Co-breeder and co-owner of Dame, Robyn Powley, wanted to try her hand at an Aussie litter. While judging an ASCA show in California, her eye fell on Tap, the number 4 Aussie in the US in 2003. Robyn saw the same moderate type and size Aussie, with unmistakable masculinity, coupled with beautiful, effortless movement, that Dame herself was bred from, through the influence of her father, Magnum. Robyn was convinced Tap was a perfect match for Dame. She drove out to California, accomplished the breeding and returned to Albuquerque. Storey had yet to lay eyes on the pretty boy. But that time would come soon enough.
Storey was scheduled to judge in Eugene Oregon, in September. Dame's pups were born in late August 2003. Tap was entered in the Eugene show. Robyn worried obsessively about whether Storey would like Tap when she saw him in person.
The show started and the judging went along smoothly to the Best of Breed class. Two male champions were entered -- a black tri (who obviously was not Tap!) and a blue merle (could this be him?) After moving the dogs and examining them both Storey was not impressed with the blue boy. He was flat in the ring, moved without energy,showed no expression in the stack, and generally seemed there were other places he'd rather be. With great regret at not being able to award the father of the new puppies anything, Storey pointed to the black tri for Best of Breed.
Turns out Tap was not with his regular handler who generally keeps him entertained and entertaining in the ring. Tap's owners, Kevin and Faith were wonderfully understanding and confessed the circumstances to Storey who breathed a sigh of relief. That still left Storey having to explain "dumping" Tap to Robyn!
In the end it turns out the single blue merle girl in the litter, Mica, is the spittin' image of her daddy, albeit with a feminine touch. She too, seems to need entertaining in the ring. Her debut was fairly successful though. On her first weekend out, entered in an ASCA non-regular class, she balked her way around the ring highly insulted by the need to respond to the leash and the unfamiliar footing of the ring mats. She was awarded a Best of Opposite sex ribbon -- but she was the only female in the ring! The next day looked to be a repeat until Mica "accidently" took four or five trotting steps. The audience broke into applause. The response was immediate. Recognizing the cheers were for her, Mica immediately began showing off her free and cadenced movement. Laughing even so, the judge had no choice but to point to Mica for the Best of Breed Puppy! Another generation of Black Rock show dogs is born.
Mica needs a while to grow up now. She lives in California with Tap's owner, Faith Shimimoto.
