Am/Can Ch Rowanglen Sir Lancelot
Please
enjoy an interview with ...
Hanna
Hadden of Rowanglen Shelties
(Rowanglen Perm. Reg'd since 1977)
Interviewed by Katie Groff
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How many years have you been involved in
shelties? What first drew you to the breed?
I obtained my first sheltie in 1969 from the
late Laura Getty of Quarrybrae Kennels. Quarrybrae Little
Jean 2nd, "Jeannie", was pointed, but because of
my lack of experience, never finished as a champion. However,
she became the champion of my heart. She just crept into my
spirit and instilled a love of the breed that can never be
erased. Her pedigree went back to Page's Hill. Several of
my later conformation champions and obedience title holders
find her in their pedigrees.
Where did you acquire your initial breeding stock from?
I obtained my first show/breeding stock in 1977
from Carol Watt of Delamantha. Carol said I wouldn't know
what a good dog was until I lived with one. She leased me
a BIS/BISS Am/Can Ch Delamantha's Desiderata daughter, Delamantha's
Dear Born, for a brief time. This was a special honor because
I don't know of anyone else who ever had a daughter of this
famous bitch. What an entrustment that was !
This lease produced my very own foundation bitch, Ch. Rowanglen's
Dearest Welcome CD ROMC, "Dusty", who was an inbred
"Desiderata" granddaughter. This made a very strong
tail female line. Everything I have today goes back to this
bitch. Most people start their breeding programs with the
idea that the next generation must be made better than what
they've got. I was faced with the challenge of keeping and
holding onto what I had received.
Describe your kennel set up.
 The
"dog room"
Inside: We have 2 main dog areas in
the house. One is a basement room with a window which is well
lit and finished with washable flooring, running water, and
a tub. It is warm in the winter and cool in the summer. This
is where the crates are and where the dogs stay when we are
out. When we are home, they are house dogs and share most
of our living space with us.
The second main dog area is the solarium which is next to
our kitchen. This is where visiting bitches and /or puppies
stay. Here they can also get time out of the crate but can
still be contained under supervision.
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  The
inner yard with dog runs and main
garden area. Dog area is very private behind the fence.
Outside: The solarium opens to a large
patio area surrounded by a 6 foot fence. Off to one side
are 3 runs: one for my own dogs, one for visitors or puppies,
and a third for rotational purposes. We disinfect our runs
daily, so we always need an extra run to alternate with.
This area is again contained by a fully fenced main garden
area where the dogs can have a good run to exercise. Escape
is virtually impossible. We are fortunate to have several
mature trees on our lot, so there is plenty of shade.
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How many dogs do you have at any given time ?
My breeding program has survived under all the impediments
imposed by an urban mega city. It has not been easy
with the number restrictions. I have been fairly faithful
to stay within our 3 dog limit, but occasionally have
an overflow because of puppies or seniors. This is
where co-operation through co-ownerships have helped
me maintain my breeding program.
How many litters do you have a year?
I have about one or two litters a year. The pups
are born downstairs in a finished basement room because
it is one of the warmest rooms in the house. They
stay there until their eyes are open. Then the pups
are moved to the main floor solarium which is attached
to the kitchen. Mine is an open space concept house,
so the pups get a lot of exposure to kitchen noises
and visitors who always enter through the solarium
door.
What lines are you involved with in your breeding
program? What qualities did the dogs possess who drew
you in that direction?
My line basically goes back to "Ch Halstor's
Peter Pumpkin ROM" and some English breeding
that is behind the Delamantha component of my program.
Ch Rowanglen's Dearest Welcome CD ROMC, "Dusty",
was my first champion and became the foundation of
the Rowanglen line. In Dusty I had the strength of
an illustrious ancestry and a promising future. Her
pedigree tripled the qualities of her grandmother
BIS/BISS Am/Can Ch Delamantha's Desiderata (a "Peter"
daughter), whom I idealized as my living standard.
Dusty also excelled as a producer and gave me 6 champion
offspring. Rowanglen stock has since these beginnings
produced more ROMC, BIS, BISS BPIS and HIT offspring
both for myself and for others.
 BIS/BISS
Am/Can Ch Delamantha's Desiderata "Sheba"
I first met "Sheba" when
she was being campaigned by her breeder, Carol Watt.
At that time, I was still a novice and struggling
with my own dogs. When I laid eyes on Sheba for the
first time, I instinctively recognized a truly great
dog. The way she posed and the way she moved indicated
to me that here was a special sheltie as close to
the breed standard as was possible. Carol and Sheba
were a perfect team. I was delighted that Sheba had
a son, Ch. Delamantha's Daybreak (ex Ch. Calcurt Luke)
to whom I could breed my beloved Jeannie. Carol became
my mentor and friend who gave me direction for a breeding
program. Sheba became the visible standard against
which I measure all my dogs to this day. "Sheba",
Am/Can Ch. Delamantha's Desiderata, had superior structure
with all the hard-to-get qualities that our breed
generally lacks. She had an exceptional front assembly
partnered with an exceptional rear assembly. The whole
picture she portrayed was one of balance and elegance,
and her far reaching movement and drive proved the
correctness of her structure.
By the early 80's Carol decided to leave shelties
to pursue her studies and interests in Buddhism. I
have bred independently for the last 20 years and
strove to maintain the legacy that Carol had entrusted
me. To the best of my knowledge no one else was pursuing
this old line. This was partly because of geography
of where they lived, and partly because Delamantha
lines were becoming extinct. Those who had similar
roots to mine were either not breeding anymore or
they were diluting the pedigrees by focusing more
in other directions. They have their own success stories.
I don't think anyone was breeding as intensely as
myself to maintain the "Desiderata" heritage.
It was quite an honour to have Carol restart her
line a few years ago with my Rowanglen stock that
had evolved all those years in her absence.
For the most part I established my line by some heavy
linebreeding on this heritage by breeding various
descendents from my foundation. When I needed to I
would breed to other Peter lines but always came back
to maintain and enhance the very strong bitch line
that I had. One fortunate breeding I did was to BIS/BPIS
Am/Ch Laureate Laredo ROMC who set the Peter look.
His grandson, Am/Can Ch Rowanglen Sir Lancelot, pays
tribute to all his famous ancestors. The other fortunate
breeding I did was to BIS/BISS Can/Aus/Am Ch Enclave
Jade Mist Tapestry. He lives on through his granddaughter/Lance
daughter, BPIG Rowanglen's Skylark who is now growing
a new coat for the shows.
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As a breeder which virtues do you hold most sacred and
which faults are the most irritating? How have your goals
for your breeding program changed over the years? What goals
have remained the same ?
I cannot live with a dog that does not have a good front.
That area is so hard to get that there simply is no room
for compromise. My goals have always been to breed for hard-to-get
qualities. These include those hard-to-get front assemblies,
hard-to-get correct spring of rib and depth of body, sound
rear ends with short hocks and sloped croups, a rarity in
the breed today. I focused my sights on the sheltie, BIS
BISS Am/Can Ch. Delamantha's Desiderata, that I considered
to be my living visible standard. I wanted to breed other
dogs, like her, with hard-to-get qualities and be proud
to offer them to the breed. Now, generations later, I am
very proud of the front alignments and excellent movement
that are very predictable in my dogs. Many of my dogs have
close to 40 degree shoulders.
 Ch
Rowanglen's Enchantress - 42°
shoulder layback -Shown in extended trot
The most famous movement picture that I have, which has
appeared in several dog publications, is that of Ch Rowanglen's
Enchantress who boasts a 42 degree shoulder. Her daughter,
Ch Rowanglen's Barcelona, had a 43 degree shoulder but unfortunately
I never was able to capture a suitable picture of this one.
Both girls still play an important role in the pedigrees
of current Rowanglen dogs. No, my goals have not changed
over time.
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| What accomplishments in both your breeding program and
in the show ring are you most proud of ?
Rowanglen is also known for producing producers. Many Rowanglen
dogs have become fine foundations for other breeders, notably
Lyricisle, Icewind, and Kincardine. Rowanglen dogs have also
made significant contributions to the breeding programs of
Delamantha, Westpointe, Sunbriar, Windgates, Crinan, Kildrummy,
Forestoaks, Masterpiece, Sharls, and Azarel.
I am proud of the producing abilities of my dogs and
the ROMC titles of these dogs in particular:
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 Ch.
Rowanglen's Dearest Welcome CD ROMC who produced
6 champions, 3 of which are still found in pedigrees
of dogs I have today.
- Dam of 6 champions
- My Foundation
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 Ch.
Rowanglen's Gentility CD ROMC who finished with
three 5-point wins.
- Dam of 11 champions
- Foundation of Kincardine
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In obedience I am proud of:
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 Ch & OTCH Rowanglen's Jubilation, Am CD, TT,
who became #2 all breed obedience titleholder in 1984,
with several High in Trials. I'm also proud of her success
in the conformation ring.
"Julie" loved jumping.
Picture taken before the official jump heights and distances
were reduced.
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Julie", the conformation dog
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In conformation I am proud of:
 Am/Can
Ch Rowanglen Sir Lancelot who was 3rd top male sheltie
in Canada in 2001. He is consistently producing some very
sound puppies who are balanced with excellent movement and
who have exquisite expressions.
- 40° shoulder layback
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What aspect of being a dog breeder do you find most
challenging and what do you find most rewarding ?
People can be the most challenging part of breeding and people
are also the most rewarding aspect of this sport. Unfortunately
when people put their egos above friendship they suffer a bad reputation
in the long run. On the other hand any breeder friend becomes invaluable
as a source of sharing the good and a support through the difficult
times. Laughing and crying are very much part of this hobby.
Other challenges include money and time. It's not just the show
entries that cost, but also the expenses involved in health testing,
and the extra money you spend in making alterations to your home
to accommodate the needs of a breeding program.
Up until last year I was also working full time. Although that
supports the hobby, it does take away from time spent with the dogs.
Is there a particular sheltie that you feel is the closest to
the "ideal" that you have ever seen ? ( Maybe give one
that you bred and one that you didn't)
 Am/Can
Ch Delamantha's Desiderata and Am/Can Ch Rowanglen Sir Lancelot
are two "ideal" shelties. "Desiderata" has already
been mentioned above. Keeping my focus on her as a model helped
me attain many of her virtues in Lance. Lance has a great front
assembly including a 40 degree shoulder layback, great depth of
chest, correctly sloping croup and low tailset, long stifle with
short hocks, a very typey head, and a very easy going personality.
Most importantly, he has a strong pedigree whose depth is supported
by an exceptionally beautiful dam, Ch. Rowanglen's Gold Medallion,
still here at Rowanglen at 15 3/4 years young.
Ch Rowanglen's Gold Medallion - Dam of "Lance"
- Pictured as a young dog.
From what I know of your kennel, you are mainly
a sable breeder. Have you in the past or do you have any plans to
breed any of the other colours ?
My foundation bitch was a tri-factored sable. Colour wise I could
have gone either way. My first generation pups were sables and tricolours.
My pick pups at the time were sables, so I went with that colour,
not because of the colour, but because they happened to have the
characteristics I was looking for. I did produce one tricolour champion
back then, but didn't keep that colour line because of the ever
present space limitations of living in the big city.
Do you have any aspirations towards conformation judging ?
None at all. When one is faced with a choice to pursue something,
then I wish to do it whole heartedly. Judging requires additional
time and dedication to the dog fancy as a whole. I have a few other
hobbies and interests that are part of my life. We all make choices
for the directions we take.
Any advice for the novice just starting out in our breed ?
All three bits of advice relate to time and patience:
One: "Don't be an instant expert". Having a big ego does
not equate with pride in what you've got. It means you are more
concerned with your own image than that of your dogs or of the breed
as a whole.
Two: Get to know what a good Sheltie is. Imprint the standard in
your mind. Besides book knowledge, you need an artistic eye and
be able to envision what you are aiming for. You have to see the
whole picture, not just the parts. This takes time. You are a true
breeder when your knowledge reaches an intuitive level.
Three: Spend time with your family and with your God. Keeping a
universal perspective on the scheme of things will keep you whole.
Excluding too many other aspects of life is not healthy. Too many
dog people have suffered relationship problems and have lost both
their families and their dogs in the process.
CLOSING COMMENTS:
 Rowanglen
is an example of a small breeding establishment that has had to
survive the challenges of raising shelties in a large metropolitan
city. Being forced to make selections under the municipal number
limits has forced me to breed only my best. It removed the temptation
to breed second and third best. It has also forced me to share my
best, and many other kennels have had successful Rowanglen foundations
because I was not able to keep them all. It has forced me to learn
to make better puppy choices at a younger age. It has also forced
me into a slower generation turnover, so that some of the old lines
genes are still fairly close to the forefront. Anyone who wishes
to reintroduce some qualities that seem to be lost to current day
shelties will find a refreshing pocketful of virtues here. To get
a further glimpse of Rowanglen Shelties and some pedigrees, I invite
you to visit my website at www.netrover.com/~rowangln.
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