Hello and welcome to my website!  My name is Katie and I own and show “Jordi” (Vedamea the Real McCoy). I have been captivated by collies ever since I was a kid; finding the one breed that simply changed my heart and soul forever.

It all started out in front of the television, it was the Lassie movies that got me hooked. His beauty, intelligence, temperament; I just had to have one!  On my 7th birthday in 1993 I was stunned when I was told to go outside and see what was waiting for me.  It was my very own Lassie puppy! I picked her up and she just looked at me with these big brown eyes, it was from then on that I was obsessed with ANYTHING Collie. Heidi and I had many years together, but unfortunately not long enough. She died tragically at the young age of 7 years. The story is a heartbreaking one, and one I still cry about everytime I remember it. It was on 10th of November 2000. It was a Friday afternoon just after school. I was picked up by my mother and we made our way home.  We pulled up in the drive way and opened the gates. Our drive way was long and lined with beautiful palm trees nestled in rich red tanbark. The same thing happened every afternoon but this time it changed my life forever. Heidi came running down the drive way with her tail wagging to greet us. We drove in the drive way, and she was running around the car excited that we were home. Mum stopped the car and said “Where has Heidi gone? I can’t see her.” I said “She is probably behind the car waiting to follow us in like always, she will be fine, just drive” Mum drove forward and suddenly we felt a bump. My mum and I looked at each other and tears started streaming down our faces. I didn’t want to get out of the car, I just sat there stunned. All these images started going through my head, I couldn’t think straight. I got out of the car to find her lying on the driveway. Mum ran inside to call the vet. I walked up to her in tears, I could hardly breath. She gave me one last look and wagged her tail. I knelt down and patted her saying it was going to be alright. Then all of a sudden she was gone. I just sat in the drive way screaming and screaming, I got up and walked around the garden, crying and yelling saying “Heidi please don’t go” I was going insane, it all felt like a dream. It was like someone ripped my heart right out of my chest. I ran inside to tell mum. She shoved blankets in my face and told me to wrap her up so we could take her to the vet. I said “Mum, its too late she’s gone” Mum insisted and I yelled “She is gone!” Mum just looked at me in tears. She told me not to go back outside and to wait for Dad to get home. When Dad got home he buried her in the backyard under a tree and made a cross. My dad is big, strong, tough; but this is the first time I have ever seen him tear. I can’t even begin to imagine the pain it would feel burying your own dog. Digging a hole and laying your dog down to rest and then filling it back up with dirt again – I think this would tip me over the edge. Heidi was not only my dog but my best friend, we did everything together. When I was upset she was there to lay her head on my arm, to give me a nudge to say it was going to be alright. We had something special and I miss her so much every single day. I lied in my bed for what felt like months crying. Even at school I cried. I just couldn’t stop the tears; I wanted no dog but Heidi.

A year or two later in 2002 I decided I needed a new friend in my life. I had always been interested in showing so thought it would be a good idea to get a pup to show. When looking at what breed to get I steered away from the Collie because all I could think about was Heidi. I decided to get a Golden Retriever. Her name was “Sandy” aka “Naancampa Bonny Girl”. We both attended shows together and she was what got me into the love of showing and breeding.  It was funny because I would be showing in Group 3 but always had my eye on the collies in Group 5. After much thought I decided to have a litter under the Amitygold Prefix. I looked around for a suitable stud dog and chose “Heliodor Andalusite” owned by Shirley and Brian Wishart. Sandy had a litter of 6 beautiful pups that all went to loving family homes. A year passed and I sadly had to find new homes for all of my pets. We moved from acreage in the semi-rural suburbs into the heart of Essendon with no fencing to house a dog not to mention no where to put my pet sheep and my beloved pet goat “Tommy”.

In 2005 I started looking around at breeders of Rough Collies in Australia. Being without a dog was sending me crazy and I new just what I wanted and needed in my life and that was a Collie.  I liked Golden’s but my true love was Collies. One breeder and website that got my attention was Vedamea Collies. Leah Ryan’s Collies were real Collies; Regal, Majestic, Elegant, Sound; ALL of what the Collie breed is sadly lacking these days. I did a lot of research of breeders in and out of Australia. I went to shows every week speaking to exhibitors/breeders and learning. For a few years I dreamt about owning a Vedamea Collie and I spoke to Leah on a few occasions about acquiring a show quality pup. Finally mid 2007 I welcomed home "Jordi".
This is where Heidianah Rough Collies begins. Following my personal code of ethics I look forward to the future of breeding beautiful collies true to the breed standard with superior temperament, intelligence and beauty that can excel not only in the ring but herding, agility, obedience; and the most important of all a great family pet.

Heidianah Rough Collies is named after and dedicated to my forever loved first collie Heidi.

I hope this has given you a glimpse of who I am and how much I love my dogs.  Please feel free to write to me with any questions you may have. Thank you for stopping by!