As owner and proprietor of Rutherford Cavaliers, I have had a long love affair with animals. One of my most cherished memories is when my dad took me to buy my first dog—a Toy Fox Terrier puppy. I was 4 and my sister had just been born. I was feeling anxious about the new addition, so little Trixie became my constant companion and confidant.
At 13, a family friend gave me a 3-year-old Dachshund named Copper. It was love at first site for both of us! I worked with her, trained her, painted pictures of her in different positions. She, in turn, loved me and only me. I saw that there was a Dachshund show in Mobile, where we were living, and convinced my parents that Copper and I were going to enter. She one a First! I became hooked on showing dogs from that point.
The Bichon Frise was the first breed I actively bred and showed in conformation and obedience, starting in 1971 when they were a rare breed. After breeding and showing 4 Bichons that became AKC Champions and 2 Bichons that obtained the Companion Dog title in obedience, I took a sabbatical to raise my new son.
My first Cavalier arrived in 1983, which
started my 25-year love affair with the breed. My original bloodlines were
Kindrum and Salador from England. I have been fortunate enough to continue
winning at shows over the years and to have bred and owned some lovely
Cavaliers.My greatest pleasure is
to see the excitement and love on the faces of the people who get one of my
puppies--there's no better reward for all the hard work and effort that is
required to raise healthy, happy-go-lucky family companions!
For the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club,
I have organized judging seminars and served as Show Chair for matches and
Championship shows. I have served
on the CKCSC Board of Directors
and the CNE Board of Directors, as well as serving as Vice-President of CNE and
as a member of the CNE Judges Committee.
I have participated in judging seminars in England and the United
States, including the week-long AKC Judges Institute, and have organized a
judging seminar using top foreign Cavalier breeders and served as Show Chair
for matches and championship shows.
I judged my first championship show in the
US in1992 for CKCSC's Cavaliers of the West. I have also judged Cavaliers at open shows in England and
Cavaliers, Chinese Crested, Bichon Frises, and Tibetan Spaniels in Wales.
I love talking about Cavaliers, so please feel free to give me a call or set up a time to come for a chat and a visit. I'm looking forward to meeting you! Cheers, Robbi Jones, Rutherford Cavaliers