Linda Ayers Turner Knorr

When I was only four years old, my love for TV's Lassie prompted my parents, Roy and Hazel Ayers, to surprise me with a Collie. We began to play pretend Dog Show at home, in parks and on a nearby ball field. I worked with my dog on a leash everyday, brushed her and fed her. My father immediately recognized her quality was not pleasing to his eye. He subscribed to Dog World magazine and purchased our foundation dog, Ch. Poplar Stop the Music, from New York. My first times in the confirmation ring began when I was only six years old. My parents made everything about the sport our family hobby. Choosing our kennel name was a contest between the three of us...Conrad Collie Kennels was chosen as our street name sounded good with Collies. They let me think it was my idea. Musical names would be our theme. If you look in old magazines and books, there you will find me showing Ch. Conrad's Dancing in the Dark and many others. Mother had my show attire custom made. My Poodle type skirts featured felt cutouts of Conrad Collies.

I showed alongside my father and as he became the President of the Collie Club of Georgia, I was their first Junior Member. During the years he was President of the Atlanta Kennel Club, I enjoyed teaching training and grooming classes, doing TV appearances, radio shows. He was President of the Southeastern Association of Kennel Clubs as well as serving as AKC Delegate for the Atlanta Kennel Club. During those years, my brother Roy Ayers, Jr. was born and became the newest family participant in our sport. We were blessed to travel around the globe watching and learning as our father embarked on the next step.

When my father pursued his judging career, his philosophy was to either judge or show. He asked us to discontinue exhibiting in the confirmation ring. All three of us became AKC Conformation judges, a rarity! As an All Rounder my Dad inspired in our family a great love and respect for the American Kennel Club, our lifelong passion.