| Little did we know that our
"family pet" was not only destined to become a Champion,
but the foundation of Desiree Acres. Cecilia was a beautifully sound girl with correct shoulders and forchest, as well as lovely feet, ribs and topline -- combined with an absolutely unflappable temperament. Throughout the 70's I spent Tuesday nights in West Covina at Barbara Dunning's handling class. Barbara is something of a legend in Southern California, having taught basset handlers for over 4 decades. Cecilia was a particular favorite of Barbara's and she handled her to most of her championship points. |
![]() 1972 photo
(above) Cecilia is
being handled by my mother, Kati
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| Barbara Dunning is pictured winning our very first major That's me on the right handling Cecilia to a Specialty reserve | |
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Melody was my pick from our very
first litter. She and I grew up
together, and together we became champions. I was 16 years old when I finished Melody with 3 majors (including a 5 point Specialty win) -- completely Breeder Owner Handled. I missed my High School Graduation Party to help deliver her first litter (which produced our foundations studs, Wizard and Benny). Melody was a stylish and typy girl with beautiful lip and LONG ears (which was still rare for a bitch in the 1970's) She was one of the most intelligent dogs I have owned -- absolutely packed with personality. Pictured (left) winning her 2nd Major at the 1974 Santa Ana KC show under breeder judge Hub Robinson. |
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| The photo above pictures me at the
age of 14 winning our very first
match
trophy Melody at 4 months
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and 11 years |
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For Melody's mate we chose to breed to Ch. Oranpark Grover. A Best in Show winner, this handsome dog was line bred on the legendary Santana Mandeville bloodlines. We kept two males from this litter, Wizard and Benny. I finished Wizard with 4 majors, entirely from the Bred by Class. During this stage in my life I was also attending school to become a Registered Veterinary Technician. Wizard had beautifully classic head type, (reminiscent of his famous grandsire, Ch. Santana Mandeville Ichabod), lovely lip, ears, bone, and substance, all packaged in a deep mahogany color. A truly glamorous dog, Wizard was to stamp his type and temperament onto generations to come. |
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Litter mates
Wizard and Benny are shown together at 3 months ~~~ and at 2 years |
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Benny is the only dog I have owned
(or have ever heard of) who finished with Five Majors, all Breeder Owner
Handled. (His show record -- one 5-point major and four 3-point majors) . Benny was my Mom (Kati's) favorite from this litter (Wizard was my favorite). This was to become a pattern with each breeding -- we usually kept two littermates, one that I liked and one that Kati fancied. Though not as glamorous as his littermate, Benny was a rock-solid hound with beautiful head type, feet and chest. This 1977 photo shows Benny with breeder judge Paul Moore, winning one of his 5 majors. |
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Benny
is
pictured at 6 years ~~~~~~~~~and at 6 months (with me and my mom Kati) |
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The product of one of our closest line breedings (Grandmother Cecilia X Grandson Wizard) I always felt Dream was one of the finest dogs I have bred. A perfectly sound girl, she combined the correct front, ribs topline and rear, with beautiful type (even surpassing her half sister Melody's deep lip and exceptionally long ears!). Dream was also a BIG girl -- 73 pounds - but she could MOVE. She was as sweet as she was stylish, and I am tremendously proud to have bred her. In 1985 she (and Ron's dog Goofy) accompanied us on our honeymoon, then came to live with Ron and me at "Desiree Acres North". Her soundness held her in good stead -- she took Best of Opposite Sex at the BHCSC and NCBHC Specialty shows, both from the Veterans Class. Dream
is shown finishing
her championship under
breeder judge Wilton Myer at the 1980 Conejo KC show |
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| Dream in
all her glory. I only regret that I did not produce about 12 more just
like her. |
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Bred and owned by Barbara Humphrey of Sunshine
Bassets, Bama's
mother, Desiree Acres Sunshine, was a
littermate to
Dream. The product of an uncle/niece breeding (a Wizard daughter bred to her full uncle Benny) this is the way we doubled up on the Santana Mandeville blood and stamped in our type. Another stylish girl with a beautiful front and lovely type, bone and temperment -- she was simply the apple of her mother's eye. Bama was a Specialty winner with multiple Best of Breed wins. She also produced several champions. This 1984 photo shows Bama with breeder/owner Barbara Humphrey |
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| Bama on the beach in Ventura with littermate Georgia
Peach & breeder Barbara
Humphry ~~with Mary winning points from the
puppy
class |
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| We took an different path to
double up on the Santana Mandeville blood when we bred the Wizard
daughter, Desiree Acres Jelly Bean. This time we used Jo NewMeyer's Ch.
Rebleglen's Frosty Too. Frosty was a half brother
to Wizard and Benny, being a Ch. Oranpark Grover son. Praline was the first born of 7 puppies and we were very surprised that she had a pure white ear. It quickly developed a speckled pattern, which led to her name. Her distinctive coloring was matched only by her beauty, style and personality. Pralene was my full time lap dog and completely stole my heart. Praline is pictured taking Best Of
Breed in 1986 at the age of 3 years
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Judges always commented on Praline's speckled ears. She had no problem
with that, she KNEW she was
special. |
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A Littermate to Praline, Toffee was destined to shine in the Obedience Ring. Ron was training his basset, Goofy, for her CD title when we met, and he trained most of our dogs in basic obedience. Toffee also came to live with Ron and me at "Desiree Acres North", and was our beloved traveling companion. Toffee and Ron are pictured winning High in Trial at the 1988 BHCSC Specialty with a score of 180. |
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| You each brought us the joy in
knowing
you, the fun of winning with you and the ultimate achievement in knowing we had produced such beauty and devotion. A little bit of each of you live on in our hearts, our memories, and in the dogs we know and love today. I miss you all and look to the day I will see you again at the Rainbow Bridge Desiree Acres
Bassets
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mary
Netzley Lukins, Ron Lukins and Kati Netzley
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Our NEW email address: mary@DesireeAcres.com |
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