While Great Danes
are my passion now, I originally started my love of purebred dogs with the
Shetland Sheepdog. In 1981 I met Edith Linzmeyer, and we became great friends.
She introduced me to Shelties, and the world of dog showing. I eventually
became a part of her family by marrying her son. Edith and I would spend hours
together studying pedigrees, and just talking dogs. We remained close friends
even after her son and I divorced. She always told folks that she didn’t get
divorced! Her son did!
Edith was a
wonderful mentor, and even though she taught me her philosophies on breeding and
showing, she always allowed me to have my own opinions. She never said “I told
you so” when I made a bad decision, and would always be there to help pick up
the pieces if any part of my life was in crisis.
Edith felt there
was a lesson to be learned from all things in life, no matter how good or how
bad. She was always learning so she could pass her knowledge on to her family
and friends. Above all else, Edith put her family first, and I felt honored to
be a part of that family.
Edith passed away
in June 2005 of cancer. I miss her terribly, but she told us before her death
that she didn’t want us to be sad for long. She knew we would miss her, but
told us even though she knew we would mourn our loss for a little while, that
she would come back to haunt us if we didn’t get on with our lives. I don’t
doubt for a second that she won’t keep that promise! She knew she was going to
a better place when she left, and she wanted us to be happy for her.
Edith was
intelligent, strong-willed, and opinionated. She was also gentle, loving and a
great teacher. She loved her family, her friends, and her dogs, but was a
formidable foe if someone hurt those she cared about. She was the most amazing
woman I have ever met. She was my best friend….
Edith’s daughter,
Carolyn, and I will continue to breed Shelties in a way we think Edith would
approve of. I don’t know if we’ll ever have that top winning champion, but that
was never terribly important to her. Edith didn’t feel a dog had to be a
champion to have correct type, structure, and temperament. She bred to the AKC
Sheltie standard, and knew it forward and backward. She was more critical of
her own dogs than any judge in the show ring could have ever been. She was a
truly ethical breeder.
I hope you enjoy
looking at the Linzmeyer Shelties, both past and present. And to all you folks
out there new to the hobby of dogs, please don’t discount someone just because
they don’t show. They may know a heck of a lot more than you do, and may have
higher standards than some out showing every weekend. Also remember that just
because that one dog is winning every weekend, it may not be because it’s the
absolute best dog. No dog is perfect. That’s why we breed to improve, whether
it be our own stock, or the breed in general. Do your homework, study your
breed standard, and above all ask those old time breeders!
Kindest Regards,
Cindy Miller-Griffith
