As Kaelene Forysth sat glued to her computer screen on April 2, she hoped her final bid would be enough. With each passing minute, her heart pounded harder as the stress of the online auction mounted. At 11:07 a.m., the confirmation came through—and with it, a deep sigh of relief.
Forysth had just become the proud new owner of Preseli Jim, a two-year-old working sheepdog from the United Kingdom with a prestigious pedigree and exceptional promise.
“I can’t even begin to describe the emotions I felt when I saw we had won,” said Forysth.
She and her father, Campbell, operate CKF Kennels in Eriksdale, where they raise and train herding dogs to work with sheep and cattle. Their current team includes eight working dogs, and they had been hoping to expand with a top-tier addition.
“A couple of good working dogs are a useful tool on any ranch,” said Forysth. “They can enter thickets of brush to gather cows that you can’t get into on horseback… it’s a low-stress way of handling livestock. And just like any farmer would say, the wellbeing of their livestock is most important.”
Jim, who comes from a championship bloodline, was the top-selling dog at the CCM Auction—a prestigious livestock and working dog auction based in the UK. Though Forysth is keeping the final cost private, she emphasized the importance of sourcing puppies from reputable breeders.
Jim is the son of Preseli Jock, a decorated border collie with multiple stock dog titles in the UK.
“Jock checks all the boxes for us,” Forysth said. “He’s strong, has lots of presence and many titles behind him. He has such a great personality, which is why it’s so important for us to bring Jim into our kennel.”
This was Forysth’s first time bidding in an online auction, and she admitted it was a nerve-racking experience. She had never met Jim in person and relied on extensive communication with his breeder before making the leap.
“We’ve been super impressed with his bloodline, and we’re really excited to bring this breed into Canada,” she said. “There are only a few dogs like Jim here, so we’re looking forward to seeing what he can bring to our program.”
CKF Kennels trains, raises, and competes with working dogs in stock dog trials, including time-based and field-based competitions where dogs are judged on efficiency and handling skills.
Kaelene and Campbell have over 30 years of experience in the stock dog world and are constantly watching for standout pups to join their ranks.
Jim arrived in Canada on April 16 after a nearly nine-hour flight from London to Calgary. From there, he was driven to Manitoba by Forysth’s cousin—finally completing his journey to his new home.
Now, Jim is adjusting to life in Eriksdale. Forysth said transitioning to a new handler can be a challenge, especially since Jim’s previous trainer was a British male, but she’s confident he’ll settle in well.
While breeding Jim is a possibility down the road, Forysth said her focus is on continuing to raise high-quality, competitive working dogs.
