BIS BISS Am Can CH Rush Hill’s Tigress at Allsgold SDHF, OD

Toni was the only bitch in a litter of 3 puppies from Burbank.  She was an outcross being a combination of the original Summit lines and the Rush Hill dogs.  There was nothing sweeter than Toni.  So the story about Toni is my friends Wayne and Brenda Commazetto decided I needed to have one of their Bernese Mountain dogs and were going to drop off London and I said to them ….  If you are leaving a dog you are taking one.  So we ended up co-owning both London and Toni. That was how I got my short start in Bernese Mt Dogs.  

Toni was a beautiful bitch  whose face was breathtaking.  In 1989 at 18 months of age Toni came to get prepared for the National and the Puppy of the Year competition that was being sponsored by the Golden Retriever Review.  We were so honored for Toni to go Winners bitch under Breeder judge Donald Sturz.  The day was so long after the photos and we had to race over to the hotel for the Top 20 and the Puppy of the year tournament.  This was a new event that Toni was eligible to compete for Best In Sweepstakes puppies. She showed her heart out and on the down and back she stopped and squatted and flooded the ballroom floor ….  I just remember towels and tablecloths flying in our direction.….  OMG we felt so bad for her.  She ended up winning the Puppy of the Year event under Elaine Young and Breeder judges Pluis Davern and Debbie Kahla.  What an exciting long day for Toni.

“The Bred By class should be the strongest at any show.The class I had been waiting for did not disappoint me.  The quality stood right through the 4 placements and then some.  The winner of the class was a stunning bitch both on the stand and on the go. A feminine head with just the right amount of muzzle and skull:a soft,intelligent expression: enough reach of neck without becoming goosenecked: a solid back with good ribbing, ample forechest and good depth; wonderful feet and proper angle to the pastern despite her owner’s attempt to trim it otherwise; excellent coat texture. With a doublecoat that lie to the body; moderate balanced angles; a thickly rooted tail of proper length.  Her demeanor was pleasant, appearing proud yet eager to please.  She was quite a package presented in top form and in full bloom.”

… Donald Sturz – Winners Bitch 1989 GRCA National Specialty

Toni produced 5 Champion offspring.  Because she short cycled she was bred  in 1999 hoping to stop the short cycling. Bred to Kirby she produced Bistro who was a Best In Specialty Winner and Winners Dog at the 2000 GRCA National Specialty.  Her other wonderful son was Gat’r who won the open class at the 2005 GRCA National and was Best In Specialty at the Western Regional Specialty.

BIS, MBISS CH Rush Hill’s Watz Cook’n Good Look’n (SDHF, OS) “Bistro”

BISS Ch Rush Hill’s Cu Latr Alligatr “Gat’r”

After her first litter, we decided to campaign Toni in 2000 and 2001 where she was ranked in the Top 20 and entered the GRCA Show Dog Hall of Fame. Toni was one of the few bitches that I campaigned as my heart is with the boys. She was a fun show dog and she had some of her own. In Canada were she went Best in Show under breeder judge Doug Windsor (Butterblac). She also was awarded Best In Specialty at the 2001 Canadian National Specialty. She held together as she aged and was fun to show as a veteran at specialties where she easily picked up numerous Best Veteran in Specialties.  

Toni will be loved and missed and we were so lucky to have had her and her legacy.