MURPHY: Osmart Rosie's Dress Suit at Caldermist (JW) 1994 - 2009

As Basil entered his twilight years, our personal circumstances changed. We had moved house and were finally in a position to consider finding a friend for Basil and once again contacted Jenny Osborne for a puppy. Basil was soon joined by Murphy - Osmart Rosie's Dress Suit at Caldermist JW. Murphy became a close and loyal friend to Basil. They were inseparable.

Our good friends and neighbours had just acquired an Akita named "Min". She was a real show girl and we would wait for their return from shows with great anticipation, anxious for news on whether Min had had a successful day. Some time later, our friends suggested we join them at a local limited dog show but with the proviso that we entered Murphy! There were 2 beardies entered at the show and Murphy came second out of two. We were delighted.

That night, as I proudly ironed out the creased tails of his blue rosette, I knew I had already been bitten by the show bug. Murphy continued to be shown with some success, gaining a Junior Warrant and entry into the Kennel Club Stud Book along the way. Murphy's dubious manners both in and out of the show ring has made his achievements all the more remarkable.

Murphy was an old fashioned beardie with a larger-than-life character and a devil may care attitude to life. A gigolo and a rogue of the dog world, he attracted plenty of female beardie attention in his time and has sired three lovely rainbow litters of all four principal colours.

We lost this special man in April 2009 at almost 15 years old and we miss him dreadfully