Coltriever crossbreeds

"Decker changed my life completely. I went to places I never thought I'd go and I met people I had never dreamt of meeting"

Margaret Bradley and OB. CH. Coltriever Choice OW

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Black dogs?
I must have been destined to have black dogs as I was obviously besotted with them even as a child. My mother kept this cartoon which I had drawn when I was eleven! Click on the link to see the picture. Retrieve

In the beginning...
Tess & Shep created Decker. Later, after we won Crufts I got the chance to mate Decker to a golden retriever called Celeidh and so the family of Coltrievers began and I never ever dreamt it would still be growing and that so many of the male dogs would resemble my lovely boy. Retrieve full story

Obedience career
Paula Ackary (breeder of Stillmoor Border Collies and herself a Crufts winner) once commented, "that dog is ticket material"
Decker was quite laid back as a puppy but changed almost overnight around four months he then became a non-stop whirlwind but still extremely biddable. He took to obedience very easily, always keen and eager to learn. He entered his first competition at just over 6 months and just went from strength to strength... Retrieve full story

The Decker bowl
After Decker died I decided to do something special in his memory. So ever year there is a competition for the best crossbreed competing in obedience nationwide. The trophy is the 'Decker Bowl', which is a lead crystal bowl on a wooden plith and is presented at Crufts. Retrieve full story

Decker's other life
Decker was always a pleasure to be with and could be keen and eager when training yet quiet and very gentle with people who were ill or old which made him an excellent Pat-dog. He was always very busy doing demonstrations for schools, brownies and scouts etc. Retrieve full story