About us

My name is Atlanta and I first registered my affix ‘Vycaran’ in 2017, showing Collies since 2019. I have studied for 5 years under my breed mentor Mrs Angela Harvey (Wicani) and have studied breeding inc. genetics and anatomy for 4 years at the Animal Care College under Mr David Cavill. I have taken my JCF Level 1 seminars and some Level 2 exams although I have no plans to start judging. I also run a popular website, iCollie, which has over 14,000 visits worldwide and breaks Collie genetics and history topics into easy-to-understand articles - alongside independent studies to answer questions on the history of the breed, such as the inheritance of the now-extinct ‘bi black’ coat colour.

After my first kennel visit to Wicani I fell in love with Angela’s Collies, in particular being dazzled by UK Ch. Churchoak Temptress at Wicani (Jezebel)! I later brought home a granddaughter of hers, Wicani Moon Dew Stars over Vycaran (by Ch. Wicani Simon Templar) who has become my foundation bitch.

I live in South Wales with our Collies and my fiancé who is the resident 'good cop'! I love showing and we're looking forward to getting back out with our new puppies next year.

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Our aim

In the 80s and 90s many lines diverged away from the Collies that came before, in my opinion to the detriment of the breed. A lot of work has been done to recreate the classic collie phenotype, and now we need to preserve it. This throws up a different set of challenges, but if we have an open mind and study, we can use a lot of new tools and an improved understanding of genetics in the modern day to tackle these issues. I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel, but to continue the work that's been done to create it and ultimately, look after it while it's in my care.

 

My belief is that genetic testing is an important tool rather than an end result. I don't pick up a hammer and call it a fence, likewise I don't look at COI measures and say my dogs are genetically diverse and feel proud. Dogs are living creatures with complex genomes and as such there is always the need for careful cultivation and improvements. Things like DNA testing, inbreeding measures (both pedigree and genetic COI), and pedigree analysis are always in my toolbox and I am trying to use the right tools for each job. By doing this rather than just looking at skin-deep genetic results, I can understand better the situation the breed is in and can make more informed decisions. 

 

So, we can't know what exactly the future will hold for us at Vycaran Collies, but I do know that we will keep using this mindset to do whatever we can to improve the health of our beloved Collies whilst breeding for the beautiful phenotype I fell in love with. If that sounds like something you want to be part of, come along for the journey :)

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Our Breeding Collies

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Wicani Moon Dew Stars over Vycaran

Sire: Ch Wicani Simon Templar (By Dispiritos Shasta Madre ex UK Ch Churchoak Temptress at Wicani) 

Dam: Wicani Spins Silver Dreams (By Wicani Paint by Numbers ex Wicani Veiled Promise)

CEA unaffected carrier, MDR1 clear/clear, DM clear/clear, DMS AabbCC Low Risk