Toomba was my Special boy, he was number 7 in a litter of 9, being born at the 11th hour on the 11th November - Remembrance day. He was the first to bark at me (3wks from the whelping box), first to climb out of the whelping box, first to escape from the puppy run, first to climb into the doggie paddling pool and the first to fall into the swimming pool. I guess it was natural he was the one I kept. He eclipsed all my wildest dreams. Toomba died unexpectedly in his sleep from complications to liver cancer. Nice and painless the way you would want it to happen. We didn't even know he was sick, he looked so fit and healthy. He was shown the week before and won Best of Breed he looked that good. This page is a celebration of his short but packed full of excitement Life.
Toomba gained his Aust Champion Title at 14 months and his Aust Grand Champion at 4 1/2 years (only the second ACT Hound to become a Grand Ch, and the only Ridgeback in the ACT to date). When he died Toomba had over 1600 pts (only 300 by 6pt CC's and this was before Best of Breed pts were awarded). His wins included:
10 Best Exhibit in Hound Groups;
12 Runner Up Best Exhibit in Hound Groups;
70 Class in Groups - all age classes from Baby Puppy to Open;
12 Class in shows - Speciality, Hound Speciality and All Breeds;
Best Gaited and Headed at Hound Specialities;
3 Best Ridge at Breed Specialities;
3 Royal Best of Breeds, 1 Runner Up Best of Breed;
4 Royal Dog Challenges, 1 Reserve Dog Challenge;
Only unplaced at 2 Royals from 14 attended (Cbr, Syd, Bris, Melb, Adel & Dar);
Only unplaced 4 times from 12 Specialities attended (Cbr, Syd, Melb, & Adel);
Rarely unplaced under Breed Specialists;
Winner of the All Age Pointscore for 1996 (RRC - NSW);
Qualified for the CKA Guineas 1995 & 1996.
That was Toomba's show side, and now for his other side -
*Obedience - 1st place & qualified Advanced class (and it was raining to), 4th place & qualified at his first attempted at Novice Encouragement (with a bitch in Season at home). We Trialed in the Novice class at the 5th National held here in Canberra (didn't qualify but he didn't pee on anything either!). Toomba had finally matured and we were about to start seriously trialing for his CD title this year.
*Agility - member of the "Flying Ridgebacks" agility team that competed in the ACT final of the 1998 Pal National Agility Event (we came last). Toomba was known as the Tunnel Dog as he loved the tunnel, He was also a Ballistic Missile - Speed was not his problem, self control was!. It was finally coming together and we were about to start Trailing in Jumpers. At his last mock trial Toomba came 2nd with a clear round time of 15 secs. Toomba loved Agility and Agility people loved watching him - he was entertaining.
*Sledding - As a joke we harnessed up Toomba to a friends sled - he loved it! Don't think he even noticed the sled dragging behind him. Only problem was he only ran if I was out in front. And since I can't run 7 kms we never raced.
*Modelling - Toomba was a Male Photographic Model. He loved it, all the attention, he was a very photogenic boy.
Toomba may have been a pumped up dog in the show ring, but at home he was a cuddly sook, a real mummies boy. He was a joy to own, and came very close indeed to my ideal Ridgeback.
Toomba was a wonderful family pet and protected his family well. Once while staying at a friend's house, he let himself and two Keeshonds into the house through the closed dog door and then deadlocked the front door, so no one else could get in (except through the broken dog door).
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