BREEDER: Irene Latchford :: Southern Ontario :: www.nitelatches.ca :: Sheltie Strut Ads :: Breeder's Corner :: 19 Years of Breeding Shelties
Biography
My love for animals has been with me all my life. As a child we always had cats, dogs and birds in the house…my uncle owned a farm and I was madly in love with his rough collies.
In 1988 my husband gave me a birthday card which stated I could have (a) the corner hut I had been saying I wanted or (b) a puppy…I handed the card back and said I want a rough collie. We discussed my decision and realized a collie would be too big for our home and so decided on a sheltie…at 7 months of age our breeder suggested we not spay her and have a litter when she was old enough. During my search for a “husband” I met Susan Smethurst of Palisades Kennels who taught me the importance of heath testing prior to breeding. I also met a wonderful lady by the name of Melissa Fancy of Sealoch Shelties, who taught me to become a “keeper” of our breed. The importance of breeding to the standard and that form follows function. I will always be greatful to these two ladies.
Nitelatches was formally founded in 1992. The name was actually that of our standard breed filly named Turn The Night Latch. Since that time we have titled 29 champions, with 25 being home-bred. We have had 2 of our own win BPISS, which was a trill.
We have always maintained 10 to 15 animals and that includes 2 or 3 puppies we may be growing out, and have on average 3 litters a year. These numbers are much lower now because in 2007 I began my quest to become a CKC judge.
I am still learning and anyone who says they know everything there is to know is just kidding themselves. I have met and become good friends with many people over the years, some have become part of my “family”…
I want to thank the breeders of some of the dogs which helped me to get where I am today. Those dogs are Am/Can/Jap ChAlfenloch Ryan O’Neil, Am/Can/Jap Ch Golden Hylites The Phantom and Am/Can Ch Apple Acres Expedition.