Heritage Collies is the third generation of their family tree of successful Collie breeders
Heritage Collies was established in 2012 with the marriage of Matt Brooks and Michelle Esch.
Michelle, third generation in her family to raise and show dogs, has been in the show ring practically since she could walk! She has surpassed 20 years showing Collies, and only recently branched out on her own (with her husband, Matt) to begin Heritage Collies.
Michelle first stepped in the ring at age 4 in the Midwest. Her first true dog (not a family dog) was Signet’s Butterfly Kisses, “Kisses,” a rough that Michelle picked out of the whelping box from CH. Signet’s Band of Gold. Michelle’s parents, Mike and Tess, allowed Michelle to keep the rough with the understanding that all of Kisses' grooming was up to the 10 year old. Michelle gladly took on the job and loved her “Baby Girl” everyday until her death in 2011. Kisses was an integral dog for Matt as she was the first of the Signet dogs that came to live with him in Virginia. He turned her into a true Southern dog and even watched her walk Michelle down the aisle to him. Michelle believed Kisses wanted to make sure that she was happy in her new marriage before Kisses left for the Rainbow Bridge just one month after Matt and Michelle wed.
Michelle began in Junior Showmanship at age 10 with Ch. Signet’s Generations and continued until she aged out at age 18. During that time period, Michelle finished many champions in the conformation ring for her parents and fell in love with her second “heart dog,” CH. Signet’s Study in Black, “Blackie.” A love blossomed between Michelle and Blackie, and he soon became her Juniors dog.
Blackie and Michelle became inseparable and quickly showed the dog show world what they were made of: heart. Blackie charmed the crowds with his head tilt as he listened to Michelle’s instructions, and the team began “dancing” their way to the top. When Michelle broke her ankle in 2004 and had to stop showing for 4 months, Blackie would visit her in the house. The first day he visited, he bounded through the house to Michelle, jumped on the bed and accidentally knocked her ankle. Michelle cried out in pain and Blackie, being so intuitive, immediately dropped to his belly and crawled his way up to lick her face saying “sorry.” Blackie came to live in Virginia with Matt and Michelle not long after they lost Kisses; Matt quickly learned why Michelle affectionately called him “Butthead” all those years in Juniors. Blackie and Michelle showed one last time at the 2012 CCA National in the 8-11 years Veterans class, demonstrating to Matt and the Collie World that “the team” still had it. Not long after, Matt helped Blackie to the Rainbow Bridge when Michelle was unable to get home from work in time.
Aging out of Junior Showmanship was a bittersweet moment, but since then Michelle has became a Junior Showmanship judge and received her provisional Collie judging license in August 2013, she began her own breeding program as a continuation of Signet Collies, and has become Editor of the Collie Club of America’s Yearbook. Her love for yearbooks came from Tess who was Editor in 1996, 1997, and 1998; Tess was the only Editor to have the yearbook available at the National two years in a row. Michelle surpassed her mother’s standards in 2013 when her 2012 yearbook was the third yearbook at the National in as many years.
Matt, on the other hand, was quickly introduced to the world of dog shows when he met Michelle in 2008. While Matt did not understand the process of dog shows, he realized how important the world was to Michelle and immersed himself in learning, immediately. He has since combined his passion of photography with Michelle’s passion of dog shows to form Matt + Michelle Photography, and takes show win photos at many local clubs. Whelping the litter out of Signet’s A Timeless Hello was a turning point for him as he learned how deep his passion for the breed has burrowed into his heart.
Michelle was introduced to dogs by her parents Mike and Tess, who established Signet Collies in 1978 and have bred over 90 champions to date. They have had many Collie Club of America National winners through the years but their most significant dog is CH. Signet’s Twice is Nice, ROM, ROM-X, ROM-P, “Pete.” Pete was Best of Opposite Sex to Best of Variety and Best Smooth Stud Dog at the 2004 CCA Specialty, has taken many Award of Merits, and has passed his best qualities on to over 20 champion puppies.
Not to be outdone, Joe, Michelle’s brother, also began in the ring at an early age, and occasionally steps inside the show ring today. Like Michelle, he is newly married and setting off on his own.
Mike is the son of Vernon and Lora Esch of Verlor Collies; Mike began breeding collies in 1969 and began showing in 1975. CH. Verlor's Charmer of Lick Creek, "Tracey," the 1977 CCA National Best of Variety Smooth, was an influential brood bitch for Signet Collies.
Tess was the daughter of Sue and Jim Karbatsch of Sujim Collies. Jim and Sue had been showing collies for over 20 years when Tess asked for her first puppy, CH. Nostalgix The Unholy Grail, "Puppet."
Michelle attributes her successes and talents to her parents because without them, her life would have been completely different. Unlike other teenagers, Michelle loved hanging out with her parents at shows, and considered her mother one of her best friends (as dorky as that may sound). In 2006, Tess was able to see Blackie and Michelle make it to finals at Westminster, and see her off to college, before passing away after a short bout cancer. Michelle heals from that devastation a little every day, and starting Heritage Collies has been integral to that healing. With the foundations her parents instilled in her, the love for the breed that blossomed at an early age, and a commitment to be a caring home for thoughtful breedings, Matt and Michelle are now poised to begin their own journey.
Meet our family