Copy was Laurie Thal's special, wonderful dog; the kind you get only once--if you're lucky. When Laurie decided to breed her to Dart, I had to have one of those. The result was Tucker!

He had a wonderful conformation career, earning his championship with all majors: 5,5,4,3. Tucker was winner's dog at the Great Lakes Specialty. He was Best-In-Sweeps at the Detroit ABTC Regional Specialty and Reserve Winners Dog at the 1992 ABTC National Specialty under breeder-judge Edeltraud Laurin. In 1993, Tucker was Reserve Winners Dog at the CKC National Specialty. At both the 1997 and 1998 ABTC National Specialties he was chosen select.

The photo (above/left) is from the Detroit ABTC Regional Specialty Sweepstakes. Tucker was Best-In-Sweeps and sister, Fax, was Best Opposite in Sweeps. Karen Hodges made some good picks: as "grown-ups", Tucker went on to a BISS and Fax was a multiple group placer.

The biggest conformation thrill with Tucker, however, was in 1996. Under breeder-judge Pat Weymouth, Tucker was Best in Specialty Show at the ABTC Regional Specialty hosted by the Great Lakes Belgian Tervuren Club.

Tucker also had some great obedience moments. In front of the home crowd, at the Kalamazoo Cluster, he earned a 199.5 in novice obedience and it was good for High-In-Trial. He went on to finish his CDX (with a second place in Open B for his final leg) but couldn't generate enough interest in utility to continue. Tucker was relieved to retire to the sofa where he only stirred once: to win the Veterans Sweepstakes at the 2001 ABTC National Specialty under breeder-judge Helen Hittesdorf.

This drawing was done by my son, Matt, at quite a young age. It was titled, "Tucker gets an Attitude". Of course, he never did...

 

 

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