After 35 years of living with Bearded Collies, since 1987 Linda has owned 9 bitches and two dogs and has bred 7 litters as well as standing her males at stud, she is without a Beardie in her life. Prior to her involvement with Beardies she had Border Collies and an Afghan Hound. She has been owned by a Havanese since 2011, and currently has three bitches and a dog, and has bred 8 litters.

Her dogs have regular CBC/biochemistry profiles, thyroid panels, cardiac and eye exams. They are tested for brucellosis prior to breeding, and have been evaluated for hip dysplasia (OFA and/or PENNHip) and von Willebrand Factor. Linda organized the study of the MDR1 (multiple drug resistance) mutation testing of Beardies at the 2006 specialty in conjunction with Dr. Katrina Mealey of Washington State University – all Beardies tested were clear of the mutation. In addition, 62 Beardies in Beacon’s open health registry have tested normal (clear of the mutation).

Linda shows in conformation and in the past in herding and agility. She does community outreach work with her dogs. Many hours are spent each day advising people on health and behavior issues affecting their Beardies. She has degrees in physiological sciences and is a veterinarian with a referral practice treating behavioral problems of dogs, horses, cats, and zoo animals. She lectures and writes on behavior as well as other veterinary topics.

Linda joined the BCCA in 1988 and was a member or chairperson of the BCCA Health Committee from 1989 to 1998 and conducted the first health survey (1990-92). She was president of the Minuteman Bearded Collie Club (1999-2002). She was BCCA member of the year for 2004 and chair of the BCCA Health Committee from October 2004 through June 2011. She is Vice President of BeaCon and was among its founding members in 1999. Her numerous articles in Lighting the Way (BeaCon’s Newsletter) over these years have guided many in their search for knowledge.

Linda’s DVM is from Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, and she was on the faculty there for a number of years. Her BA and MA are from Oxford University. She also has published papers on the psychophysics of vision among other top articles.