Home | Breed Info | Our Dogs | Puppies | News | Favorite Things | Show Handling | Photos | Contact | Links

DC/AFC Tequila With A TwistAmerican Brittany Club Hall of Fame
& Brittany Field Trial Hall of Fame
2008 ABC National Specialty Show Winner

2005 & 2007 ABC National Dual Award Winner
6x American Field Champion/6x Runner-Up
Dual Champion/Amateur Field Champion

"Taryn"

2002 - 2014
Breeders: David & Annette Barton
Owner: Jessica Carlson
Dual registered as Tequila With A Twist (FDSB) and Jayhawker Tequila With A Twist (AKC)

Click here to view Taryn's pedigree

Taryn was an unexpected but very lucky find. When I found out a daughter of Bonz & Katie (two dogs dear to my heart) had a litter sired by the extraordinary Dual & National Field Champion Tequila's Joker ("TJ"), I was immediately interested. I wasn't looking for another dog, but I couldn't have found better if I'd tried. Taryn turned out to be everything I didn't even know I wanted in a Brittany, and it's safe to say that in many ways, she changed my life!

TJ's owner Ed Tillson first saw her run in January 2004, and offered to come on board as her co-owner, trainer and handler. They made an immediate bond and Taryn won her first two Derby stakes with Ed, plus another the next month to finish off her Derby career. She then came home to finish her show championship, which was easily accomplished. Back in the field with Ed, she proved herself to be a strong All Age contender in even the toughest competition. Ed made the decision to "go pro" as a field trainer in 2007 and signed off as Taryn's co-owner, but continued as her trainer, handler and friend. I started handling Taryn in Amateur All Age stakes myself, and together we qualified for the 2007-2011 National Amateur Championships. Taryn's show career post-Championship consisted of four appearances at the ABC National Specialty Show, where she was undefeated in her class, and went on to further achievements in the show three of those years.

Some highlights of Taryn's career:

2005
3 hour wins including 4th at the 2005 ABC National Championship
1st Field Trial Bitch & Award of Merit, 2005 ABC National Specialty
2005 ABC National Dual Award Winner (following in the footsteps of her sire NFC/DC/AFC Tequila's Joker, 1997 National Dual Award winner)

2006
2 hour wins including winning the TX Amateur Brittany Championship
New Amateur Field Champion
Posted, 2006 National Amateur Championship
1st Field Trial Bitch, 2006 ABC National Specialty

2007
4 hour wins including winning the New Mexico Brittany Classic
....to make her a new Dual Champion
4th at the 2007 ABC National Championship
1st Field Trial Bitch & Award of Merit, 2007 ABC National Specialty
2007 ABC National Dual Award Winner - first bitch to ever win it twice!
2007 Christy's Feather Duster Award (Best Bitch) national trophy winner

2008
8 hour wins including winning the Nebraska Brittany Championship
Top Qualifier & Runner-Up at the US Open Brittany Championship
Runner-Up at the ABC Prairie Chicken Championship (75 starters)
1st National Qualifiers Bitch & Best of Breed, 2008 ABC National Specialty Show
The first Dual Champion female to ever win the National Specialty Show; first Field Champion to win it since 1979
Finished #2 in points for the Purina All Age Brittany of the Year - first female & one of only 4 Brittanys ever to earn over 2,000 Purina Award points

2009
8 hour wins including 3 consecutive Championship stake wins in the spring
Winner - New Mexico Brittany Championship, Region 8 Amateur All Age Championship & Texas Open Brittany Championship
Runner-Up - Texas Amateur All Age Championship & International Open All Age Championship
Broke the record for All Age hour stake wins for Brittany females, and continued to hour win #25 in October 2009
Finished #2 in points for the Purina All Age Brittany of the Year - for the second consecutive year

Taryn had a break for several months in the spring & summer of 2007 as she was treated for actinomycosis (a potentially deadly microbial infection in the chest). This required months of heavy medication and rest, and precluded her spring 2007 litter. We tried again in 2008 and Taryn won the Nebraska Championship while 5 weeks pregnant, then had her first litter on May 17, 2008, sired by NFC FC AFC Shambo's Dark Shadow. These six pups have all grown up to earn championship titles: one Dual Champion, two Field Champions, and three show Champions (two of which are Dual pointed). Click here for details & puppy pictures

After placing in 8 hour stakes in 2008 and finishing #2 in Purina Award points for the year, to put the icing on her cake, Taryn made an amazing accomplishment at the ABC National Specialty Show on November 30, 2008. She won the new "National Qualifiers" class (for dogs qualified to run in the ABC National Championship stakes) and went on to defeat all comers to earn Best of Breed! Taryn was the first field titled dog to win the national specialty in 29 years, and the first Dual Champion bitch to EVER win it! Amy Booth, who handled Taryn's great-grandsire Rock to his National Specialty in in 1996, took Taryn in for the last round in the 2008 show and brought home the win while I stayed on my client's dog who had gotten Winners Dog and also earned Best of Winners at the show.

Taryn continued her field career in 2009 and finished as #2 in Purina Award points for the second year in a row, with 8 more hour stake placements for the year. She is the top All Age hour winning female in breed history, with 25 1-hour All Age placements. She is also the #1 all-time female points earner for the Purina Award, with 4488 lifetime points.

Unfortunately, Taryn's career was cut short as in 2009, she was plagued by a ligament injury in her left pastern (wrist). She ran in a few trials up until mid-February 2010, and earned two 1st place wins, but was never quite herself. We finally got to an orthopedic vet who was able to pinpoint the problem in the summer of 2010, and told us the injury would require 6 months to a year to heal. She had time to raise her second litter, born 7/27/10 by DC Almaden's River of Shadows. This breeding produced four pups from which one is a Field Champion, two are show Champions, and one is field trial pointed. Click here for puppy pictures

Taryn only ran in a few trials after 2009. She competed for the last time at the Nationals (both Open and Amateur) in 2011. Fittingly, her daughter Tristyn also qualified and competed for the first time in the NFC that year, and we began to turn our focus to the careers of Taryn's offspring, and eventually, her grand-offspring!

Taryn's last litter was of her own choosing. She turned up pregnant in the summer of 2011, although we never knew she'd been bred. The day before she turned 9, Taryn gave birth to 3 puppies which DNA testing showed to be by Ed's dog, Nitro Express. These three all earned field trial points, with two also becoming show Champions. Taryn now has 2 Dual Champion, 2 Field Champion, and 7 show Champion offspring, with all 13 of her pups having field and/or show points to their credit. Two of Taryn's pups have won the prestigious US Open Brittany Championship stake! Her grand-pups are now making their way in the world with several of those having achieved their show championships and/or wins in the field.

In competition Taryn accomplished more than I could have ever dreamed, and constantly amazed me by giving more still. I am of course proud of the successes of her offspring and love watching them and hearing about them. But above all, Taryn was one of the best pets I've had, and I was glad to be able to just enjoy her as a dog for the years of her retirement. Taryn was relentlessly spoiled by both me and Ed, and considered herself the queen of everywhere she went! She required no leash, and earned many admirers from people and dogs alike. There will be no other like her.

TARYN'S OFFSPRING:
Born 5/17/08 by NFC/FC/AFC Shambo's Dark Shadow
. 3xCH/1xRU DC/AFC Shadow's Tequila Tryst - 2014 US Open Champion, 2010 ABC Western Futurity Dual Award winner
. . dam of:
Am Fld Ch. Rusty Ridge Pepper Rey Ann - 2015 Victoire Nationale Derby Champion (juvenile and adult field points)
Ch. Shadow's Peppermint Twist (field pointed)
Triple Shot of Southern Comfort (adult field pointed)
Tryst'n Red Pepper (show pointed)
. FC/AFC Shadows In A Twist - MMM Award ranked top 5 in 2015, top 10 in 2014, 2010 Central Gun Dog Futurity winner
. FC/AFC Twist'n Tequila's Shadow - 2013 NAGDC 4th
. Ch. Hybrittin's PartyNaked (field pointed)
. Ch. Tullamore With A Twist (field pointed)
. . dam of: Ch. Alar's Double Shot of Tequila JH (adult field placement)
. Ch. 5 O'Clock Shadow (multiple field placements)
. .
Born 7/27/10 by DC Almaden's River of Shadows
. 5xCH/DC/AFC Tequila Scorcher - 2016 US Open Champion
. Ch. FireStarter's Tequila Torrent
. Ch. Tequila Tempest
. Tequila Twister (field pointed)
. . dam of:
Ch. Bandit's Mr Twister (field pointed, multiple adult field placements)
Mud On The Tires (show and field pointed)
B&T's Hooch With A Twist (field pointed)
Breton's Bear From Twister Mountain (field pointed, 2018 ABC Western AA Futurity 4th)
. .
Born 9/1/11 by Nitro Express
. Ch. Tequila's Red Corvette JH (field pointed, multiple Best in Specialty Show winner)
. . dam of:
Ch. Sovereign's Legendary Ride JH (field pointed, 2016 ABC Eastern All Age Futurity 4th)
Ch. Sovereign's Legendary Mustang (finished with all specialty majors)
Ch. Sovereign's Legendary Speed (2016 ABC National Specialty RWD)
Ch. Sovereign's CU Later Copper JH
. Ch. Triple Shot of Tequila (field pointed)
. One Too Many Tequilas (field pointed)


Taryn's sire NFC/DC/AFC Tequila's Joker

TJ at age 15

9 weeks

10 weeks

14 months

19 months

12 months

on point - age 3

Taryn with her trophies from the 2007 Nationals
 
TARYN'S TALES
Date Event Win
Sep. 03 Sir Francis Drake KC, San Rafael California First show weekend - RWB & WB/BOW/Best of Breed over 3 specials
Sep. 03 Northern California Brittany Club, Spenceville CA First trial - Open Puppy Award of Merit
Sep. 03 Idaho Brittany Club,Marsing ID 3rd Open Puppy
Oct. 03 Northern Nevada Brittany Club, Reno NV 2nd Open Puppy
Oct. 03 Idaho Capital City KC, Boise ID Second show weekend - 1 RWB & 2 WB/BOS, 4 points - 10/03
Nov. 03 Sahuaro Brittany Club specialty weekend, Tucson AZ Third show weekend - Specialty RWB, and 5 point major WB/BOW
Feb. 04 Northern Oklahoma Brittany Club, Ardmore OK 1st Open Derby (15 starters) - 2 field points
Feb. 04 Texas Open Brittany Derby Classic, Ardmore OK Winner (American Field stake; 19 starters)
Feb. 04 Neosho Valley Brittany Club, Yates Center Kansas 4th Open Derby (22 starters)
Mar. 04 Indian Nations Brittany Club, Ardmore Oklahoma 1st Open Derby (16 starters)
Apr. 04 Lake Mathews Kennel Club, Chino California First show after trial season - 3 point major
May 04 Rio Hondo Kennel Club, California Next show - New Show Champion
Oct. 04 Southern Kansas Brittany Club, Eureka KS First adult placement - 3rd, Amateur All Age (45 starters) - 1 AFC point
Aug. 05 Sahuaro Brittany Club, White Mountains Arizona 3rd, Open All Age (30 starters)
Aug. 05 Greater Phoenix Brittany Club, White Mountains Arizona 3rd, Open All Age Hour Stake (25 starters)
**Qualified for the 2005 ABC National Open & Amateur Championships**
Oct. 05 Neosho Valley Brittany Club, Yates Center Kansas 4th, Region 17 Amateur All Age Hour Stake (26 starters)
Oct. 05 Indian Nations Brittany Club, Ardmore Oklahoma 2nd, Amateur All Age (29 starters) - 3 AFC points
Nov. 05 Midwest Brittany Club, Eureka Kansas 4th, Amateur All Age
Nov. 05 ABC National Specialty Show, Ft Smith AR 1st Place Field Trial Bitch & Judge's Award of Merit
Dec. 05 ABC National Field Championship 4th Place, National Field Championship (63 starters)
2005 ABC National Dual Award
**Qualified for the 2006 ABC National Open & Amateur Championships**
Jan. 06 Greater Phoenix Brittany Club, Sonoita Arizona 3rd, Amateur All Age Hour Stake (21 starters)
Feb. 06 Fort Worth Brittany Club, Hubbard Texas 2nd, Open All Age (25 starters) - 2 field points (handled by Jessica)
Feb. 06 West Texas Brittany Club, Brownwood TX 3rd, Open All Age (25 starters)
Mar. 06 West Texas Brittany Club, Brownwood TX Winner, Texas Amt. All Age Championship (22 starters) - 4 field points
Mar. 06 Sooner Brittany Club, Ardmore Oklahoma 1st, Amateur All Age (22 starters) - new Amateur Field Champion!
Mar. 06 Midwest Brittany Club, Eureka Kansas 3rd, Open Limited All Age (27 starters)
Nov. 06 Bluebonnet Brittany Club, Fort Hood Texas 1st, Amateur All Age (15 starters)
Nov. 06 ABC National Amateur Field Championship Posted
Nov. 06 ABC National Specialty Show, Ft Smith AR 1st Place Field Trial Bitch
Jan. 07 Sunland Brittany Club, Engle New Mexico Winner, New Mexico Classic (20 starters) - new DUAL CHAMPION!
**Qualified for the 2007 ABC National Open Championship**
Feb. 07 Bluebonnet Brittany Club, Brownwood Texas 4th, Open All Age Hour Stake (20 starters)
Sep. 07 Ringneck Brittany Club, Bonesteel South Dakota 3rd, Dakota Prairie OAA Championship (62 starters)
Nov. 07 ABC National Specialty Show, Ft Smith AR 1st Place Field Trial Bitch & Judge's Award of Merit
Dec. 07 ABC National Field Championship 4th Place, National Field Championship (70 starters)
2007 ABC National Dual Award
**Qualified for the 2008 ABC National Open Championship**
Jan. 08 Sunland Brittany Club, Engle New Mexico Runner-Up, New Mexico Brittany Championship (22 starters)
Feb. 08 Greater St. Louis Brittany Club, Grovespring Missouri 3rd, Open All Age Hour Stake (41 starters)
Feb. 08 Northern Oklahoma Brittany Club, Ardmore OK Runner-Up, Region 8 Amateur All Age Championship (26 starters)
**Qualified for the 2008 ABC National Amateur Championship**
Mar. 08 US Open Brittany Championship, Ardmore OK Top Qualifier & Runner-Up Champion (35 starters)
Apr. 08 Nebraska Brittany Club, Raymond NE Winner, Nebraska Brittany Championship (36 starters)
Sep. 08 ABC Prairie Chicken Championship, Bassett Nebraska Runner-Up (75 starters)
Sep. 08 ABC Pheasant Championship, Bonesteel South Dakota 3rd place (58 starters)
Oct. 08 Central Arkansas Brittany Club, Grovespring Missouri 1st place, Open All Age Hour Stake (37 starters)
Nov. 08 ABC National Specialty Show, Fort Smith Arkansas 1st place National Qualifiers Bitch &
NATIONAL SPECIALTY BEST OF BREED!
Jan. 09 Sunland Brittany Club, Caballo New Mexico 1st place Amateur All Age (13 starters)
**Qualified for the 2009 ABC National Amateur Championship**
Jan. 09 Sunland Brittany Club, Caballo New Mexico Winner, New Mexico Brittany Championship (20 starters)
**Qualified for the 2009 ABC National Open Championship**
Feb. 09 Northern Oklahoma Brittany Club, Ardmore OK Winner, Region 8 Amateur All Age Championship (26 starters)
Feb. 09 Lone Star Brittany Club, Ardmore OK Winner, Texas Brittany Championship (35 starters)
Feb. 09 Bluebonnet Brittany Club, Brownwood TX 4th, Open All Age Hour Stake (25 starters)
Feb. 09 West Texas Brittany Club, Brownwood TX Runner-Up, Texas Amateur All Age Championship (20 starters)
Mar. 09 ABC International OAA Classic, Thayer Iowa Runner-Up, International Open All Age Championship (38 starters)
Oct. 09 Neosho Valley Brittany Club, Yates Center KS 3rd, Region 17 Amateur All Age Championship (20 starters)
Oct. 09 Greater St. Louis Brittany Club, Grovespring MO 1st place, Open All Age Hour Stake (31 starters)
Taryn's 25th hour win to date!
Feb. 10 Bluebonnet Brittany Club, Hubbard TX 1st place Amateur All Age (14 starters)
**Qualified for the 2010 ABC National Amateur Championship**
Feb. 10 West Texas Brittany Club, Decatur TX 1st place Open All Age (19 starters)
Mar. 11 Southern Kansas Brittany Club, Eureka KS 3rd place Open All Age (38 starters)
**Qualified for the 2011 ABC National Championship**
Oct. 11 Southern Kansas Brittany Club, Eureka KS 3rd place Amateur All Age (24 starters)
Oct. 11 Indian Nations Brittany Club, Ardmore OK 1st place Amateur All Age (16 starters)
**Qualified for the 2011 ABC National Amateur Championship**



Taryn winning the Texas Brittany Championship, for 3 Championship wins in a row! February 2009


Taryn winning the Region 8 Amateur All Age Championship, February 2009


Taryn winning the New Mexico All Age Brittany Championship, January 2009


Taryn winning 4th in the 2007 American Brittany Club National Championship
This also made her the 2007 ABC National Dual Award Winner!
She was handled in the field by Ed Tillson and scouted by me.


Taryn winning 4th in the 2005 American Brittany Club National Championship
This also made her the 2005 ABC National Dual Award Winner!
She was handled in the field by Ed Tillson and scouted by Jim John.


Taryn winning the 2008 Nebraska Brittany Championship, 4 weeks pregnant! - April 2008


Taryn winning the New Mexico All Age Brittany Classic to finish her Dual Championship, January 2007


Taryn winning the Texas Amateur All Age Championship, March 2006


Runner-Up at the ABC Prairie Chicken Classic (75 starters), September 2008


Top Qualifier & Runner-Up at the US Open Championship, March 2008


Taryn & me after winning the 2008 ABC National Specialty Show


When not working, Taryn was above all the VERY spoiled "Princess".
Here she is taking a siesta with Ed.

Home | About | Breed Information | Our Dogs | Puppies | News | Show Handling | Photo Album | Contact | Related Links