Mex. Ch. Delayed Reaction, (Am) CD
"Rufus" was our first basset and first showdog, out of Ch. Belyn's Bad Leroy Brown (A Ch. Bar-B Buckets O'Sullivan son) and Belyn's Hop-A-Long Chastity, bred by Carolyn Bolch, then of High Rolls, New Mexico, and now of Tucson, Arizona.
Whelped May 2, 1978, he was a real companion and typically sweet-natured boy who brought us many hours of joy. A slow maturer, he didn't start getting points until nearly 3 years old, and was retired due to Lupus-related lameness with 12 points including a major. He obtained his Mexican Championship at the age of 3 with a Group I and II in Juarez, Mexico. He had already obtained his CD and was in training for his CDX when we decided to retire him from all competition. At the ripe old age of 6, lupus-free we brought him out of "retirement" to teach him Agility. His nickname at class was "The Landshark"-- he'd go across the Dog Walk snapping at the treats all the way, as fast as he could!
Rufus was also something of a local celebrity in Las Cruces, New Mexico, taking place in the ribbon "cutting" of the long-awaited new Animal Shelter, (left) and being the unwitting "star" of the Drill Team's half-time show at the huge annual NMSU-NMU basketball game (attendance around 1500), where deafening chants of "Rufus, Rufus, Rufus," rocked the rafters on into the 3rd quarter of the game.
He did produce our first Champion and provided us with many years of his invaluable companionship before he died at the age of 13, still going to shows as a "truck" dog, and loving every minute.
"Rufie", will be greatly missed.