Diane Buckland – A Canadian Bobtail Treasure!
Diane has had a long and illustrious career as one of, if not the premier Old English Sheepdog breeder in Canada spanning just over 50 years of active breeding. Whilst certainly not the first OES breeder in our country she was one of the first to really advocate for our breed and during her early years of breeding she almost single-handedly brought the Bobtail into the eye of the Canadian public. Her accomplishments are to say the least impressive. Through a small kennel always operated from her home, be it in the western provinces, Quebec or Ontario as she and her family moved with her late husband’s work requirements, Diane has bred 69 officially recognized Canadian Champions, many of which have won Best-In-Group and a substantial number have also gone onto Best-In-Show honours. Some of those 69 have also earned championships in the USA, Bermuda, and other lands as distant as Australia. Perhaps Diane’s most public success was her involvement with BIS Can.Am.Bda. Ch. Sir Lancelot of Barvan (Dudley), the 1975 Westminster BIS winner who is only the second and to-date last OES to earn that honour. While Dudley was bred by Ms. Barbara Vanword-Thomson, Diane did breed both of Dudley’s Sire and Dam and Diane was also one of the team which prepared Dudley for that show. Tarawood’s dogs have found their way to many corners of the world and were recognized and are remembered for their “breed type”, overall health as well as a stable and trustworthy temperament. Those of us who are blessed to still have the last of her dogs cherish them perhaps a bit more specially than most. Diane also contributed to the Dog Fancy as a Judge for some two decades earning the respect of her judging peers and exhibitors alike through fair judging and placing the dog’s conformation and ring performance above any politics of the day. Since retiring from active breeding Diane has continued to be very active in the OESOCC (Old English Sheepdog and Owners Club of Canada) at various times ably fulfilling the roles of Secretary and Treasurer, often concurrently. She has also been very active in organizing several of our eastern based national specialty shows and continues to build and maintain a pedigree database of many of Canada’s notable Bobtails. She is currently working on her second book about Bobtails, naturally focusing on the Bobtail in Canada and is one of the very few CKC (Canadian Kennel Club) members who has been permitted into the club’s central registry office to personally search records as she has built that pedigree database. Encompassing all of this Diane has also been a devoted, caring and loving wife, mother and grand-mother. Even more than publicly acknowledging Diane’s work to our breed and thanking her for those years of effort and dedication, it is to let her know that she is appreciated and not forgotten that I have opened this thread. So, for those who know Diane or of her kennel and accomplishments, perhaps you could forward a few kind and supportive words and/or best wishes to her. Unfortunately it will need to be by “snail mail” as Diane is now rarely on her computer and is frequently unable to answer her phone. Any card or hand written note would be appreciated by both Diane and her family (she still lives with her daughter, son-in-law and grandsons) and would let her know that our Bobtail community has not forgotten her, nor her copious contributions to our breed. Her mailing address is: Diane Buckland 1345 Sherwood Forest Drive R.R. #5, Bracebridge, Ontario. P1L 1X3 Canada I will do my best to let the family know of any best wishes left on this thread so that they may be printed out for Diane to read. Personal Thoughts. Even as a teenager in the 1970’s I knew of and respected the Tarawood’s kennel name. When my family went to dog shows Bobtails were of course my primary focus and every Bobtail exhibitor I spoke to knew of Diane and spoke highly of her kennel and dogs. They were in the pedigree of every successful dog of the day including those from the Barvan and Farfelu kennels which were perhaps the most visible and numerically successful of the day. “One day I would have a dog from there” I thought to myself. Twenty some years later when Michele and I married a Bobtail, okay a couple or more, was on our list of “absolutely must haves”. And of course I wanted a Tarawood’s dog. Could I possibly get myself onto Diane’s list? E-mail was my first “personal” contact with Diane, followed by several phone calls and more e-mails. Diane was not going to let just anyone have one of her puppies. She interviewed me just as intensely and critically as I would any other breeder. Needless to say I didn’t interview Diane to see if she was a good breeder, I had known that for over half my life. Eventually, given my previous experience with Bobtails, my interest in showing and overall passion for the breed she accepted me. In fact I seem to have made a fairly good impression on her as I clearly “leap-frogged” a portion of her waiting list. A few years later I was talking to Diane and mentioned this and she confirmed that yes indeed I had bumped, in her words, “a lot” of her waiting list. Linda Smith (SilverSpar Kennels Edmonton, Alberta) who showed Virgil to the finishing of his championship during his western tour and breedings, all arranged by Diane, one day said that Virgil should have been hers, that I had slipped in and gotten him. Clearly she was one of the people we had “bumped” and a breeder at that! While there have been times when I have not spoken with Diane for extended periods she has always been there to answer any questions I have had. She has also just called me up “out of the blue” to ask my opinion of various subjects related to Bobtails and advise me of breed related news or concerns. I was even one of the first she called when she was grieving over the sudden and unexpectedly death of one of her dogs while he was away on a show tour. Diane’s passion not just for the breed as a whole, but for the individual dogs shone through her tears that day. That passion has been a constant in her life and remains so. Any differences she may have had with anyone about our breed are borne from that passion and her positions are substantiated by many many years of practical experience. On very rare occasions I have actually initially disagreed with Diane, but after a few moments of reflection and objective thought sometime later I have ultimately had to agree that she has been correct. In fact some of my best “quiet and personal” moments in the Bobtail breed have been the praises Diane has conferred onto me for my grooming, show handling skills and overall care of my dogs. Maybe most of all her comments that I “… am a breeder’s dream owner…” both in private and public forums are cherished moments from the “dean” of Canadian Bobtail breeders. Yes some others have had a lot of well deserved success and publicity such as Farfelu, Barvan, and more recently Raffles as well as others including Amber’s Blueshire, but Diane preceded them and in large part set substantial portions of the foundations of many of their breeding programs. To me Diane will always be the dean of Canadian Bobtail breeders. And for all her praiseworthy accomplishments I have never seen nor heard of Diane doing anything in a brash or self-aggrandizing manner. She has, in my experience, always been quietly effective, dedicated and in fact humble. I have often thanked her for doing such a great job breeding our Virgil Tiberius and she has always, absolutely without exception, turned it around and said Virgil is who he is because of Michele and I and the way we raised him. In part she is right, but it was her breeding for conformation, health and temperament that gave us the bundle of hair, energy and attitude (lots of attitude) that is Virgil and has become one of the most precious souls in my life. Thank You Diane. Thank you for all you have done for this breed in this country. Thank you for accepting me and trusting me with one of your babies, for being there whenever I had questions and for arranging Virgil’s show tour with the Smiths from which we got Dawn Eline. Thank you for being a friend. Be comfortable and as well as possible for your remaining days. Remember and take pride in all that you have accomplished, cherish your memories and know that you are loved by many. Best Wishes and Cheers Diane. Ever your friend, ever indebted to you for the joys you have brought to my life. Carl |
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| Carl, Thank you for posting about Diane. I'm sending a card to her today. She is an amazing woman and, as you noted, quite humble, especially considering all she has accomplished. I also know her as friendly, nice and ever so willing to share her knowledge of the breed. Linda Zimmerman in So. California |
| Carl, Thank you for posting about such a GREAT lady. I too,was fortunate to speak to her a few years ago.I ordered her book and she was so proud of this accomplishment and oh so knowledgeable and willing to share that knowledge, freely.We discussed my,Sherwood Forrests' pedigree and I gushed by the fact, that yes, he does have Ch Sir Lancelot of Barvan in his pedigree.Diane went on to tell me all about Dudley! I hung onto every word. Diane did express to me without these types of books,the history of our beloved breed would be lost.She is truly a gem and an ambassador of our breed. I will forever cherish our conversation, as well as her book.I do hope I will be a fortunate one to get my hands on Volume 2. Whomever has had the chance to meet her and as you Carl, become a good friend, are the lucky ones! I want to personally thank you,Diane for taking the time to speak to me and share a part of the Bobtails history with me that day.I will forever cherish such a beautiful and meaningful memory. My prayers and thoughts are with you, Diane and your family. Robin George |
| She sounds like an incredible Lady. I have never had the privilege of meeting or talking with her --but wanted to send well wishes and thoughts and prayers. |
| Very sad news, on our OZ site it was posted Dianne not doing too well, she has left a legacy here in Australia with "Tarawoods" in a lot of OES down from the lines in progeny. Much admired lady world wide and so sad to hear she is so unwell, blessing her family, friends all those involved with dianne over the years as well as the truly wonderfull dianne herself who has always had total devotion, love, best interests, etc to the breed and for the breed a lady with those furry, shaggy, friends are always and will be No. 1, extra special prayers and we are thinking of you all.  |
| Beautifully written Carl... Diane has been a friend and mentor for 15 years and I hope with everything I've got that she can stay with us happy and healthy longer. She's an amazing woman, so much strength.... I've always admired her and I've learned so much from Diane that I will never forget. |
| Hi, I found this website by Google'ing Diane's name. I have known Diane since I was a little girl. I once took one of her dogs into the JR. Handling ring and when the judge asked me to show him the puppies bite I said "But this puppy doesn't bite". I remember staying at her house over the weekends and one time in the spring the driveway flooded so we couldn't get in or out so I took the time to teach her latest litter how to go up and down stairs. Diane is a big part of my childhood memories and I sit here in tear learning of her health. She is a fantastic woman and I feel so blessed that I had a chance to know her. |
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