Justin was named because I had wanted a dark, brindle girl just like Flash from Chance's first litter and I was soooo excited when he was born only to be disappointed to find out my dark brindle was a boy!!  Just My Luck!!

I had not planned on keeping Justin but ended up doing so because no one wanted him.  Again Just My Luck!  Up until Justin all of my dogs had been shown by professional handlers but Justin I chose to show myself.  Imagine my surprise when Justin started placing despite my handling him.

Our first big accomplishment was when Justin won Best Puppy at the first African Exhibition held in Allentown, Pennsylvania,  in September 1994.  His littermate, Nitro, was Best of Opposite Sex to him in this exhibition.  He did not show again until November where he won a 5 point major and was considered for Best of Breed. 

The following weekend he not only won a 3 point major the first day but was also named Best of Breed and then went on in Hound Group judging to win a 2nd placing in the Group.  The next day he won a 4 point major, was again named Best of Breed, and made the cut in the Hound Group.  It was at that point I was astonished to realize that Justin only needed 1 point in order to complete his AKC conformation championship. The last day of the show he again won a 4 point major to finish his championship and was again named Best of Breed.  None of my Basenjis had earned their conformation titles this quickly -  Justin was only 11 months old and I had finished him myself from the Bred By Exhibitor class!

It was such a thrill for me to stand in that ring with him.  Especially when he placed 2nd in the group.  I never imagined that one of my dogs would ever do anything like that and I never expected anything to happen like that again.

Boy was I wrong.  A year later at the same shows Justin won the Hound Group making him the 3rd brindle male in breed history to win the Hound Group.  I just couldn’t believe it as I stood there holding him in the ring.  This was something that I had NEVER even dreamed about!  To stand in that spot and realize that not only did I own and show him to this win but I had bred him as well left me speechless.  I was so afraid that the judge was going to turn around, see us and tell us that we had made a mistake and shouldn’t be standing there.  But you know - I still have that big blue ribbon to prove that it did actually happen - that I didn’t just dream it!

Life with Justin is anything but dull.  On June 15, 1997, Justin’s first litter was born in Perth, Western Australia, and consisted of 8 puppies - 2 brindle dogs, 2 brindle bitches, 2 red dogs and 2 red bitches.  This litter was not only Justin’s first litter but also the first brindles in Australia.  All four brindles from this litter have been shown and placed in shows in Australia.  Justin’s son, Debrak First in Stripes became the first brindle Basenji to win Best Baby in Hound Group.  His littersister, Debrak I Suit Stripes did one better the next day when she went Best Baby in Show.  She is also the first brindle in Australia to earn points towards her Australian conformation championship.

Justin’s first litter in the United States arrived on December 19, 1997, and consisted on one brindle male, Possum Creek’s Lone Ranger (aka Loner).