CH Wet acres moonshine JH  2003-2007

What can we say about Rugby.  He was everything we expected and so much more.  He gave everything he had to everything he did.  He was one of a litter of 15 that all made it to adult hood.  When we got him, we did not expect great things.  We were looking for a dog that I could train to the Utility level with NAVHDA. 

When he was 11 months old, he showed us what he was capable of and a glimpse of the future.  In one month, he received a prize I with a score of 112 out of 112 on his Natural Ability test with NAVHDA.  He also passed two legs of his Junior Hunter in the same month.  And to cap it off, got his first major in his first show over his father. 

He had an intensity that was amazing.  When not competing or performing, he was a big clown.  But you take him into the confirmation ring, or turn him loose to hunt, and another dog showed up.  He was all business, with his tail just a wagging.  In his show career, he had 59 Best of Breeds and 4 group placements.  In two calendar years of being lightly specialed he ended up being ranked #3 in Breed points both years.  One of his greatest wins, was the day after the specialty in New York.  He won the breed that day and went on to a Group 4. 

He was invited twice to Westminster and went both times.  On his first outing, he won the Award of Merit.  He was so young at the time, that we just could not believe it.  He never did mind the crowds at Westminster.  It just meant more people to love on him and for him to love on.  His favorite time was to go into the basement of the Pennsylvania hotel.  Down there they had all of these treadmills set up for display.  One thing about it, he loved a treadmill.  He would just about pull your arm out of socket to get onto one.  They even had him using one on the local television stations.

We could go on and on about this special dog.  He did many great things and left us with a huge void in our hearts and family.  Rugby ended up siring 3 litters of puppies.  His sons and daughters are now filling the huge void that he left, and we look forward to watching all of them compete and grow.

We will always love you.

rugby

This is Rugby at s show in West Virginia.

Here Rugby is receiving his Award of Merit at Westminster.

On the left he is receiving his Group 4 placement in New York.

 

On the right, we just finished two legs of his Junior Hunter in Virginia.  He was 11 months old.

This is how he finally got comfortable on his ride home from Massachusetts.  He wore us out until he decided he could ride here comfortably.

Again at 11 months of age.

I think that big old chain will hold him.

Here he is doing the Doggie Fun Zone in Nashville.  It was a lure coursed over an obstacle course.  He loved it.  The best was when him and Ariel raced each other on the course.  He was faster, but she could turn quicker.

He always had a cute face.

Here Rugby is making a retrieve on a live duck after the duck search.  He had been in the pond for 25 minutes, when he finally found the duck and brought it to hand.  This was done at a Georgia Sub Chapter of NAVHDA training day.