My love of the Skye Terrier began over 50 years ago when I was lucky to find a Skye for my baby daughter, and that little Skye was only available as a co-own show prospect. Thus began a life dedicated to my beloved Skye Terrier as a breeder, exhibitor, mentor, and active and passionate advocate for this lovely, rare breed. My next two show dogs were Skyes carrying the famed Glamour bloodlines of Walter Goodman, and I spent many a show following Walter around learning all I could. Walter was a gracious mentor, and I feel fortunate to have learned from him and owned some of the best. That experience truly gave me a solid foundation over the years to breed Skyes of quality on the East Coast, then California, and finally, Colorado, with the Royalist prefix. Those early years were also a time when the Skye world still had a few large, famous kennels both in the US and Canada, such as Talisker and Iradell, and I was able to visit them and continue my quest to learn about all things Skye.
While breeding on a limited basis, I have bred numerous Champions, with many National and Regional Specialty wins, numerous Group wins and placements, and Best in Show and Reserve Best in Show, with all these wins mostly breeder/owner-handled.
I am passionately dedicated to paying forward the knowledge I have gained over these many years through breed mentorship and judges education, with the hope of educating others to fully understand and appreciate the beauty and nuances that make the Skye Terrier so wonderfully unique and lovely.
I also currently serve as President of the Skye Terrier Club of America (STCA) and the Columbine Skye Terrier Club. I have served every office of the STCA (except Delegate) multiple times. I have also helped found regional Skye Terrier clubs in Maryland and Colorado.
I find my most important job now as I age is to work to save the breed from extinction. Much needs to be done, but the STCA is committed to this goal.