In 1998, Pembroke Welsh Corgis were added to the kennel. The love of this breed was sparked by Storey's son, Robby. Robby met his first Welsh Corgi when Storey "borrowed" a Corgi bitch to use in a television commercial.. The commercial shoot took two days and so the bitch stayed over night at Storey's house -- just long enough for Robby to fall unforgettably in love.
Several years later, when Robby was old enough to enter the junior showmanship ring with his own dog at the end of the leash, Storey asked Robby what kind of dog he thought he might like for his own. Robby didn't hesitate.
The stars must have been in alignment because the next weekend, at a dog show, Storey met up with Pembroke Welsh Corgi breeder Marsha Kern. The conversation went something like this:
Storey: I need a Corgi for my son to show in juniors.
Marsha: I have a puppy bitch I've been waiting on a show home for. Come by and see her.
The deal was as good as done. A day later Whimsey's RB Sugar and Spice came home to stay.
Spice
Spice's first day at Black Rock was something of a nightmare for her. Left in the back yard with a kindly Aussie bitch for company, Spice was terrified of the new territory and the big, (possibly) mean, barking Aussies in the main kennel area. Storey came home to find her curled in fetal position in the furthest corner of the yard, squeezed under some overlooked weeds. After a few minutes of soothing attention the trembling stopped. A few minutes later, on formal introduction to the fierce kennel crowd, Spice was racing off after them snagging a hold of their jowls and swinging madly along their shoulders as she paid them back for a day of all-talk and no-bite threats.
Storey might have dreamed Spice would bond with Robby the way a boy's dog should. But Spice has taken the dream into the realm of a fairytale with everyone living nearly happily ever after the end has yet to be written and there was a bump or two in the road; like the time Spice wouldn't stand for exam on the table, and the time she sent the house sitter into a panic searching high and low (mostly high) while Spice napped under the bed oblivious to her name being called repeatedly.
Spice is well traveled. She and Robby have traversed the country going to dog shows and summer-touring with Storey's parents. Spice has also been a popular ambassador for responsible dog ownership at schools from the mid-west to the southwest. She has even received fan mail saying she's "the coolest."
Spice and Robby started agility training in late 2000. Spice is blur over jumps and through the tunnel. She needs a good running start to make it over the A-frame however.
Spice's particularly sweet nature comes through most clearly when she's with small children or the Aussie puppies. She approaches even lower to the ground then her little dwarfed legs already have her, flattens her ears back to make herself looks small, and licks gently while half rolling over. This unfailingly has the effect of inviting whomever to come over to play. Once the playmate's confidence levels have risen, Spice pulls herself to her full 12 inch height and begins to bounce around inviting a game of fetch or chase depending on the relative species of the playmate.
Spice's generous nature did not extend to her own puppies however. Although her behavior could, perhaps, have been the effect of anesthesia following a cesarean section, she was a neglectful mother and none of the four puppies in her November 2000 litter survived, despite Storey and Robby's best efforts at intervention.
Now spayed and fully recovered, Spice continues to train for the agility ring, sleep under Robby's bed, and entertain school children wherever she finds them.
On July 8 & 9, 2001, Spice entered a herding trial in Galisteo, NM for her Herding Tested title. Although her first day's run was nearly flawless and easily qualifying, the next day's sheep draw unfortunately included a ram in her flock. After repeatedly fending off and facing the rams multiple threats and charges, and a mere ten feet shy on completeing the course, a last head down charge from the ram, Spice decided she'd had enough for the day.
Now a gently aging 12 year-old, Spice is still racing along side her Aussie and BC buddies nipping at jowls, shoulders, and heels. Her sharp bark is always the first alarm heard in the house, but she is more often found in Robby's bed these days, where she has molded a perfect-fit hollow just her size.
