My own love of the breed began in childhood when we brought home our first flatcoat, Cari, a liver bitch from Lochwinnoch, in 1981. My grandmother had also owned a flatcoat called Bess, and I grew up hearing stories of her beloved companion. That early bond with the breed has stayed with me ever since.

When I moved to Gargunnock in 1990, I welcomed my first two flatcoats of my own — Skye and Gigha — followed later by Seil, a lovely girl from Crieff. Losing Skye and Gigha at a young age to cancer was heartbreaking, and it sparked a lifelong interest in understanding and protecting the health and genetics of the breed.

Our foundation bitch, Talla, joined us in 2007 from Aricdell in Arbroath. She was the first we bred from and the start of our Craigachan line. Her first litter, born in 2012, produced five beautiful pups — including Torsa, the girl we kept and later bred from.

From Talla came Torsa, from Torsa came Islay, and from Islay came Mousa — Craigachan’s Black Widow — our current girl and the fourth generation to carry forward the line. Each of these dogs has been not only part of our breeding journey but part of our family story.

Our breeding is careful and considered, focused on soundness, temperament, and health. Puppies are raised in our home and garden, with constant human interaction and exposure to everyday life. They grow up confident, curious, and ready for the adventures that flatcoats love best.

Breeding flatcoats gives us immense pride and joy. We don’t breed often, but when we do, it’s with great care, thought, and love for the breed. Our aim is always to preserve the true flatcoat character — intelligent, kind, full of fun, and always, always wagging.