Ch Teschi Pipers Tune (Leila)
I only wanted to get a pet, but Trevor and Olive Robb really wanted the pick of the litter shown, so I thought, what the heck, my Grandmother had bred Labradors, my favourite day out as a child was crufts, so I agreed.
When she was eight weeks Philip and I collected our lovely tiny little Red & White bitch from Albion Park and drove her home, Cusack our Bull Terrier was not impressed and would not play with her, but she worked and worked on him and a month later she was his best friend in the world. He went from being a serious old man to having fun with this little cute little lady.
Cusack and Leila, best of friends
So we both learned how show and she looked so nice in the ring, it was a shame she had me stumbling around after her. We did win a Best In Group and had no trouble getting her titled, but she never really liked the ring, she would drop her ears and look so sad, even the judges mentioned it. In the end we agreed she could stay at home with Cusack and be a mum. Trevor and Olive her breeders always gave me great advice and even though they were probably disappointed that she retired quite young they supported the decision.
Leila gave me 2 lovely litters, and was a fantastic mum. She won the very prestigious Fula memorial trophy as Dam of the day 4 times at the Basenji Club of NSW in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2009 only one other bitch has matches that. It made us all very proud. so even in retirement she made her mark.
All her life she was a bolter and often escaped through gates left open just a bit too long, she was quite hard work as she wa always looking to get out and have adventures. In all other ways she was just a darling. She often went to stay with her favourite son Rock and his owner. Larry who had been a big help in our early days in the ring, He often showed her for me when my nerves got the better of me, and I was very pleased when he asked to buy one of her pups, Rock is a handsome devil, titled with ease and often won his class at specialty shows. In August 2006 Philip and I went away for six weeks to Europe and Larry kindly looked after Leila, when we got back we were in no hurry to bring her home as she adored her boy Rock. On the October 21st 2006 she got away from Larry, bolted onto a busy road and was hit by a car. We will always remember Leila our first Basenji
Cusack was a grand old man of 13 in August 2007 when he became very sick with Tumors in hs mouth which were making it hard to eat, so we made the hard choice and took him to the Vet, he was cremated and is now with Leila and Fox at our new home in Mullumbimby,
Cusack and Blue
With "his" last kids (Cusack thought all the Tri pups were his)
With "his" last kids (Cusack thought all the Tri pups were his)
Our second Basenji was Ch Teschi Fox Fire at aged 3 he became very unhappy in our large pack and we adopted him out. A year later he broke out of his home, spent 3 weeks on the road looking for females, he was hit by a car and we got a call form the RSPCA to tell us the dreadful news. He had sired 2 very nice litters and his progeny have made their mark in the ring.
Ch Teschi Foxfire at nine months
To loose our first 3 dogs in an 18 month period was very hard, we have great memories of them all. and the Basenjis live on in their wonderful offspring who bring great joy to all their owners.