Crofter's Only home is situated in Kauhajoki, western Finland. We live in a small farmhouse in the countryside, where our dogs have a big garden for running and training.
I have always loved collies, but used to own poodles and one golden retriever earlier. It was in 2007 when I joined the Finnish Collie Club and started to look for my own collie puppy. My first tricolour bitch Lyyli (Marcol Christmas Hope) moved in with me in February, 2008. She is bred by Sarianne Väisänen, Marcol collies. Lyyli was to become a working dog and a companion in dog sports, but - once you give it an inch, it'll take a yard.
In August 2008 I got our first blue merle dog Nero (Danlyn Moonwalker). Nero was already four years old and needed re-homing. He melted my heart and I have loved also blue merles ever since.
In 2010 the pack started to grow. In July 2010 I travelled to England and Ladnar collies to meet Sue and Dave Randall and to see a lovely tri boy. Elvis (Ladnar Tell Upon A Star) travelled to Finland with us. In September Salli (Marcol Flash Out Of Blue), Lyyli's half sister arrived and in October Brody (Danlyn Broadcaster) who is Nero's nephew.
In March 2011 the first Crofter's Only litter was born. CO Emily Of New Moon stayed at home. In the summer 2013 our pack was completed with Elvis's son Sulo (Marcol Heartbreaker) and daughter Sylvi (Marcol Hawaiian Blue).
The pack was already too big, but in January 2014 I got a tempting offer from my dear friends Sue and Dave Randall and just couldn't turn it down. Therefore "Sir Bruce" (Ladnar Kissmaster) moved to live in Finland with me in March.
At some point in 2015 our paths with my ex separated and we had to share our collies. Lyyli, Nero, Brody and Emily moved to live with him. Salli had a severe pyometra and had to be spayed. All of a sudden I had no bitches to go on with. Luckily in 2016 I heard Merry (Irokon Merry Maid) was looking for a new home and as I had seen her at three weeks of age and had followed her life closely I was ready to give it a try. Merry settled in quickly but her and Salli never got along. It was a constant rivalry between them and they even got into some nasty fights. To our fortune my friends offered Salli a new home and now she lives 5 minutes away in her own mansion, a true win-win deal. In May 2016 I got my blue princess Sofia (Fiamma Olimpica Blu di Cambiano) from Maria Teresa Garabelli in Italy. Sofia is Alice (Samhaven Temptation Ladnar) combined with the lovely blue Cambiano lines, so I just had to get her! Together with Sofia our pack got bigger as Marko and his bulldogs moved in with me in 2016. In 2017 two more Cambiano collies moved here out of Bruce (Ladnar Kissmaster) and Inki (One Incredible Blu di Cambiano). Rio (Ritorno al Nord Blu di Cambiano) and Rhea (Regina dei Ghiacci Blu di Cambiano) bring in the lovely Cambiano blue merle colour and their aorable characters! In 2019 Marko and I both had important litters born and so Leila (Crofter's Only Lifeline) and her bulldog bother and sister stayed to fulfil our pack. Now our house is full of dogs, collies and bulldogs keeping us busy and consuming all our time and money :D But, it's a way of life you choose!
I breed rarely, mainly for my own purposes. My dogs live in the house with me and are beloved pets and members of my family. All puppies grow up in our kitchen and get fully socialized. Health, character and appearance in that specific order, are the most important criteria in my breeding program. My aim is to breed a perfect collie one day, combining the best qualities of the British, NA-bred, and Scandinavian collies.
Our journey is only just beginning.
My collies train for working trials, agility and dog shows. I am a member in the Finnish Collie Association, Finnish Kennel Club, Active Collies Finland, Kauhajoki Dog Club, Finnish Working Dogs and The Finnish Agility Association.
In addition to my profession as a teacher I work as a qualified ring steward at dog shows, at working trials and mental tests. I'm the chairperson at our Osthrobothnian Subdivision of Finnish Collie Club, a member in the International Collie Society board and work in the show committees of Seinäjoki International Dog Show and Tuuri All breeds Show.
Ms Marjo Hautaviita
I have always loved collies, but used to own poodles and one golden retriever earlier. It was in 2007 when I joined the Finnish Collie Club and started to look for my own collie puppy. My first tricolour bitch Lyyli (Marcol Christmas Hope) moved in with me in February, 2008. She is bred by Sarianne Väisänen, Marcol collies. Lyyli was to become a working dog and a companion in dog sports, but - once you give it an inch, it'll take a yard.
In August 2008 I got our first blue merle dog Nero (Danlyn Moonwalker). Nero was already four years old and needed re-homing. He melted my heart and I have loved also blue merles ever since.
In 2010 the pack started to grow. In July 2010 I travelled to England and Ladnar collies to meet Sue and Dave Randall and to see a lovely tri boy. Elvis (Ladnar Tell Upon A Star) travelled to Finland with us. In September Salli (Marcol Flash Out Of Blue), Lyyli's half sister arrived and in October Brody (Danlyn Broadcaster) who is Nero's nephew.
In March 2011 the first Crofter's Only litter was born. CO Emily Of New Moon stayed at home. In the summer 2013 our pack was completed with Elvis's son Sulo (Marcol Heartbreaker) and daughter Sylvi (Marcol Hawaiian Blue).
The pack was already too big, but in January 2014 I got a tempting offer from my dear friends Sue and Dave Randall and just couldn't turn it down. Therefore "Sir Bruce" (Ladnar Kissmaster) moved to live in Finland with me in March.
At some point in 2015 our paths with my ex separated and we had to share our collies. Lyyli, Nero, Brody and Emily moved to live with him. Salli had a severe pyometra and had to be spayed. All of a sudden I had no bitches to go on with. Luckily in 2016 I heard Merry (Irokon Merry Maid) was looking for a new home and as I had seen her at three weeks of age and had followed her life closely I was ready to give it a try. Merry settled in quickly but her and Salli never got along. It was a constant rivalry between them and they even got into some nasty fights. To our fortune my friends offered Salli a new home and now she lives 5 minutes away in her own mansion, a true win-win deal. In May 2016 I got my blue princess Sofia (Fiamma Olimpica Blu di Cambiano) from Maria Teresa Garabelli in Italy. Sofia is Alice (Samhaven Temptation Ladnar) combined with the lovely blue Cambiano lines, so I just had to get her! Together with Sofia our pack got bigger as Marko and his bulldogs moved in with me in 2016. In 2017 two more Cambiano collies moved here out of Bruce (Ladnar Kissmaster) and Inki (One Incredible Blu di Cambiano). Rio (Ritorno al Nord Blu di Cambiano) and Rhea (Regina dei Ghiacci Blu di Cambiano) bring in the lovely Cambiano blue merle colour and their aorable characters! In 2019 Marko and I both had important litters born and so Leila (Crofter's Only Lifeline) and her bulldog bother and sister stayed to fulfil our pack. Now our house is full of dogs, collies and bulldogs keeping us busy and consuming all our time and money :D But, it's a way of life you choose!
I breed rarely, mainly for my own purposes. My dogs live in the house with me and are beloved pets and members of my family. All puppies grow up in our kitchen and get fully socialized. Health, character and appearance in that specific order, are the most important criteria in my breeding program. My aim is to breed a perfect collie one day, combining the best qualities of the British, NA-bred, and Scandinavian collies.
Our journey is only just beginning.
My collies train for working trials, agility and dog shows. I am a member in the Finnish Collie Association, Finnish Kennel Club, Active Collies Finland, Kauhajoki Dog Club, Finnish Working Dogs and The Finnish Agility Association.
In addition to my profession as a teacher I work as a qualified ring steward at dog shows, at working trials and mental tests. I'm the chairperson at our Osthrobothnian Subdivision of Finnish Collie Club, a member in the International Collie Society board and work in the show committees of Seinäjoki International Dog Show and Tuuri All breeds Show.
Ms Marjo Hautaviita
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