Ch. Barksdale Beauregard of Belleville

Bred by Nancy McDonald (Barksdale Collies), Beau went to live with the Preddy family at 11 weeks to be a companion for daughters Katie and Bess. Little did anyone know what his future would hold. After attending a few shows as spectators, the Preddys tried their hand at shows with Beau enjoying every moment. A litter brother to Ch. Barksdale Beneficiary, ROM – 2002 CCA WD/BW/Best BBX & 2003 CCA Best Stud Dog, Beau also shared the same “Put me in, Coach” temperament and embraced his new role as a show dog. It was a true family affair, with Larry doing morning power walks and managing travel & entertainment, Kathy learning about pedigrees, breeding and bloodlines, and Bess and Katie sharing Beau’s lead in the ring. As a four-year-old, he came into his own, winning back-to-back specialties at Piedmont Collie Club under Russell Kaufmann and Phyllis Autrey. Energized by this success and encouraged after the 2003 Piedmont Collie Camp where Matt Stelter and Jennie Duhon hijacked Beau for a grooming demonstration, his trip to the 2004 National was planned. After the grooming seminar, Matt predicted he would make breed history by going 2004 CCA Winners Dog, but nobody else dared to believe it would happen.

The atmosphere at the National was electric, and Beau sparkled his way to first place in American Bred Dogs … a thrill of a lifetime for most! The next day in the Winners class, he would become Judge Pati Merrill’s choice for 2004 CCA Winners Dog, and later, Best American Bred under Judge Ted Paul. Breed history was made.

As the Preddy girls grew-up, and became more accomplished, they earned many Best Junior awards, adding Specialty Best of Breed wins and a Herding Group 1. Beau and Katie earned their way into the Top Ten Juniors several years and became a team known by the entire Collie World. Katie is now an aspiring Collie breeder in her own right, and it all started with Beau…

Wyndlair was honored to be a small part of this Cinderella Story. Collie dreams do come true again and again…