After moving out on my own, my first dog was a doberman. I had asked my husband what breed of dog
he wanted and his reply was "A Black and Tan Coonhound". I replied that a Coonhound would not be good in
obedience, what was his second choice. It turned out to be a doberman. We purchased Siegmeister's Tristan
from Paul and Adelaide Combs of Tampa, Florida. Well, I soon realized that showing a dobe in obedience was
fine, but trying to compete with the handlers in the conformation ring was not for the faint of heart. So
I decided to 'get my husband a coonhound'. There was a specialty in Memphis, Tennessee on Friday, November 24,
1978 which had Cocker Spaniels, Black and Tan Coonhounds, Collies and Dobermans. The Doberman Pinscher Club of Memphis
was offering obedience so I entered my dobie in obedience and drove to Memphis to see my first coonhounds.
All I remember about the building was that it was a large metal building that echoed greatly. There were 306 dogs entered, with 124 of them being cockers and 61 being collies. The cockers and collies barked pretty much incessantly. Being more used to obedience trials than conformation shows at that time, I was aware of the noise. As I was walking around looking at the dogs, I noticed two Coonhound males that were eyeing each other from inside their crates. They decided they did not like each other and both of them sat on their haunches, threw back their heads as best they could and let out a long drawn out bay. ...AND THE WALLS SHOOK. All the collies and all the cockers fell silent as if they knew they had been outclassed. I said to myself, "I HAVE to have one of these dogs!" Thus began my love affair with these wonderful dogs. The American Black and Tan Coonhound Club's motto for the breed is "Beauty Strength Courage". This pretty much says it all. This breed is wonderful for families. My coonhounds raised my children. I could count on my dogs to protect my children when they needed protecting while being gentle with them when they were young. Coonhounds are not easily provoked to bite a child, it is as if they know that the child does not know any better if they accidentally pull a tail or an ear. They are very laid back and calm in nature. They are also good watch dogs, letting you know if someone or something is on the property that should not be there. |
My First Coonhound | |||
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At the Memphis Show Winners Dog was Stoneyhill's Stormy Streaker, Winners Bitch was Stoneyhill's Jody Like A Melody, Best of Breed was Ch. Becrelens Pact of Stoneyhill and Best of Opposite Sex was Stoneyhill's Jody Like A Melody. Bob and Joy Koerber of Stoneyhill Kennel lived in Olive Branch, Mississippi, just outside of Memphis and about a 4 hour drive from me so it was destined that I should get my first coonhound from them. | |||
Stoneyhill Southern Lady was born on June 2, 1979. We drove to Olive Branch to pick Lady up when she was six weeks old. Lady's first win was at the Atlanta Kennel Club, April 12, 1980. She was awarded WB, BW, BB over 3 class males for her first 2 points under judge Dr. Braxton Sawyer. |
Stoneyhill Southern Lady | Puppy 9-12 Class |
Judge: Dr. Braxton Sawyer | April 12, 1980 |
My First Specialty (as an exhibitor) |
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On August 22, 1980, I drove to Ravenna, Ohio to show Lady in our first specialty show. At this show, I saw many fine coonhounds and got my first glimpse of many of the breed's great dogs. I enjoyed the hospitality of Neal and Ruth Emmons thanks to Bob and Joy Koerber. I saw many of the fine dogs of the day such as Tanwood's Mint Julep owned by Gary and Cheryl Speed, Twinlakes Cuddly Cinders owned by Neal and Ruth Emmons, and many fine Codach dogs such as Winners Dog - Codach's Lyrical Rebel Yell bred and owned by Mr. & Mrs. Clare Lewis. I had the rare opportunity to see Ch. Codach's Lyrical Treeboy handled by Clare Lewis compete against Ch. St John's Ajchin handled by Robert St.John. I sat in the dining room of Neal and Ruth Emmons' house and listened to R.H. StJohn share his knowledge of the breed. I learned so much that weekend that I felt like my brain was a sponge! |
Lady's Obedience Career - Companion Dog Title | |||
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Date | Show | Judge | Score |
9/14/1980 | Nashville Dog Training Club | Christina Stoner | 188 |
10/4/1980 | Chattanooga Kennel Club | William V. Thayne | 186 |
11/2/1980 | Birmingham Obedience Club
High Scoring Dog in the Hound Group |
Richard Christ | 194 |
12/6/1980 | Atlanta Obedience Club Won a three way run off for 4th place High Scoring dog in the Hound Group |
Mrs. Robert E. Eggers | 191 1/2 ++ |
12/7/1980 | Atlanta Kennel Club High Scoring Dog in the Hound Group |
Kent Delaney | 184.5 |
The same day that Lady earned her last qualifying score in Novice, she won her first major under Raphael Schulte. What a thrilling day for a novice dog show person (me). Lady took Winners Bitch and Best of Opposite Sex for a three point major. |
Stoneyhill Southern Lady | Open Class |
Judge: Raphael Schulte | December 7, 1980 |
My First Coonhound Litter |
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I then decided to breed my first litter of Black and Tan Coonhounds. Since my first daughter, Jennifer was born on August 8 of 1981, Lady and I were pregnant at the same time for a short time. On January 25, 1981, Lady whelped her first litter of puppies. Two of the litter went on to become champions, and my puppy eventually got her CD. The puppy that I kept out of the litter had a fat, round face and looked just like a teddy bear. So I named her Rockytop Winnie the Pooh and called her Bear. Bear was my first everything. She was my first homebred champion, my first group placing coonhound and she was destined to go down in history by winning Best of Breed at the AKC Centennial in 1984. ... But I get ahead of myself. |
I started showing Bear shortly after Jennifer was born in August of 1981. Before long, Bear started beating her mother, Lady for points. Pictured below is a major win where Bear took WB and BW for a three point major at Huntsville Kennel Club. |
Rockytop Winnie The Pooh | Bred By Exhibitor Class |
Judge: Don Bradley | May 2, 1982 |
Bear finished her championship on Saturday, April 22, 1983 under Bill Kendrick at Columbus Kennel Club which was then part of the Birmingham circuit. On Sunday, April 23, 1983, Bear took Best of Breed and Lady finished her Championship under Don Bradley. |
The very next weekend was our home show, Huntsville Kennel Club. On Sunday, May 1,
1983, I had gotten to the show early to move Bear up to the Best of Breed class. The judge was Frank Homeyer who had
already given Bear a Best of Breed win from the classes. I was hopeful that we might do well under him. As Mr. Homeyer
awarded Bear Best of Breed, he looked at me and said, "You WILL be here for the group won't you?" I assured him
that this was our home show and that I would indeed be there. The first time he had awarded Bear the breed, I was riding
with a friend and could not stay for the group. I showed Bear in the group and we made the cut. All my friends from Huntsville Obedience Training Club as well as friends from Huntsville Kennel Club were at the show and clapped enthusiastically. Well, Frank Homeyer lined up 4 dogs and I was at one end of the line. I remember thinking to myself, "Wow, that is nice, we may get a 4th!" About that time, Mr. Homeyer walked up to me and said, "First". My mouth dropped open and I just stood there staring at him dumbfounded! He gave me a funny look and said, "Didn't you hear me, I said FIRST!" I still just stood there in disbelief! Finally a little impatiently he said, "Will you get over there!" and pointed to the first place sign. Finally I moved amid wild cheering from my friends. One gal said that she had never seen me speechless! |
Ch. Rockytop Winnie The Pooh | BBE Class/Moved to BOB |
Judge: Frank Homeyer | May 1, 1983 |
On August 27, 1983, my husband and I (yes, Ray does once in a while go to shows!) travelled to Ravenna, Ohio for dog shows. This was not a specialty, just another show. The judge was Lorraine H. Masley. We only took Bear, Ch. Rockytop Winnie the Pooh. On Saturday the breed was won by Ch Twinlakes Tar Baby and I met Beverly Hanna for the first time. I told her how much I liked her dog and she complimented Bear. On Sunday Bear took the breed over 12 coonhounds. Beverly told me she was breeding Tar Baby to Ch. Codach's Lyrical Rebel Yell who took WD at the 1980 specialty. I asked her if I could purchase a puppy from her. She put me on her contact list and the rest as they say is history! |
Bear's Specials Career | |||
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At this point in my life, I was a mother (Jennifer was born August 8, 1981), I was in the co-operative education program at the University of Alabama in Huntsville working on my Master's Degree in Computer Science and working part time to full time at Teledyne Brown Engineering. Since I found that I had much rather go to a dog show than study (heck, I had rather clean house than study), I decided to put my dog, Ch. Rockytop Winnie the Pooh out with handlers Jeff Brucker and Davin MacAteer and finish my schooling. | |||
Date | Show | Judge | Placement |
6/18/1983 | Paducah Kennel Club | Frank Homeyer | Group II |
9/24/1983 | Huntsville Kennel Club | Mrs. Thomas Powers | Group III |
5/12/1984 | Montgomery Kennel Club | Judith Fellton | Group III |
6/17/1984 | Cape Girardo Kennel Club | Mrs. Connie Bosold | Group IV |
The New York Trip |
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On September 9, 1984, the American Black and Tan Coonhound Club hosted their National Specialty in conjunction with the Westchester Kennel Club in New York. The Breed was judged by Denis Grivas and Sweepstakes was judged by Barbara Danis. We took Gypsy, Patrick and Lady for obedience. |
Lady's Obedience Career - Companion Dog Excellent Title | |||
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Date | Show | Judge | Score |
9/6/1984 | Rockland County Kennel Club First place in Open A! |
Mrs. Eleanor Rotman | 194 |
9/8/1984 | Somerset Hills Kennel Club Second place in Open A |
Mr. Donald C. Larsen | 191.5 |
2/25/1984 | Southeast Ala. Kennel Club | Curtis C. Cordell | 193 |
3/8/1985 | Tenn. Valley Kennel Club First Place and High Scoring Hound |
Samuel Gardner | 192.5 |
3/9/1985 | Chattanooga Kennel Club Second Place in class |
J.J. Heidinger | 193.5 |
Ch. Stoneyhill Southern Lady, CD | Class: Open A |
Judge: Eleanor Rotman | Score 194 |
The Philadelphia Trip |
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1984 was the 100th anniversary of the American Kennel Club. To celebrate this event, the American Kennel Club sponsored a set of 4 stamps depicting the eight breeds that were originated in the United States. The American Kennel Club also sponsored a Centennial Dog Show. This show was not put on by a local club but by The American Kennel Club. The show was in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. |
ROCKYTOP BLACK AND TANS IS PROUD TO PRESENT... |
Ch. Rockytop Winnie The Pooh | Best of Breed |
Judge: Stan Petter | Handler: Jeff Brucker |
Bred by:Edith S. Atchley | Owned by: Edith S. Atchley & William J. Gruner |