The Sho-Me Bunch
Here’s a story.....of a lovely lady.....who was bringing up four very active kids.
All of them had dogs.....like their mother.....the youngest one in juniors.
Here’s a story.....of a man named Spratley.....who never had a dog of his own.
Then he found Scrappy.....in a dumpster.....yet they were all alone.
Then the one day the lady met this fellow.....and they knew that it was much more than a hunch.
That this group must somehow form a family.....thats the way they became the Sho-Me Bunch.
The Sho-Me Bunch.....the Sho-Me Bunch.....that’s the way they became the Sho-Me Bunch!
How the "Bunch" came together
Here is the story.
Tami got her start showing Arabian horses and quickly became one of the top equestrian riders in the Midwest. As time went on, she moved away from the farm, but missed the competition. This time though, she traded in her pitch fork for a pooper scooper. Tami bought a female golden retriever from Hillside Goldens, showed her in obedience, and received her CD title. She was hooked.
Then, she moved into the city of St. Louis and wanted a dog that at least LOOKED a little more protective. That’s when Tami bought her first boxer, from Jerry and Dot Bryant of Interlude Boxers. She showed and bred boxers for several years. In addition to breeding 5 champions and a BISS, Tami also handled on a limited basis.
Around that time, along came Tami’s daughters, Tara and Taylor, who grew up to love the sport, and wanted to start showing. The entry and handling fees were more than Tami could handle, as she was now in the process of opening her own grooming salon, Pooch Parlor. She decided to step back from showing and let her children’s show career begin.
TJ, Tami’s first-born, had a limited career in showing, but he managed to put points on a dog or two. TJ had wanted a Doberman in the worst way, but went on to get involved in reptiles.
Tami’s daughter, Tara, started showing at age 9. She participated in junior showmanship as well as regular class. She finished many dogs, and is now an assistant to Shelly and Sharon, “the poodle girls” of Greenridge Farms, and has worked there for 6 years . She took a summer off from Shelly and Sharon's poodles and went to work for Kadie Bonds in Houston, Texas...who has more poodles. When Tara came home, she was not alone. She brought home a miniature cream bitch and then proceeded to hide her from her mother for a week. That’s how they got “Secret” CH.Makay’s Secret Affair to Rembr. She now has three champions of her own. That’s how Tami fell in love with poodles.
Jake, Tami’s youngest, didn’t go to many dog shows because he was very successful in hockey and that consumed all his weekends. He is now in high school and is wrestling and bowling. He finally wore Tami down and got a dog of his own. Jake now has an aussie from Copper Ridge Australian Shepards. Watch for Taylor and Ranger in a ring near you.
Taylor started her show career by running in the ring behind Tami at 2 years old. Tami was embarrassed, but everyone else found great humor in it. Taylor would also hide so she could watch groups and mark her catalogue. She got her first dog from Englsfeld English Cockers. She showed and finished Emma with a group 3, and was also #2 English Cocker Jr. her first year in juniors.
Then, one day, Tami received a call at work from Bill, owner of Louies Pizza Co. next door to the Pooch Parlor. He had found a puppy in a dumpster and wanted to know if Tami could help. He brought the 10-week old puppy into the Pooch Parlor, and the puppy weighed in at about 5lbs and was full of worms and mange. Bill, who never owned a dog in his life (very un-American!), had full intentions of dumping the puppy on Tami. But ,“Scrappy” melted Bill’s heart. Bill had a lot of questions about owning a dog, so his conversations with Tami grew longer and more frequent. Before Tami realized it, she realized she'd been talking to the man of her dreams, someone who shared the same passion: DOGS.
Bill decided that Scrappy needed a brother. Tami talked him into a show dog, and after looking and discussing several breeds, they decided on the breed Tami grew up with, Dobermans. Of course, TJ was thrilled. They looked at several websites and Tami fell in love with a beautiful male, Ch. Trotyl De Black Shadow. She called Mr. Jim Briley of Aquarius Dobermans. He told her there was a long waiting list, but he would put me on it anyway. Well, they knew what that meant, no Trotyl puppy for them.
So, they went to Bruda Dobermans and came home with a red male we named “Bruda Army of One,” aka Rush. About a month later Tami’s good friend, Bryan Briley, called and said there was a Trotyl bitch for sale in Florida. Tami was so excited! Bill went to the airport to pick up “Hamlet’s Black Kenya.” They bought her from Fabian Gotlib of Hamlet Kennels. Tami and Bill started their show career in March of 2007 with Rush going winners dog and Kenya taking reserve and best puppy their first weekend out. Bill was hooked.
After several weekends out and a few more points, they met Jim Briley of Aquarius Dobermans at a show so he could see Kenya. He told them about another Trotyl litter and to contact Ron Babics, also with Aquarius Dobermans. This time they actually got on the list. LOL. (Dobermans are like potato chips, you can’t just have one!) After hours of conversation, Ron really wanted them to be happy and get what they wanted. So, Tami sent Bill to the airport one more time. He came home with Diamond “Aquarius’ Blk Diamond Sho-Me.
Since Rush liked the food bowl and his dog bed more than the show ring, Bill decided he wanted another red male. So, once again, on the phone with Ron, driving him crazy, they asked him to find the red version of “Trotyl”. So, once again, Bill was sent to the airport to pick up Trotyl’s son “Hector”.
They started going to shows, but the “Scrap Dog”, being a mutt, couldn’t get into the building. So, Bill decided to buy Scrappy a house on wheels, and bought a motor home. Scrappy is now in his glory.
Watch for the Sho-Me Bunch at dog shows near you!
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