My life with dogs began at 1986 when I bought my first 
Bearded Collie FIN CH Fontane Black Affe. Affe stole my heart so totally that ever since I’ve been faithfull to this breed.

Though Affe was not bought for a show dog I didn't reject the breeder's wish to show him at least occasionally. But only after few shows it became obvious that Affe had been the pick of the litter! He grew up to be quite a successful show dog even up to level of Best In Show which really wasn't common for Beardies in Finland in 1980s.

For myself it didn’t need more than a couple of sips of the atmosphere of a dog show and I was sucked in to the world of showing.

But still, showing is not all. From the very beginning I was activelly involved in obedience and agility training, first as a trainee and very soon as a trainer too. First three of my dogs competed in obedience and Affe and Kassu (FIN CH Fontane Kashmir) also in agility. Elmeri (FIN CH Fontane Black Excalibur) was trained for search and rescue.

I also made a long career in the local all breed club board. For 12 years I filled various posts from PR person to club secretary. Being actively involved in all breed activities gave me an excellent view over the whole field of dog sports. I’m also qualified ring stewardess and have worked in several show committees. But sooner or later comes the time when it's time to make room for newcomers with their new ideas. So at year 2000 I refused to get nominated for re-election for the club board.

For a year I walked free concentrating only on my own dogs. At 2001 I was offered the chance to become the representative of Finnish Bearded Collie Club in the Finnish Kennel Club Council which I accepted. A year later I was called
to the FBC Breeding Committee in which I stayed until the end of 2006 most of the time being the chair.

Breeding has been my great interest from the very beginning. Because the breeder of my old dogs is my close friend I’ve had a unique opportunity to survey the work of the breeder at close range before even dreaming of breeding myself. But I feel that practice and theory should walk hand in hand and that’s why I’ve also attended several courses, seminars, and lectures in breeding.

At 1990s it became obvious that due to major changes in her life the breeder of my old dogs could no longer put that much time and effort in breeding and showing and I had to start seeking for a new active show companion. That’s how I got acquainted with Lena Eskills. In Lena I found an equally enthusiastic Beardie person who shared my visions in Beardies. We soon started a joint venture under Lena’s former prefix Perky’s. During the three year of fruitful co-operation we bred 5 litters whose achievements we can be proud of and whose antics are followed on these pages too.

But life had some new surprises stored for us and that's why at the end of 2006 we decided that it's time for me to move on to my own path. That path is now called Bailer's End.