossart about possibly breeding Destiny the following year to one of her dogs. She introduced me to Diane Steele who introduced me to Pat Starkweather. I nearly passed out from excitement! I was psyched and on cloud 9!

I was fortunate to be mentored for several years by John Buddie. The umpteen hours we sat and talk about dogs of the present and past. He was patient as he explained the standard. Showed me examples of countless dogs. Told me amazing stories of his experiences and of breeders of the past and present. He shared the history of collies, his training and handling secrets and many other tidbits of valuable information which I am very grateful for. 

As I mentioned I got Crystal (CH Venneesee’s Enchanted Crystal) as a 3 month old puppy. She was the true LOVE of my life! She was a once in a lifetime bitch! Through the years the late Joyce Weinmann and I became close friends and I was blessed to have her as a mentor as well. She shared her knowledge in a different way than John but when she gave you a tidbit of her wisdom it was majestic. Joyce and I shared a bond. A TRUE love for our dogs (not only as show prospects and successes but as companions). I had a deep love for her dogs of the past. Infact, many years before I attended a National and saw ‘Mister’ (CH Vennessee’s Midnight Express) in the ring and melted. I said at that time that one-day I would get a bitch from her and my dream finally came true!

I was blessed to have such amazing mentors. Along the way Steve Barger and Paul  Capobianco handled for me and shared their wisdom. I could often be found in their set-up brushing dogs for them! Might sound tedious but I learned a lot! The late Ellen Russell handled and finished many of my dogs and we were close friends for years. When Ellen and I were at a show – we had a blast. I still miss Ellen and Joyce immensely. For me they were pillars in the sport and a huge part of my history in dogs. I think of them almost every day!

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When I sound the fairy call, Gather here in silent meeting, Chin to knee on the orchard wall, Cooled with dew and cherries eating. Merry, merry, Take a cherry. Mine are sounder, Mine are rounder, Mine are sweeter, For the eater. When the dews fall. And you’ll be fairies all.”

-Robert Graves, “Cherry-Time,” Fairies and Fusiliers, 1918