My mother and I moved to California when I was 9 years old. On the treck to California I asked my mother if we could get a collie once we were settled in Woodland. We visited a small pet shop in town to see if they knew of any breeders locally. They recommended we give JoAnne Hawkins a call. JoAnne was the breeder of Jolee’s Collies. After we interviewed with JoAnne, we purchased a tri color rough male. His name was Jolee’s Sock-It-To-Him Jan-Cin. Socker was 3 years old. You could say it was all down hill from here and that I started in the dog fancy in 1988.

Socker and I started training together in 4-H. We attended AKC matches. Our first time in the ring was Spring Show with the Glen County 4-H Club. We went Best Junior Showmanship. Together we started to compete in AKC conformation shows! My first dog show was Sacramento Kennel Club at Cal Expo Center. Somehow we manage to go Best Of Variety over the specials and attended the Herding group!

I learned how to groom, train and handle dogs all the while staying as much as I could with JoAnne. We traveled to out of state shows and local shows together. She let me practice with all of her collies and shelties. I even worked part time at the local pet store in town for years with JoAnne! She was a very important part of my life!

As Socker got older I needed a younger Junior Showmanship dog. We came across a breeder of Belgian Tervuren, Snowflower Kennel. I purchased a Terv from Carmen Helgesen in 1990. We named her Jean’s Caissa Du Snowflower. I showed Caissa to her Championship and Companion Dog titles. Her first weekend out in the conformation ring she took a four point major from the 6-9 month puppy class. We tried Junior Showmanship at matches. While showing Caissa I started to learn more about the other breeds. I didn’t make it to the juniors ring as much as I wished I had. The ring times for juniors conflicted with the breed. I showed Caissa in Junior Showmanship competition just a few times. We did get a Best Junior Handler together in Dixon, CA.

I spent a lot of time in Carmen’s grooming room. Learning different tricks of the trade. I also went to her companion dog training classes. I started to help her with the clients. I always attended her conformation sessions. She taught me so much about ring procedure not only about how to handle the different breeds but what do to in those not-so-good situations, which seemed to happen to small kids in the ring! I think my brain was a sponge, soaking up all I could!

I was on the list for a show male from Shannon Kelley of Shamrock Keeshonden. I got mister yellow out of a litter of 10! I named him Shamrock’s Tidalwave at HiTide. I had such high hopes for him. His name was Tide. He was my junior’s dog; conformation dog and I even competed in obedience with him! Probably filled every brain cell of his with commands! He loved agility! His favorite obstacle was the see saw. He never made size to complete his Championship in the conformation shows.

Tide did receive his Companion Dog AKC title with placements and High In Trial. He loved to visit the elderly in convalescent hospitals. He would show off his silly tricks! Tide always knew when someone was feeling ill, he would be very calm, just lay and take the petting that was given to him

I watched the Keeshonden judging for months. Watching the types and temperament. I found one line that was very consistent in both. Donna Lundeen with Swankee Keeshonden put me on her waiting list for the right kees for me. Every show we ran into each other, and I would get my keesie fix.

Socker passed away in 1993. It was awful to be so attached to a dog and watch them get so ill, so quickly. I couldn’t live without a collie and wanted to find another one. I contacted JoAnne to inquire if she had any rough male collies. I wasn’t up for having another tri colored like Socker. She happened to have a four month old male sable and white collie. I quickly made arrangements to bring him home! His name was Jolee’s Noble Tradition. He had a beautiful round muzzle. He is out of Laurien Jolees Dream Weaver and CH Jolee’s Sex-N-Style. Noble was my first rough collie that I finished his AKC Championship on my own! He is our peacekeeper in our home! He reminds me of a lion watching over his family!

Donna Lundeen contacted me with a Keeshonden bitch available from AM/CAN CH. Yan-Kee Marquis ROMx, HOFx X CH. Swankee’s Grand Entrance, CGC. She had exactly what I was looking for! She had beautiful and healthy parents! We named her Swankee’s Majestic Summerwind. Magic was 9 weeks old when she came to live with me and boy was she ALL kees, a little spit fire! Magic completed her AKC Championship with three major wins. She always loves to be the center of attention. Her favorite toy is the tennis ball. She would play fly ball for hours! The girls (Windy and Magic) grew up together with birthday’s only weeks a part.

In 1998 began the Summerwind Collies and Keeshonden breeding program! I would like you to come in and visit the Summerwind Canines Family. You will see our generations of furry kids. My goals are always temperament, health, beauty and brains.

My mother has been an important part of this huge learning process that goes along with the dog world. Without her support all of my life I would not have gotten where I am today. She taught me from the beginning to be a responsible dog owner. The furries call her the cookie mom and to all of her friends she is known as Myra!

I met Joshua Hargis in the spring of 1999. He had a small dog and cat. He really disliked fur on his clothes when we first met. He was such a natural with my dogs though. They all approved of this person taking up so much time in my life. He also took us on these great camping adventures, which I am sure they loved! As we became good friends, the fur wasn’t a problem. He came to visit the litter of Keeshond babies I had. I think he melted when he saw their fuzzy little black faces. He started coming to the dog shows, watching and learning. If you have met Josh you know he can talk your ear off! ! We married in August of 2002. Now, the furry dogs belong to us, like kids. He will tell you Tater Tot is his baby. Funny how the Lord works when he is in your life!

Together-
Josh is my partner in professional handling in the show ring as well as a huge help whelping litters and raising the puppies. He got his own show dog in December of 2002. We chose a Vizsla, which we named Solyom Summerwind Swift Arrow. He finished her AKC Championship before her 13-month birthday! He has also started showing other breeds and finishing their AKC Championships quickly!

I started training dog’s full time in the fall of 2003 at Woodland Veterinary Hospital. This was a dream come true, as this is my calling. Woodland Veterinary Hospital has an important mission statement that we adhere to. I love this environment because we have the best vet care, boarding, grooming, training and state of the art facility a pet could have!

In 2005 my foundation bitches, Windy and Magic will both received an ROM award. This award is important to breeders and is awarded by the parent club when the dam has enough champion children or get.