Twenty years ago, I decided that just as soon as I became "dogless" again, I would "get back to boxers". Boots and Baby were the two boxers I grew up with and were the loves of my childhood life!
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| Murph, aka Ch. Brush Hills Carpe Diem, checks out boxer competition at Westminster |
Getting Started
So at last, getting back to boxers, I brought
Katherine home. She was a brindle "classic" out of Ch. RJ's Puttin
on the Ritz. Katherine was bred to Ch.Cherkei's Hang Em High
and that produced my first home bred "keeper", Milton's Ms.
Isabelle. Much to our family's dismay, Katherine
and Isabelle soon grew to violently despise one another, and Katherine
chose to move out. She then went to live happily ever after with her
second family in New Hampshire. There, she is able to pursue her true
calling as chief nanny and guardian of the two young children in her family.
Our First Show Litter
Milton's
Ms. Isabelle was bred to Ch.
Talisman's Shillelagh and in 1995, gave birth to my first
show litter. Out of ten puppies, there were three flashy fawns. Murph,
aka Ch.Brush Hill's Carpe Diem finished with 4 and 5 point majors. Our
"star" show girl was Rosie, aka Ch.
Wilmor's Wild Irish Rose, who was specialed, and won an Award of Merit
at Westminster. Jane Wilkinson and Kathy Frohock are also co-owners of
Rosie. The third flashy pup was Brush
Hill's Whoopsy Daisy who went to live with a photographer and chose
a modeling career over the show circuit. Daisy did however spend some
quality time on my living room sofas during her brief foray into show
business and thus became the inspiration and model for The Ultimate Couch
Potato embroidery design. More than "just another pretty face",
Murph and Daisy enjoyed agility competition as well.
Where We are Now
To bring our story up to date, in 1998, Murph had the
good fortune of meeting Theodora's
Masked Bandit. From that litter I kept Brush
Hill's Mad for Madeline a, fawn classic, and Ch.
Brush Hill's Hulla Baloo. Jo and Maddy became my two foundation bitches and are the great grandmothers of
the pups currently being shown. Murph was the grandsire of Ch. Brush Hill's Head Honcho who
became the winner of 8 BOBs and my most favorite travel companion.
And That is Our Story
I don't aspire to have a large kennel and am enjoying my three current couch potatoes. I do hope to
contribute to the health and welfare of this beautifull breed by fundraising for rescue, supporting ABCF
and adhering to the latest health testing guidelines. The current Winston X Riley litter is clear of SAS
and ARCV. All have been genetically tested and are either "clear or carriers" of DM (degenerative
myelopathy). That means they will never be at risk of getting this crippling disease that has plagued
boxers for generations.
To Get in Touch
I welcome your comments or questions and am always
happy to contribute something from Persnickety Pooches to rescue fund
raisers. Please feel free to email me at: ellenbradley@boxers.net