CH Robert the Bruce (Hill Country's I'll Bee Your Shining Star)
Breeders - Kristy and Kevin Ratliff
Owners - Jeff and Amy McLelland and Kristy Ratliff
Sire - Bazinga, CH Hill Country's Big Bang Theory; Dam - Ch Hill Country's Sky
Robert is beautiful inside and out. He finished his entire championship during the Covid Pandemic (he had just turned 6 months old when the Pandemic shut everything down, although he had squeezed in one puppy match in Tallahassee, FL, at 5 months of age winning the Breed and Toy group) and he was such a magnificently well-behaved pug in the ring. A "pleaser" as his breeder said ... and truer words were never spoken.
Everyone who meets this magnificent pug comments on how amazing his temperament is and his coat is as soft as mink. We also appreciate his movement. From top to bottom, Robert is truly an incredible representation of the pug breed and we are eternally grateful to his breeders for producing him and entrusting us to love and treasure this boy.
Some of his achievements, just during his first months of showing:
1) Best of Breed (and Best Puppy) in the AKC 1st Top Dog Virtual Challenge, beating out other seasoned champions.
2) Best of Breed out of Puppy 9-12 Class (at his FIRST official show!)
3) AKC championship, finished in November, 2020, getting his majors out of the way at his VERY first show in July (one of the first shows to be held during the pandemic in South Carolina).
4) Trick Dog Routine!
5) In his first year of life, (half of which was during the pandemic) he has been to 10 states including Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, South Carolina, Georgia, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Florida!
5) Beginning Spring, 2021, pandemic allowing, he will continue working toward his Grand Championship, more trick titles, and possibly even some canine freestyle and scent work!
Owners - Jeff and Amy McLelland and Kristy Ratliff
Sire - Bazinga, CH Hill Country's Big Bang Theory; Dam - Ch Hill Country's Sky
Robert is beautiful inside and out. He finished his entire championship during the Covid Pandemic (he had just turned 6 months old when the Pandemic shut everything down, although he had squeezed in one puppy match in Tallahassee, FL, at 5 months of age winning the Breed and Toy group) and he was such a magnificently well-behaved pug in the ring. A "pleaser" as his breeder said ... and truer words were never spoken.
Everyone who meets this magnificent pug comments on how amazing his temperament is and his coat is as soft as mink. We also appreciate his movement. From top to bottom, Robert is truly an incredible representation of the pug breed and we are eternally grateful to his breeders for producing him and entrusting us to love and treasure this boy.
Some of his achievements, just during his first months of showing:
1) Best of Breed (and Best Puppy) in the AKC 1st Top Dog Virtual Challenge, beating out other seasoned champions.
2) Best of Breed out of Puppy 9-12 Class (at his FIRST official show!)
3) AKC championship, finished in November, 2020, getting his majors out of the way at his VERY first show in July (one of the first shows to be held during the pandemic in South Carolina).
4) Trick Dog Routine!
5) In his first year of life, (half of which was during the pandemic) he has been to 10 states including Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, South Carolina, Georgia, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Florida!
5) Beginning Spring, 2021, pandemic allowing, he will continue working toward his Grand Championship, more trick titles, and possibly even some canine freestyle and scent work!
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Robert finishes his AKC championship at his home town Kennel Club (Birmingham Kennel Club) under Judge Deborah Barrett, with wonderful WD and BW wins under Dennis McCoy and Randy Garren as well. What a special boy inside and out. His entire championship was completed during the Covid pandemic. The 1st show in July, 2020 was scary but we found that most people were compliant about wearing masks and face shields, (although social distancing is tricky in the ring and impossible during table exams). All in all, the shows seemed as safe as, if not safer, than grocery stores ... so we continued. There were a few exceptions along the way, such as the competitor in TN who complained loudly ringside (glancing toward the judge) that "Nazis" were forcing everyone to wear masks and that masks don't work. This actually caused our Lilly to be disqualified by AKC because we were too afraid to go back in the ring for reserve. The judge reported this as unsportmanslike behavior however, when it was a choice of standing by someone without a mask who obviously believed the entire pandemic was a hoax, to not receiving a point and living to see tomorrow, we voted for the latter.)
Robert's 1st official show . . . got both his majors out of the way!
Robert loved his handling class with Cindy Roberts in Vestavia, Alabama
Winning Best of Breed and Best Puppy in AKC's first ever Virtual Show!
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Loving life . . .
Robert's Novice Tricks Routine .... Robert the Bruce - King of Scots!
Robert's 1st trip to his new home in Alabama!
Robert had fun going to work with his dad on Wednesday. Here he is flirting with one of the choir members after choir rehearsal!
Here is Robert at his first match in Tallahassee, Florida. He entered in the 3-6 puppy category and ended up winning the Toy Group, over other older dogs with more experienced! He had only had a few training sessions with walking wearing a lead and he greeted the judges as if he had been doing shows all his life (of 5 months!) He did have a little *too* much fun at times, showing off his Bunny Hop move, but "FUN" was our goal for this first outing and he nailed it! Robert is winning hearts all over the southeast as we continue to meet new people and experience new environments.
Robert won LOTS of ribbons at his first match … including winning the Toy Group!
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The next weekend, Robert attended his first workshop and learned a lot. He has been applying many of the things he learned already and he approves of the treats being in the lead hand 100%. At the workshop, too, he also learned that his owner is going to stand up for him if asked to do something that doesn't seem safe or to his best advantage …. so, he's glad he has a champion in her.
Robert thinks his mom should have bought him a hamburger, too! He loved going to Tip Top Grill.
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His favorite part of visiting Tip Top Grill was watching all the cars go by. Robert takes every new experience in stride and is truly, truly remarkable in temperament.
Robert's 1st trip to Home Depot:
Robert loves training!
Show Record - AKC Conformation:
Puppy Match - Tallahassee - 1st Place Puppy Class; Best of Breed; Best Puppy
AKC Virtual Top Dog Challenge - Best Puppy; Best of Breed Overall; Toy Group 4
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Official Shows (toward points) all completed during Covid Pandemic:
07/23/2020 Piedmont Kennel Club, Inc.Sharon Masnick Puppy 9 - 12 Mos.1st1
Sharon Masnick Winners Reserve Winner
07/24/2020 Greenville Kennel Club Mr. Benson E RayPuppy 9 - 12 Mos.1st1
Mr. Benson E Ray Winners Winners
Mr. Benson E Ray Best of Breed/VarietyBest of Winners 4 - 4 points
07/25/2020 Piedmont Kennel Club, Inc. Ms. Melinda L Lyon Puppy 9 - 12 Mos.1st1
07/26/2020 Greenville Kennel Club Judy A HarringtonPuppy 9 - 12 Mos.1st1
Judy A Harrington Winners Winners
Judy A Harrington Best of Breed/VarietyBest of Winners4 - 4 points
08/29/2020 Beaver County Kennel Club, Inc.Mark R KennedyPuppy 9 - 12 Mos.1st1
Mark R Kennedy Winners Reserve Winner
08/30/2020 Fort Steuben Kennel Association, Inc. Dr. Steve KeatingPuppy 9 - 12 Mos.1st1
09/12/2020Chattanooga Kennel Club Mrs. Patti Widick NealePuppy 9 - 12 Mos.1st1
09/12/2020 Greater Atlanta Toy Dog Association Dr. Valeria RickardPuppy 9 - 12 Mos.1st1
Dr. Valeria Rickard WinnersWinners4 - 4 points
Dr. Valeria Rickard Best of Breed/VarietyBest Owner-Handled in Breed or Variety
09/13/2020 Chattanooga Kennel ClubSharon MasnickPuppy 9 - 12 Mos.1st1
10/07/2020 Oak Ridge Kennel ClubMrs. Nancy Smith Hafner 12 - 18 Mos.1st
10/08/2020 Oak Ridge Kennel Club Ms. Elizabeth Muthard 12 - 18 Mos.2nd
Ms. Elizabeth Muthard Winners Reserve Winner
10/10/2020 Tri-Star Kennel Club of Williamson County, Tennessee
Dr. Adam Stafford King 12 - 18 Mos.1st
Dr. Adam Stafford King Winners Reserve Winner
10/11/2020 Tri-Star Kennel Club of Williamson County, Tennessee
Mr. Jon R Cole 12 - 18 Mos.1st
Mr. Jon R Cole Winners Reserve Winner
Priceville - Huntsville/Decatur - Reserve Wins
Columbiana
11/12/20-12-18 Mos 1st Dennis McCoy Winners Dog; Best Best of Winners - 1 point
11/13/20 - 12-18 Mos 1st Randy Garren Winners Dog; Best of Winners - 1 point
11/14/20 - 12-18 Mos 1st Deborah Barrett Winners Dog; Best of Winners - 1 point
15 points, Finished Championship 11/13/20 at 18th show
07/23/2020 Piedmont Kennel Club, Inc.Sharon Masnick Puppy 9 - 12 Mos.1st1
Sharon Masnick Winners Reserve Winner
07/24/2020 Greenville Kennel Club Mr. Benson E RayPuppy 9 - 12 Mos.1st1
Mr. Benson E Ray Winners Winners
Mr. Benson E Ray Best of Breed/VarietyBest of Winners 4 - 4 points
07/25/2020 Piedmont Kennel Club, Inc. Ms. Melinda L Lyon Puppy 9 - 12 Mos.1st1
07/26/2020 Greenville Kennel Club Judy A HarringtonPuppy 9 - 12 Mos.1st1
Judy A Harrington Winners Winners
Judy A Harrington Best of Breed/VarietyBest of Winners4 - 4 points
08/29/2020 Beaver County Kennel Club, Inc.Mark R KennedyPuppy 9 - 12 Mos.1st1
Mark R Kennedy Winners Reserve Winner
08/30/2020 Fort Steuben Kennel Association, Inc. Dr. Steve KeatingPuppy 9 - 12 Mos.1st1
09/12/2020Chattanooga Kennel Club Mrs. Patti Widick NealePuppy 9 - 12 Mos.1st1
09/12/2020 Greater Atlanta Toy Dog Association Dr. Valeria RickardPuppy 9 - 12 Mos.1st1
Dr. Valeria Rickard WinnersWinners4 - 4 points
Dr. Valeria Rickard Best of Breed/VarietyBest Owner-Handled in Breed or Variety
09/13/2020 Chattanooga Kennel ClubSharon MasnickPuppy 9 - 12 Mos.1st1
10/07/2020 Oak Ridge Kennel ClubMrs. Nancy Smith Hafner 12 - 18 Mos.1st
10/08/2020 Oak Ridge Kennel Club Ms. Elizabeth Muthard 12 - 18 Mos.2nd
Ms. Elizabeth Muthard Winners Reserve Winner
10/10/2020 Tri-Star Kennel Club of Williamson County, Tennessee
Dr. Adam Stafford King 12 - 18 Mos.1st
Dr. Adam Stafford King Winners Reserve Winner
10/11/2020 Tri-Star Kennel Club of Williamson County, Tennessee
Mr. Jon R Cole 12 - 18 Mos.1st
Mr. Jon R Cole Winners Reserve Winner
Priceville - Huntsville/Decatur - Reserve Wins
Columbiana
11/12/20-12-18 Mos 1st Dennis McCoy Winners Dog; Best Best of Winners - 1 point
11/13/20 - 12-18 Mos 1st Randy Garren Winners Dog; Best of Winners - 1 point
11/14/20 - 12-18 Mos 1st Deborah Barrett Winners Dog; Best of Winners - 1 point
15 points, Finished Championship 11/13/20 at 18th show