INTRODUCTION
In the late 1970s and 1980s I handled various shelties to BOB's and BIG level for others however BLACKLUSSET first became involved with shelties in 1992.
After a visit to Melbourne for the Melbourne Royal of 1991 to exhibit "Spud" Multi BIS/BISS Aust Grand Ch Dalwood Hillstreet Blues, I attended the Kyeton All Breeds Show a few days after collie Judging at the Melbourne Royal- Spud winning Best of Breed at Kyeton and then I saw in the distance a beautiful blue merle female sheltie owned by Glenyse Acreman of Hillacre Kennels who would go on change BLACKLUSSET'S whole direction for the future.
The blue merle sheltie's name was Aust (later Grand) Ch Hillacre Heavenly Blue "Elsa" (who went on to win BIS at the 4th Sheltie National in Brisbane in 1994). I just wanted a blue merle sheltie just like her. After talking to her breeder who had so many blue merle orders and told me I would have to wait for years to purchase one from her, she advised me to contact Brian and Betty Johnson ALMAROY shelties in Sydney who had "Elsa's" blue merle brother from a repeat later mating - HILLACRE HOWZAT 'Glider". My family had known the Johnson's since the 1950s as they had also bred and showed collies and had bought our pet sheep "Tomasina" from our home at Vaucluse.
Betty Johnson asked me to "mind" a young sheltie
a rich sable pup
"Flirt" in July 1992 while we waited for
"Gliders" litters. So "Flirt" - to become
AUST CH ALMAROY COQUETTE was the first sheltie at BLACKLUSSET.
"Flirt" was only to stay until my blue merle dog was born, however
as fate had it "Flirt" only left BLACKLUSSET for short time for a
litter which unfortunately resulted in a caesarian and one dead puppy for
ALMAROY.. I had so much fun showing "Flirt" and she would
sell anyone a sheltie . "Flirt" and gained her Australian
Championship with ease under the old challenge point system (no opposite sex
points awarded for BOB - only bitch challenge points counted) and won many Res Challenges and
In Shows at Specialties and Semi Specialties and was a multiple class Royal
winner at various Royal shows when entries were huge. Unfortunately
"Flirt" went to heaven very unexpectedly at only 5 years of age
from a heart attack in 1998 before our move to Wamboin.
In December, 1992 my blue merle sheltie Codee to become Multi BISS/RUBIS/RUBISS
Aust Ch Almaroy Code Blue was born and he won from the moment he went
to a dog show. Words cannot describe how I felt about him - Codee and
Spud are the heart and soul of BLACKLUSSET - without them there is no
BLACKLUSSET. Spud and Codee were inseparable and became known in the show
ring as "The Blues Brothers". Please take time and visit Codee's tribute page.
Codee went to heaven October 2007 and I miss him terribly.
CODEE brought so much enjoyment in and out of the show ring and won 2 BEST EXHBIT IN SHOW Shetland Sheepdog Club of NSW, Runner up in Show Illawarrra Collie and Shetland Sheepdog Club among his many wins.
CODEE gave me my biggest thrill in breeding
and exhibiting in 2006 when his
GRAND-DAUGHTER Mikaela won the Bitch Challenge and RUNNER UP BEST EXHIBIT IN
SHOW Shetland Sheepdog Club of NSW in 2006 under English Specialist Mrs
Heather Bendelow (UK) (104 entries). I have not been to any Sheltie
Specialties since this show, however I am hoping to travel Specialties in 2008.
CODEE is THE PAST, THE PRESENT and the FUTURE of BLACKLUSSET.
CODEE is survived by his daughter, son, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren at BLACKLUSSET and also the progeny from his daughter "Shannon" - BRASHELLE CODE OF LOVE for Rachelle Belak of BRASHELLE SHELTIES in Sydney.
I look forward to the future combining CODEE'S lines with wonderful English tri colour lines.
Wendy Pfeiffer (Weir)
May 2008
