I have had dogs for over 30 years and had Irish and Gordon Setters before getting my first Sheltie in the early 80's. Pepper was a blue merle that I house trained completely in only a few days. That was my first experience with the trainability/smarts of this breed. Once I had my first sheltie that was it, I was hooked!

      I am a retired Army officer and when I first retired in '82 I still worked as a Human Resource Manager and my focus was not only with my dogs but horses and other farm animals. By the mid 90's I decided to concentrate on only one thing and that was the Shelties. Although I started in Performance, in recent years I've concentrated most on conformation but still work with my dogs in obedience, agility and herding as time and opportunity allow. When I retired for the last time as of Jan, 2002, I told people that I had "gone to the dogs"!   Currently, due to degenerative arthritis, I have had to give up competing with my kids myself and send them out with "handlers".  I do miss "doing it myself" but time marches on (unfortunately)  : )  and I do still enjoy watching.

      I have a ranch home with two outbuildings and a large fenced dog yard (click here to view) with plenty of room for the dogs to exercise and a smaller fenced yard and a covered kennel run as well when separation is necessary. With the help of friends, I still get my dogs out for socialization and training in handling classes etc.  My dogs are house dogs, whelped in my bedroom and raised in the kitchen.

       I am a long time member of Central Maine Kennel Club, a founding member of the Kennebec Valley Shetland Sheepdog Club and am also a member of the American Shetland Sheepdog Association.

Through my "dog life" I have met many wonderful people that have helped me to learn and progress in this sport. Please feel free to browse through my web site and I hope you will return often to see the updates.

Colleen Golding
Woodland Farm Shetland Sheepdogs

Mail to:  woodlandfarm@roadrunner.com