The Rainshade Story

For more than thirty years, Rainshade Collies have epitomized the finest characteristics for which the Collie breed is known and loved. Recognized worldwide for their exquisite beauty and elegance, Rainshade Collies represent the quintessential Collie. Rainshade Collies are endowed with intelligence, sweet dispositions, excellent health, and genetic soundness.

Rainshade Collies have been exported to loving show homes in more than a dozen countries on four continents, where they and their offspring have received championship and obedience titles and recognition for community service. Rainshade Collies are found in homes in almost every state in the United States and have appeared on television programs, graced the pages of books and magazines, and served as commercial advertising models.

International Champion Ringleader Blue of Rainshade

Rainshade Collies began in 1977, when veterinarian Sharon Vanderlip purchased two rough Collies. One was a beautiful tricolor dog of famed Ladypark and Rokeby champion lineages, the other was a blue-merle female descendent of Champion Mywicks Satine of Simba Star, Champion Mywicks Meadow Lancer, and Champion Carramar Boy Blue. Dr. Vanderlip's first pair of Collies produced International Champion Ringleader Blue of Rainshade and Rainshade Collies was off to a wonderful beginning!

International Champion Ringleader Blue of Rainshade was exported to Switzerland in 1980. He defeated the top Collies of his time and quickly obtained his Swiss, Italian, Monacan, and International Championship titles. Ringleader is full brother to Rainshade Blue Raindance, who also enjoyed a successful show career in Switzerland, and Rainshade Alice Blue Gown. Alice was a favorite and remained at Rainshade Collies. Some of today's Rainshade Collies trace back six or more generations to Alice.

In addition to International Champion Ringleader Blue of Rainshade, Rainshade Collies have produced champions and champion offspring around the world, including Australia, Canada, Europe, and Mexico. At the time of this writing, there are many more Rainshade Collie offspring that are pointed and well on their way to their championship, obedience, and agility titles.

Rainshade Collies in the early years

So many Rainshade Collies have won peoples' hearts, it's hard to list them all. However, in conformation, Canadian Champion Mareb's Crystal Blue Persuasion CD was always a favorite.

Other early Rainshade notables include Rainshade Sans Souci (Camille), daughter of Rainshade Alice Blue Gown. Camille was exported to Australia where she produced Australian Champion Vedamea Grand Master, C.D.X. and many champion descendents. Camille was also the first Colle in history to produce offspring from frozen semen. The sire was Rainshade Marjo Great Spirit. The semen was collected and frozen in the United States before Rainshade Marjo Great Spirit was exported to Switzerland.

Rainshade Alice Blue Gown also produced Rainshade Noblesse Oblige (Sampson). Sampson was exported to Australia and sired two Australian champions: Champion Vedamea Rags to Riches and Champion Vedamea Melody to Record, C.D.X, and several champion descendents. The genetic qualities of Rainshade Noblesse Oblige greatly influenced Collies in Australia for generations, as proven by the success of his great grandson, Australian Champion Vedemea the Diamond Beau, Best of Breed winner at the Sydney Royal in 2001, 2002, and Runner Up Best of Breed 2003.

Rainshade Continental Drift was exported to Australia and produced Australian Champion Vedemea Courtin' the Blues and Australian Champion Vedemea Herd the Blues.

In the herding arena, Rainshade Shadows and Light and Rainshade Tried and True take top billing. In agility and obedience, Rainshade Renaissance Wizard proved that Collies can do it all and Rainshade Starlit Night took home the ribbons. Rainshade Blue Magic was an extraordinary Collie in obedience, carting, service, and therapy work. Of course, there are many, many more accomplished Rainshade Collies in all of these arenas. Many of these wonderful Collies can be seen on the Our Collies page, which is updated regularly.

Rainshade Collies Today

Today's Rainshade Collies reflect more than 30 years of incorporating American lineage, originating from Lick Creek descent, through Rainshade Razzmatazz and Rainshade Kingsmark Out of the Blue. Rainshade Collies today descend at least 7 generations from the original bloodlines that produced International Champion Ringleader Blue of Rainshade.

Dr. Vanderlip's decades of Collie expertise, genetic knowledge, and high criteria for selection, has enabled her to create a line of Collies that are so genetically dominant for their desired qualities that they have repeatedly produced healthy champion offspring regardless of the outcrossed lines to which they are bred when they are exported.

Rainshade Collies are DNA tested clear of specific diseases that are problematic in the Collie breed. Many Collie breeders have introduced Rainshade Collies into their own breeding programs to help them eliminate genetic problems in their lines, while simultaneously improving the overall beauty, health, and conformation of the Collies they produce.

Rainshade Collies has repeatedly demonstrated that a superb Collie is easy to recognize and can win anywhere in the world.

Rainshade Collies in the Lead

For three decades, Rainshade Collies has helped lead the way, by example, and by sharing and providing information to other breeders, to eliminating genetic problems in the Collie. Much of the advancement of genetic health and quality in the Collie has been attributed to the valuable information Dr. Vanderlip provided Collie breeders in her widely acclaimed book, THE COLLIE-A VETERINARY REFERENCE FOR THE PROFESSIONAL BREEDER (1984). Dr. Vanderlip's book was the first book ever published to describe Collie genetics, disorders (and how to eliminate them), and coat color inheritance, in great depth and detail. The book quickly sold out, but Collie enthusiasts will be glad to know that Dr. Vanderlip's new, updated and expanded Collie book will be released soon.

Rainshade Collies has also been a leader in promoting advanced breeding techniques for Colllie reproduction. For more than 15 years, Dr. Vanderlip has produced numerous Rainshade Collie litters from frozen semen. (Dr. Vanderlip's practice is limited exclusively to canine reproduction for show, competiton, working, and service dogs). The first Collie offspring in the world produced from frozen semen was sired by Rainshade Marjo Great Spirit. Vedemea Collies purchased and imported the dam of the litter, Rainshade Sans Souci and then imported the frozen semen and arranged the insemination with a veterinarian in Australia, where the litter was born.

Dr. Vanderlip continues to work with universities and research institutions regularly on projects of importance to Collies, such as canine cyclic hematopoeisis and other health problems, as well as coat color genetics. Recently, Dr. Vanderlip co-authored a chapter on the merle gene and genetic disorders, in the newly released book GENOMICS OF DISEASE (2008). For more information, see About Dr. Vanderlip.

Continued success

Rainshade Collies are recognized worldwide for their exquisite beauty and elegance, sweet temperament, genetic quality, sound movement, and excellent health. Rainshade Collies are successful in the show ring, obedience ring, herding arena, and agility competitions. Rainshade Collies are known for their outstanding service work as therapy dogs. And Rainshade Collies are devoted, affectionate, loving, well-mannered members of the family!

Rainshade Collies have touched countless peoples' lives worldwide and left indelible footprints in their owners' hearts.

Most people who buy Rainshade Collies are repeat buyers. Once people have owned and loved a Rainshade Collie, they invariably return to request an additional Rainshade Collie....and that is a true measure of success!