Nikki left us for the "bridge" after a brief illness. A necropsy revealed extensive damage to her liver, spleen and gall bladder. Tissue has been sent to a lab for determination of the cause of death, cancer being the prime suspect.

Nikki was a star at the 2003 CSCA National Specialty - Winners Bitch, Best of Winners, and Best Puppy in Show. The judge, Bill Ironside, will be welcoming her at the Bridge. He fell in love with her at that show. She really was not happy in the show ring, so we let her do what made her happy. She loved tracking, easily achieved her Tracking Dog title, but her very favorite thing in life was pregnancy and caring for her pups !! She seemed to glow from the minute she became pregnant, and she got an A+ grade in neo-natal care. Out of two litters, Nikki had a total of four boys and four girls. All four of her sons became AKC Champions (Detour, Spencer, Watson, and Buddy); one of her sons (Spencer) was Winners Dog at the 2008 CSCA National Specialty in Shawnee, PA and also the first Sporting Group Winner for Shogun; another (Watson) has achieved his Senior Hunter title and made us very proud ! Nikki's daughter (Cotton) in Finland has produced some outstanding offspring and she has grandchildren across Europe and one in Columbia. Her greatgranddaughter from Canada will be at the 2013 National trying for her TDX title (no Clumber has achieved this title at the National Specialty; Nikki tried in 2007). She carries on through her descendents, and will not be forgotten.

Thank you, Jim and Shirley Fankhauser, for letting this girl share our home and our hearts. Rest well, sweet Nikki.