Gambit Collies

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We would like to welcome you to our Gambit Collies website. We hope to inspire the love of this magnificent breed. Gambit Collies is the dream of sisters Linda Robbins and Barbara-Hash O’Keefe. We are not only sisters but identical twins. To our friends and family, we are fondly known as “the twins”. We have been showing and breeding collies for over 25 years. While we won’t reveal our age, we will tell you that we were two “wide-eyed, wild hair” girls who loved, breathed and dreamed about Collies.

We came from a military family of 12 kids. We moved a lot and my parents felt that a dog was out of the question. We had the love of dogs at an early age and although we could not own a dog of our own, we spent hours reading and devouring every dog book or movie that came out on dogs and collies. Our love affair for collies was inspired by the Lassie serials as well as books by Albert Payson Terhune books; about his heroic collies.

From our humble beginnings and with a lot of determination, we have successfully bred and owned over 50 Champion Collies in both Rough and Smooth varieties and in several countries. While we firmly believe in quality not quantity, we still have produced not only champion show dogs, but have produced a line of collies that is recognized and revered around the country. The Gambit line of collies is known for their style, correct type, beautiful outline and overall balance. We pride ourselves on our emphasis of head detail, especially on beautiful profiles and “classic skulls”. We also breed for sound and correct movement, neck and great temperaments with outstanding showmanship. We have been breeding collies that are not only a joy for us, but to all the families who have been lucky enough to live with a Gambit bred dog.

In addition to breeding for beautiful collies, we are strong advocates in promoting the health and well-being of the collie breed. Our goal is to preserve this wonderful breed not only for the present but for future generations as well. We are adamant in breeding for the best quality collies. We do this through sacrifice, hard work and education. Here at Gambit Collies, we are proud to stand behind every dog we breed and place.

We feel that a Gambit Collie is very versatile. They have been successful in the obedience ring, agility ring and of course the show ring. Our dogs also serve as companion and service dogs or just simply as a loving family pet. Our belief is that collies can do anything their owners have in mind and a “Gambit Collie” is always eager and willing to meet any challenges that come their way and please their owners.

Our dogs have a proven record in the show ring with an abundance of  “Top Honors”, to many to attempt to list. Our dogs have won multiple Group One’s; that are dogs winning multiple prestige’s specialty. We have placed high in the top ten ranking of collies in the country, including the number one spot. We have also won the Canadian and American National Specialties several times with the coveted “Best of Breed” Honors.

Gambit Collies have been very successful in the United States and Canada. We are very proud to have helped aspiring new breeders, who today are successful collie breeders, all who started with a Gambit bred foundation dog. We are equally pleased to have had our dog’s genes added and or established into some of the countries top bloodlines. With several of our stud dogs earning their R.O.M. (record of merit), their genetic influence can be seen for many generations.

Personally as collie breeders, we have been recognized in both national and international collie articles, magazines and books. In addition, we have written and had our articles published in some of these magazines. We have assisted in putting on some national seminars, with our dogs being used as the “correct’ examples of the correct collie type. Some of the country’s top collie and sheltie breeders have recognized us as on of the top collie breeders in the country.

Linda Robbins has finished her Collie judge provisions and is well on our way in becoming an AKC judge.

We welcome your comments and questions and as time permits, we will attempt to reply to all who contact us. With kids, horses, traveling and owning our own business (a grooming shop no less), please bear with us on our replies. But please know that we appreciate your interest and hope that you are now or will soon be doing as us and enjoying the wonderful world of Collies.

From left to right:

Barbara Hash O'Keefe, Judge Gail Wolfe, and Linda Hash Robbins

Both puppies were 3 months old.  "Scandel" Gambit's Rumor Has It (female) is on the left and on the right is "Rory" Gambit's The Dragon's Roar (male).  This was taken in 1984 at a puppy match.  Scandel won Best of Breed while Rory won Best of Opposite Sex.  Both puppies did finish latter in their career.

But this wasn't the only time:

This time its Best of Breed and Winners Bitch

Fast forward a few years and you have Kodak on his 10th birthday with Barbara and Linda