Bonibraes Bearded Collies is a prominent Australian kennel situated in the beachside suburb of Sanctuary Point two and a half hours south of Sydney. Bonibraes is a mother/ daughter partnership, the product of a twenty five year plus love affair with the Bearded Collie. During that time we have been heavily involved in the local breed club, agility clubs and  lately with sheep herding as competitors, instructors and judges.  Bonibraes Beardies have been based on combining top winning Australian bloodlines, combined with those from Canada, England, and Europe.  Always concerned about the levels of inbreeding in Australia, we have  chosen carefully and bred not only for type and temperament but also to consistently lower our levels of inbreeding.

 

It seems a long time ago now that with much excitement we bought home our very first beardie, a pet brown boy“ Dutchie” (Cucairdeil Copper Dutch) who proved to be an instant success with the all the family. Six months later " Chockles" Ch Cucairdeil Chockdrop arrived to be our very first show dog, and things just escalated from there.  Karin proved to be an outstanding handler, and with  mum as her support, Bonibraes started making its mark on the show scene.

Success for Bonibraes really started when we purchased a lovely slate dog, "Duncan", Ch Colard Captivation, and an outstanding brown bitch, "Kara", Ch Burnhardt Copper Flame, from the top two kennels in Melbourne. Both were very heavily based on Pepperlands  Lyric John. bloodlines. Not only did this pair have considerable success themselves, but when mated produced an outstanding litter, out of which we kept "Einstein", Ch Bonibraes Bedevilled and "Brooke",  Ch Bonibraes Bedazzled.  When we added to this our lovely "Charm", Ch Burnhardt Charm N Devil, we were on our way to developing “our style” of bearded collie.

June 1997 saw the arrival of our first Canadian import Can Am Aust Ch "Classical Clap for the Wolfman" ROM. “Jackson”. Purchased for his outstanding bloodlines, he was a well-boned dark slate dog, with a super head and a bouncy bubbly temperament,.  "Jackson" had that star quality needed for success in the show ring. A Canadian and American Champion, he cruised through his Australian title with a Best in Show on the way. 

1998 saw the arrival in the show ring of our first progeny from "Jackson".  Right from the start his children made their mark on the Aussie show scene. While the girls “Caitlyn”  Ch Bonibraes Simply Dazzlin and “Bliss” Ch Bonibraes Wolfmans Bliss certainly had their major successes, no one has topped the outstanding show record enjoyed by his son “Digby”, Grand Champion Bonibraes Wolfmans Image HSAS. "Digby", also a "Charm" son,  is the most successful Bearded Collie we have ever bred winning multiple Best in Shows, and a Best in Group at the prestigious Sydney Royal on his way to being the first Grand Champion at Bonibraes. Starting herding in his later years Digby breezed through all his test levels achieving a High In Trial at his first attempt—competing against all breeds as well as Aussie working dogs ..

March 2000 saw the arrival of another Classical boy, Aust Ch, Can Ch. Classical Written in the Stars,  ‘Carter’ a "Potterdale Double Image" son to join the family. A bubbly bouncing slate boy, with a classic outline and beautiful head. "Carter" has taken great pleasure in siring several beautiful litters at Bonibraes.  His children too have arrived in the show ring with great success. His first litter produced "Sarah-Jane" Ch Bonibraes Charm N Star and "Josh",  Ch Bonibraes Bound ToBa Star, a multi Best in Show winner. His little dynamo daughter  "Dazzle" also known as Ch Bonibraes Dazzlin Star achieved a Best in Specialty Show at the tender age of six months and five days!  .

 

 

New arrivals from overseas to Bonibraes in 2004 were “Roxie”, Ch Firstprizebears Chicago, a glamorous fawn bitch from Belgium, and “Ralph” Ch Alistair’s Dashing Design a lovely dark brown dog from Sweden.  “Ralph” our brown clown has provided much laughter both in the show and herding rings with his antics, and he has also sired several successful litters with his children winning well in several states .

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BONIBRAES BEARDED COLLIES

‘Kara” winning Best of breed

at Sydney Royal

“Einstein’ winning Best of breed

at Sydney Royal

‘Digby’ winning best of Breed at

Sydney Royal

Late 2005 our English boy “Chad” Ch Ramsgrove Revolution PT arrived and quickly took hold of our hearts. Like the rest of his litter he is an absolutely  super boy,  so he raced to his championship title in the first year, then proceeded to bowl over his herding titles one after another with his usual boundless enthusiasm .  Also added to our ever growing family was a beautiful slate bitch “Elle” Ch Avongael Elegance  AI sired by frozen semen from GB Ch Snowmead Sans Faute JW, and out of a “Carter” daughter, her pure outline and beautiful head have to be seen to be believed.

 

 

 

“Caitlyn” winning Best Of  Breed at Sydney Royal

2007 saw the arrival of a very special litter-  “Chad” and “Tess’ had a romantic liaison which resulted in an absolutely outstanding litter, so much so that both “Simon” Grand Ch Bonibraes Anything Goes HT and “Jazz” Ch Bonibraes Aint Misbehavin stayed at home, while “Sallie-Anne “ Ch Bonibraes Crazy For You HSAs went home with Beatriz Insausti and Colin Mackrory and “Diesel” Ndl Ch Bonibraes Hope And Glory flew over the seas to live with Rianne and  Vinke in the Netherlands.  This must be the most consistent quality litter we have ever bred.

2008 saw the arrival of the much anticipated “Elle” and “Digby” litter.  Currently their daughter “ Nikki”  Bonibraes Wolfmans Tradition  is visiting Alison Smith in Queensland where she bounds, leaps and laughs through the day, while her brother “Zac” Bonibraes Wolfmans  Legacy HT  is with Karin and spends his days gaiting the fences closely watching those darn sheep.  Both will arrive in the show ring in Autumn 2009.  We anticipate lots of fun with this pair.

 

2009 will see the arrival in late March another litter sired by “Chad” and out of a “Ralph” daughter, and if all goes to plan a “Ralph” and “Tess” litter.

 

 

 

We have great plans for 2008, hopefully we will see yet another generation of  Bonibraes beards, hopefully the best yet!

“Joshua” continuing his winning ways beautifully handled by Angela Dillon

Joining the show team in 2003 , was “Tess” Ch Bonibraes Frequent Flyer HSAs sired by Aust Grand Champion, Am Ch Ragtyme Blackfriar I Can Fly ( imp USA) and out of our Ch Bonibraes Wolfmans Bliss. Outstanding in breed type, not only has she excelled in the show ring but she also proved to be a very talented herder– another High In Trial winner!!

“Simon”  best Puppy in Group 5

Sydney Royal 2008

 Late March 2009 saw the arrival of a litter sired by “Chad” out of “Shea” Ch Bonibraes  Itsabout Style ( a “Bliss & Ralph” daughter).  We kept a cute brown bitch called “Dee-Dee”, who in three shows has come home with three Best Baby Puppy in Show. 

 

Early November 2009 we are waiting for the arrival of a repeat of the “Chad”/ “Star” litter.  This time we hope that there will be that long awaited special bitch for us.  “Star” is one of only two “Digby” daughter we have, and a really lovely bitch who regretfully has not been shown as much as she should have been.