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In the Beginning
A
Name from the Past and the Start of Shadowfax’s Future
In
almost 30 years of breeding and showing Aussies I’ve had the opportunity to
own several very outstanding dogs and bitches, this is just the story of one of
them.
In the early 1970’s I
spent a period of time corresponding with and getting to know some of the well
known Aussie Breeders, at that time, in California (Sharon Sherwood of Crestwood
Aussies and Pam Bethurum of Adelaide Australian Shepherds). Sharon and Pam agreed to help me find a good bitch with which
to start a breeding program. Within
a matter of months I received a call from Pam mentioning that she had found a
bitch for me. The bitch puppy was
owned by a new breeder Gerry O’Gorman of Emerald Isle Aussies.
Pam was picking the litter for Gerry and thought that I would be
interested in a little blue bitch that she had been watching.
Pam commented that there was one small catch, Gerry had given the puppy
the name Tuff Cookie because she was such a character and Pam wondered if I
would be interested in this bitch. Gerry
then sent me a couple of photos of Tuffy and her littermate Hot Toddy of Emerald
Isle winning puppy matches in California, and of course, I immediately told Pam
and Gerry that I wanted her, and quickly made arrangements to have her shipped. Shortly thereafter, I drove to Tampa Airport on a Saturday
afternoon to pick up this 14-week old bitch puppy. From the moment I opened the crate door there was an
immediate bond. She rode all the
way home sitting at my side.
Gerry had an Arabian
horse breeding program so I knew Tuffy would probably be familiar with horses.
I had a couple myself and wanted to get Tuffy’s reaction to them, I
didn’t want her chasing them or getting kicked.
That Saturday, when I reached the house, Tuffy and I walked to the
pasture gate, Tuffy walking at my side.
I opened the gate and walked into the pasture, Tuffy still at my side,
only to find my stud colt at the far corner of the pasture.
Immediately upon hearing the gate creak open my colt shot for the gate at
full speed, coming to a sliding stop directly in front of me, and proceeded to
stand on his hind legs. Much
to my astonishment, as the colt reared, Tuffy leaped off the ground, grabbed him
by the nose, as if to say, don’t harm my person, and immediately sat down at
my side as if nothing had happened. Both
the colt and I stood there in amazement just looking at each other. Never again did that colt go anywhere near Tuff.
I quickly learned that Tuff Cookie was going to own me for the rest of
her life, and believe me from that day forward she was completely in charge.
Needless to say, Tuffy went on amazing me, for many, many years.
As many of you know,
Tuff went on to be quite a producer and showman.
She won a Best in Show at a large, 700-dog, all-breed match in Tampa,
Florida, at 11 months of age. Also
the next day, she won BOB, winning the Herding Group and competing for BIS
again. The judge, on the first day
of the All-Breed Match, in the Best in Show class ring, stood in front of a
large crowd and explained that there was only one dog in the class with which
she could find no fault. When
the judge commented that this bitch had shown with great heart, an immediate
eerie hush fell over the crowd as she proceeded to give Tuffy the Best in Show.
I think the judge thought that she was committing political suicide and
had to explain her decision. I was
in shock, this was the 1970’s, we were not an AKC breed, and had been asked to
participate in the group classes as a polite gesture.
As I remember the show, it was very hot and after the group classes I was
sitting in the shade on the ground with Tuff in my lap.
A woman walked up and asked how old my dog was, I commented 11 months old
and she walked away and didn’t say another word.
After winning the BIS class, to my amazement, I realized that this woman
was the judge.
Tuffy was the dam of
many conformation champions, obedience dogs, ranch dogs and the dam of the 1982
National Specialty Winner Bitch CH: Shadowfax’s Black Gold (Molly) a Hall of
Fame Dam owned by Susan Landry. As
long as I live I will never forget the look on Sue’s face as Molly went
Winners Bitch at the Nationals. I
was showing Molly and Sue stood there looking at me in total shock.
I had to coax her into the ring to get her trophies.
Over a period of years
Tuffy was bred to five (5) different males.
The first being Old Red Dog, some of you will remember who I am talking
about. Red was a Sorensen/Taylor
bred little red tri male with lots of personality and charm.
Tuffy was bred to Red because I couldn’t seem to get her to settle with
the other males that I had sent her to, so we used the little guy at home,
naturally he got the job done. This
litter produced two major pointed dogs that I remember.
The next breeding was to
CH: Seafarer of Gefion, (Toddy) who was owned by my dear friend Jean Jameson of
Clermont, Florida (Willowbrook Aussies).
Toddy was a wonderful dog that I got to know very well during the many
weekends spent in Clermont with Jean wandering through the groves of orange
trees and hunting lizards in the woods with a herd of Aussies.
Toddy was a conformation champion, had his obedience title, tracking
title, temperament test and was doing work on his stock titles.
He was a truly wonderful dog to watch in action.
Because Toddy was almost solid black, despite his abilities, no one used
him in their breeding programs. That
was a big mistake. There were six
pups in this litter, CH: Clay Hills Finesse of Shadowfax (Niecy), CH: Fancy That
of Shadowfax (Lacy), CH: Basic Black of Shadowfax (Teddy), and CH: Black Gold of
Shadowfax (Molly). Molly is also
the producer of the Reserve Winners Bitch at the 1986 ASCA Nationals.
Not exaggerating, I am quite sure if Jean and I had kept the other two
pups we could have finished the whole litter.
Tuffy’s next litter
was by CH: Gorgeous George Gefion (George), another wonderful male owned by Jean
Jameson. George was a conformation
champion, had his obedience title, and was also working on stock and did a great
job of guarding Jean’s garbage can. This
litter produced a lovely and talented blue male CH: Prime Time of Shadowfax,
lovingly known as Josh, as well as other major pointed dogs. Josh also attended the 1982 Nationals with Janice Faust
(DoJan Aussies), another good friend, and placed second in a large 12-18 mos.
Class and soon went on to finish and become a champion producer himself.
Toddy and George both
were so well trained that you had to see them in action for yourself.
Boy could I tell some stories.
Tuffy was then bred to
CH: Celebrity of Windermere owned by another dear friend, Roberta Ellison.
Cody was a great dog with a wonderful temperament.
He also was a conformation champion and had his obedience title.
This litter produced CH: Star Status of Shadowfax (Buck) owned by Roberta
Ellison (Oak Creek Aussies) and CH: Star Studded of Shadowfax (Brad) owned by
Karen Hembree (Clay Hills Aussies). Both
males also went on to be champion producers.
At the age of eight,
after extensive tests to see if she was physically fit to be bred, Tuffy was
bred to CH: Mountain Man of Genesis Farms (Big Rock) owned by Kim Clark.
Rocky was a large red tri male with an extensive resume.
He was a conformation champion, obedience titled, tracking titled,
temperament tested, and had done some work on stock and was the 1985’s top
Schutzhund Dog in Florida (which was Kim’s specialty).
Sadly to say, Tuffy became very ill at the time of delivery.
Tuff had to be spayed immediately after delivering the pups and could not
nurse them. Kim and a good friend
took the litter and in two days shifts kept the pups alive.
I’m amazed to this day that they survived, but it was only through
Kim’s determination that it was possible.
I believe there are two major pointed dogs from this breeding.
This short story is not
just about Tuffy, but the wonderful dogs that she was bred to, their wonderful
offspring and the many, many great friendships gained, some mentioned and some
not mentioned.
Tuffy,
thanks for the memories.