 The
story of how Toddy landed in Virginia and at my house is an interesting
and bizarre chain of events. I was introduced to Velda Rounsaville by Suzanne
Workman, via the telephone, while I was at the ABC Regional in Colorado
in the 1980's. During that conversation, I asked her to keep an "eye out"
for a nice dog for me. Later she phoned me in Virginia to tell me of a
litter owned by Dwayne Tucker who lived near her in Oklahoma. The litter
was sired by her male Missouri Mystery (member of an all Champion litter)
out of a double Ch. Benjomin of Five T's bitch.. I called Dwayne and was
told, not only did he have the 6 month old fawn males, but, he also had
the older brindle brother of the previous litter. He was hoping to sell
the brindle to the owner of Ch. IBN Benji of Five T's. IBN had just passed
away. He named Toddy in memory of IBN. However, that sale didn't work out
and Dwayne still had the dog. Time went by and I heard no more from Dwayne
so thought that he must have sold or placed his dogs locally.
Months later, Suzanne Workman married
Carl Rounsaville who moved back East to live in her home in Maryland. After
the marriage, Carl went back to Oklahoma to bring back his belongings.
When he returned to Suzanne's, he got out of the U-Haul truck with a boxer
on the end of a lead. Suzanne asked what dog it was and he said it was
Dwayne's older brindle pup. Suzanne promptly said, "We have enough dogs
here. Mary wanted that dog, call her and tell her to come get him". Fascinating
way to start a marriage, eh what? So I was called, said yes I wanted him
and Carl gave him to me as a present.
To complete this bizarre turn of
events, the Maryland Boxer Specialty show was about two weeks away and
we just barely had time to get him entered in my name. Margaret Krey of
Kreyon fame took care of that problem -- so within two hours, I had a new
male, a show dog, a handler, and was entered in one of the major specialties
in the East. WOW!! With my head still reeling, as I have never seen the
dog, I find myself in the car heading up I95 to meet Carl and Suzanne to
pick up the dog that afternoon. We arrive at the Howard Johnson's (yep
they still had them in those days!) and I met Toddy. He was very quiet,
polite but just stared at me. Oh boy, here we go!!
Not many boxers are aloof, but this
guy had been traded like a baseball card, dragged across the country and
landed in the "boonies" with a woman he didn't know. So he figured that
he would be VERY QUIET and scope out the new abode. Two days later,
my new friend was slowly wagging his tail and by the following week, he
was part of the crowd.
Now we are off to the Maryland Specialty.
No one knew I had a dog to show so there were lots of comments about my
appearance on the show scene after such a long time away. One comment was
rather unfriendly when a long-time exhibitor came up to me and stated that
she hoped I realized that I couldn't win with "that type" in the East.
I shrugged my shoulders and said, "We'll see, won't we?" That night Toddy
won his first 5 point major and was Best of Winners. I whooped, and Earl
Overstreet said "Looks like Mary's back!"
The following week, Carl was unable
to get to the show, the Baums had an Open dog and Earl very graciously
showed Toddy for me and again he went Best of Winners. Then we went home
to learn how to be an exuberant show dog. This quiet boxer who calmly
went around the ring like a working professional needed some pizzazz! So
I turned my stately, well-behaved gentleman into a wild man!! Our next
show in Myrtle Beach, SC took place the first week of February. Cris and
Dick Baum showed him and he came home with 10 points. Now we needed the
final major. Two weeks later, Toddy and the Baums travel to upper New York
state to a three show weekend and we got our second five point major and
I had a new Champion!!! Funny, all these shows were on the EAST COAST!!!!!
Fate does have a sense of humor. |
