Welcome
to Ksenia Shetland Sheepdogs
Elrose,
Saskatchewan, Canada
E-mail: loitzle@sasktel.net
Welcome to the home of Ksenia Shetland Sheepdogs. My name is Barb Loitz and my kennel is located on 2000 acres of ranch and farm land in Southwest Saskatchewan. Here our dogs have miles of hills to run and play in. My dogs are active in obedience, conformation, and dabble in agility. My puppies are raised with us in the kitchen so they are accustomed to a variety of people and sounds. I have been a member of the CKC since 1997 and a leader with the Canine 4-H project since 2000. Please do wander through our "Herd of Shelties".
ABOUT
My devotion to shelties began in 1994 with a spunky, sable merle puppy by
the name of Multi HIT Beaucourt's Daydream in Rio CDX. Rio was to be just a
"pet", but she soon became much more than "just a pet." And so the story
begins.
I began taking some beginner obedience classes to get a handle on Rio.
Little did I know that those classes would open my eyes to a great big world
of Obedience Trials. Rio earned her CD in 3 trials with all of her scores
being HIC. Rio loved training and on we went the following year to
attaining her CDX in the very same fashion 3 HIC and missing out on HIT by
one mark. At the time not knowing that not all dogs and handlers are
fortunate enough to receive even one HIT, but HIT's we did receive as we
continued trialing. That year her average score was 195 and was able to
earn the position of #13 Sheltie in Canada. Rio quickly picked up on the
Utility exercises but due to unforseen health problems would never have the
OTCH precede her name, with only 2 legs on her UD was retired from the
obedience ring.
As many sheltie owners will agree one is never enough. I felt I still
didn't have the knowledge and understanding of the breed to start a kennel
and begin competing in the conformation ring. I then purchased a second
puppy by the name of Multi HIT Beaucourt's Starlit Daydream CDX. Like his
sister, Phoenix earned his CD in the exact same way being awarded 3 HIC
ribbons, three trials in a row. Then on to earning his CDX the following
spring at the tender age of 18 months. Phoenix and I continued to trial
earning multiple HIT along the way. It was time to retire Phoenix from
serious competition when I realized he enjoyed working with the children in
the Canine 4-H project much more than training for the Utility exercises.
After 8 years in shelties, I finally felt it was the right time to begin my
kennel. A name was needed... that was easy, Ksenia would be registered with
the CKC. Ksenia you say? Ksenia was my Grandmother who traveled from the
Ukraine, speaking no English, with toddlers in tow, to be with Grandpa who
had come years before to the homestead where I now reside. For me, Ksenia
represents strength, courage and determination....qualities I feel every
breeder and exhibitor requires to breed to the CKC Breed Standard without
giving in to popular fads or trends in the whelping box as well as the show
ring.
All photos on this website are the property of Ksenia Shelties and are not to be copied.
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