y name is Helen Trewin, founder of Truhart Staffords. My husband Ray and I purchased our first Stafford in 1990 after many months of researching the breed to see if it would be a suitable companion for us and our two children then aged seven and twelve years.
We went along to the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds to a Championship show being held there, and fell in love, especially with the reds. We knew this was the breed for us.
I spent a couple of months on the phone hounding the puppy listing coordinator (this was before the recorded message came in) Joan Morse for a red female puppy. We were told females are better for inexperienced dog owners.
Finally, one day we were in luck and we got our first Stafford, a beautiful little red girl from Selena Lynch, Triffstaff Heart'O'Gold (Elsie). We knew nothing about showing dogs and Ray wouldn't go in the ring so I decided to give it a go. I entered our first SBTCV members competition and came home with our first ribbon, (third place and proud as punch).
And that was it! I was hooked, although Elsie had other ideas, such as staying home on the couch. She was to become the foundation of Truhart Staffords and took to maternal duties and relaxing around the house. Her first litter produced our first home bred Australian Champion Truhart Moonshadow (Molly). She was the only puppy in the litter, which we promptly decided to keep.
Molly produced 2 lovely litters; our boy Axel was from the first to Champion Paragonstaff Menelaus. Our new family members Mojo, Hope and Jett were from her second litter, which was to Arlian Little Ace, and have all since gained their Championship Titles.
Kahlia, our daughter, was 12 years old when she started handling our dogs and showed Hope to her title. When she finishes her university course she would like to get back into showing then.
Mojo our very special boy and sire and grand sire of many quality dogs around Australia is greatly missed by us as he died prematurely due to an accident in December 2003. We thankfully have his daughter Ravyn, and son to Ravyn Buckley. A close but very successful mating, also producing Truhart Lasting Night (Crawford) and Truhart The Darkness (Mortimer)
Throughout our years of showing we have endeavoured to focus on quality breeding , selecting the lines that complement our type. We only breed from and with dogs that have eye clear certificates.
Our Staffords are all members of the family and share our house and beds. The oldies always get the best possies in front of the heater in winter.
