When Richard and I had been newly married, about a million years and -- an actual lifetime ago -- we decided that we wanted to “Raise and Show Purebred Dogs”. That first breed choice and decision was made between the Irish Setter, the Samoyed and the Rough Collie.
The Collie won … and feeling pressured to find a kennel “prefix” we arrived at Len-Rik an alteration of our first names, Eileen and Richard.
Our first collie, was a three year old rich mahoghany sable male who weighed less than forty pounds, with prick ears and promised “papers” – which we brought home instead of the sable female puppy we went out to buy.
We took “Gay” to obedience class and tried to get him over some past trauma in his life. He was a basket case who turned into a lovely pet for us and probably, knowing the genetics of what is done today, I should have used him at least once, but I never did. He developed a terribly arthritic condition and was put to sleep when he was about 13 years old.
Our first show prospect was a blue merle female by Ch. Three Trees Beau Blue, which we named Len-Rik’s Wonderland Holiday … who had a litter of eleven, mostly blue, puppies ... 8 to 3 was the ratio. Blues were a kind of innovative color back then in popularity or lack thereof ... and we were relatively stuck with most of them, which went to members of our family.
“Holly” hated the showring.
We had collies from 1973 to 1976 and in that period (1974), we became SPINDRIFT.
I worked with other collie owners' "hard to handle" dogs a great deal and in the 1970’s applied and was passed ... for my AKC Professional Handlers License.
In 1967, we met our first Schipperke. She was a Sunset Kennels bitch named "Wendy", which was bought for our Collie Mentor’s oldest child, Tina. We and many others decided that we wanted a Schipperke when they eventually would breed Wendy.
We wanted just ONE SCHIPPERKE … to go with our full complement of Collies, which included one smooth female.
In 1968, we attended the Santa Barbara benched show and saw just what we wanted in a Schipperke, or so we thought, at the time. Joie Kornegay (now Chandler) was in the ring with Ch. Sandil’s Poppy (Michelle) and we knew on the spot that Joie had what we wanted in a Schipperke.
Although Michelle was by far, not our ideal in the long run, she had more bone (but not excessive), more style in type, a distinctive silhouette and she was our INSPIRATION for beginning with a Schipperke from Jetstar.
As a replacement for the first Schipperke we bought, who turned out to be a pet, Joie offered me a co-ownership in Ch Jetstar’s Moonraker (Amy) to have a litter and then go back to Joie.
With ears that almost touched, a chiseled head, wonderful bone, a short, strong back, arch of neck and a gorgeous coat, the qualities of AMY have lived forever ... with us and in the dogs we have bred.
She remains, today, the TOUCH-STONE of SPINDRIFT and many other kennels around the country who do not even know who or what she was. We bred on her through her offspring and their offspring, in so many ways ... we have continued to do so to this day.
Perhaps her greatest feature was remarkably “clean genes” – not pure, but very clean.
In 1994, my husband, Richard, the anchor of our family, suddenly passed away, and our four children have tried to fill that empty spot in all of our lives.
For much more than half of my life I have been IN THE DOGS, and would and could not trade that for anything, unless it was the return of Richard.
Those Len-Rik Schipperkes were famous for what they produced and what has come down from them.
The two top winning Schipperkes of all time up to and I would think through most of the 1990’s, were directly from Len-Rik dogs, as were so many down from Spindrift here on the Mainland and in Hawaii, but that is a story that will be shown in pictures on this site.
Spindrift is but a “child” of Len-Rik!
Spindrift Schipperkes
A Selection In Excellence
ONCE WE WERE "LEN-RIK"
Spindrift Raidar BIM at Los Encinos over his Schip kennel mates ... Dam was Justamere Spindrifting.
Below that is Kuekuo Ungaro, a British Import, who was an apparent smooth and this was before we even knew there were SMOOTHS! Co-owned with Jum Pierson.
These are among several Chow Chows that I handled for myself and for others.
Ch Heather de sang Bleu's descendent. Heather was ours in co-ownership with the Garrity's, and one of many that I took to the shows!
Ch Flying Colors Spindrift
The Pride and Joy of my second daughter, Michelle
"Spirit" gave us never a dull moment
She was free shown and very popular, which usually earned teenaged Michelle, a RWB among the top pro handlers, who really loved Michelle and her "Spirit". It was Pat Speight who finally gave her her final points.
Spirit was the beginning for two kennels on the West Coast and the grand-dam of two owner handled BIS winners.
!974 - 1988
Since 1969
ALWAYS AND EVER
THE LANE FAMILIES
The puppies of 2012
Sired By Ch. Spindrift Cast Away
out of
Ch. Spindrift Fiona Faire
