Raili Aurala 2004
Text: Satu Tuuna / Trasl. Pauliina Järvinen

On the 28th of February, a beautiful winter day, I arrive at peaceful Vahto with my mind full of several important questions which need to be answered. I drive into the yard of the one-family house and hear cheerful barking which informs the folks at home of my arrival. Raili and Martti Aurala are standing smilingly at the door and welcome me warmly. They share their home with four collies, two tricolour bitches, a 9-year-old Maija and a 12-year-old Anna, a 9-year-old tricolour male, Hermanni and an 11-year-old blu merle male, Myy. I have arrived at kennel Goldshadow.

Raili, what does it mean to you to be an honorary member in ACT?
Being an honorary member naturally means a great deal to me. I was really surprised and honoured when I was invited to be an honorary member of a new association.

How did you get interested in collies in the first place?
I have lived with collies for over forty years. In 1962 we got our first collie, a bitch called Bella. Bella was a mother´s day gift for me.

How did you start as a breeder and how did you choose your kennel name?
I'm one of the first collie breeders in Finland. When I was in a breeding training in Kupittaa, Turku, I met there another collie breeder, Terttu Virtanen, with whom I exchanged important ideas according to breeding. In 1964 Bella was bred. This litter didn't have a kennel name yet. In 1965 I got my kennel name.
Because collie is an English breed, I thought that my kennel name should also be in English. So I picked Goldshadow.

How many litters have you raised altogether?
During the years 1964-2002 45 Goldshadow litters have been born.

Which one of your collies do you find most remarkable?
My most remarkable collie was Goldshadow Star Xerxes, "Sulo", who was born in 1974. His mental was absolutely wonderful and he left behind good offspring. Every dog of mine has been special to me but Sulo has been especially unforgettable.

By now, what collies have you had at home yourself?
At the moment we have four collies. Usually we have had about ten dogs at the same time. At the end of the interview there is a list including all our dogs.

Why did you choose an American lined collie?
I wanted to experiment and find something new into my breeding line. Sure I hadbeen intimidated a bit of American collies being harder by their mental than Finnish collies. I made the right choice because in American lined collies I found what I was looking for. My first American collie was Napiers American Hero, "Hero", who was born in 1984. In 1995, with Tuija Heikkilä we imported to Finland a tricolour male, Barksdales Stormsong, "Rocky".

Hero(USA)

Before Hero I had already had dogs from abroad. In 1966 I bought from England a tricolour male, Carramar Black Fellow "Fellow", who won a speciality show in 1968. Fellow was an outstanding dog himself but his offspring weren´t so steady. In 1969 I bought a blue merle male, Cronys Blue Kilty, from Sweden, from Ulla Eriksson. He was the second blue merle-coloured collie in Finland. In 1971 I bought a sable male, Cronys Golden Troubadour, from Eriksson and the next year a tricolour bitch, Cronys Night Fair.
So I was interested in American lined collies right away. Already in 1975, I sent Cronys Golden Troubadour's offspring, Goldshadow Snug Snow, to America.

Which one of your bitch lines has been the best in your opinion?
I think that my most remarkable foundation bitches have been Cronys Night Fair, "Fairy", who was born in 1972 and Pihatuvan Idylli, "Tiitu", who was born in 1986. Both of them have been balanced, good bitches.

What things have been important to you when planning a new Goldshadow litter?
Appearance, mental and health are the three main things I emphasize when planning a new litter. Another very essential thing is to consider which dogs fits in the pedigree.

What is your ideal collie like?
My ideal collie is balanced and well-proportioned in every way. Important things in collie's appearance are the shape of head and a fine coat. Beautiful movements are an essential part of symmetricality. I appreciate a collie who is not strong-arm and allows people near him but is unbribable.

What kind of directions do you give to a person who buys your puppy and do you stay in contact with him?
A buyer always gets a book which includes all the important and essential things that are related to taking care of the puppy. Of course, I hope buyers to ask me if they are uncertain of something and I'm always happy to answer. I encourage and advice them to contact me if there appears any problems with the puppy.
I also like to keep in touch with the owners later on. Some like to associate with me quite a lot and the others keep to themselves more. I don't want to pressure the owners and whether we are going to stay in touch or not it is up to them.

In your opinion, what are the things that are important in taking care of a collie and his wellbeing?
A collie's wellbeing consists of many factors and they all influence each other. The main factor is a good and right nutrition. But the dog shouldn't gain too much weight either. To make a collie feel comportable at home and to show him his own place in the pack, he needs a fair and adequate training and discipline.

What have collies given you during the past decades?
My collies have given and meant so much to me. Along the success I have got fame and glory. All kinds of experiences have enriched my life. And when it comes to exercising, collies are the best possible company.

At the end, what would you like to say to young and new collie owners?
You are all very welcome to join us! I think it's great that young people are inspired and they bring along a bit of fresh touch.

Raili and Martti Aurala’s collies
1962 Bella
1964 Golden Shaniron of Royalpark
1966 Carramar Black Fellow
1969 Cronys Blue Kilty
1970 Goldshadow Genoveva
1971 Cronys Golden Troubadour
1972 Goldshadow Korona
1972 Cronys Night Fair
1974 Goldshadow Star Xerxes
1975 Goldshadow Fussy Fop
1978 Goldshadow Quick Quarrel
1979 Goldshadow Tender Tiffany
1982 Goldshadow Call Me Carmen
1983 Riffendahl Black Xardas
1984 Napiers American Hero
1986 Pihatuvan Idylli
1989 Goldshadow Blue Uscadara
1990 Goldshadow Yogi
1992 Blue Times Annarose
1993 Goldshadow Dark Doctor
1993 Blue Times Bohem
1995 Goldshadow Gentleman
1995 Pihatuvan Onnen Apila

Rewarded Goldshadow -collies (certificates)
Bettina
Bird
Carina
Call Me Carmen (3)
Coxcomb (3+1)
Deft Detective
Demure Direktor
Eternal Emperal
Expressive Effigy
S&SF CH Flamud Flur
Fussy Fop (3)
Hero
Intimidate Ideal
Isaramona
Junior Juggler
King
Black Know You (2)
Molly Mirage
Olive
Orance Opal
Pajatso
Proud Pamela
Pricilla
Quoint Qualite
Quick Quarrel (4)
Robin
N CH Star Xerxes (4)
AM CH Snugg Snow
Tender Tiffany (3)
Trinat
Blue Ukulele (2)
Uneanne Urshin
Uscadara (3)
Veritable Wesper
Zasmin
FIN CH Jetset Girl (3)
FIN CH, WIN-99 Jessica Lady
Jimmy Dean
Gentleman (2)
Dark Doctor
Only Puppy