Bright-eyed and wagging tailed, 8 month old very vocal tweeny-bopper Mika came to the Zingora kennels for a short ‘vacation’ – and never left! She had slightly injured her leg whilst playing with her other young kennel mates at her birth place, Lusahn Kennels, and as they were pressed for space at the time came to us for a ‘rest’.

A few weeks later young Mika, now completely sound again, had integrated herself so well into our group and of course, by then we had totally fallen in love with her!  So she stayed and became part of our small group.

Mika loves everyone – human and canine! Her favourite ‘thing’ in life is shoes – she doesn’t chew them, she just carries them around all over the place and then leaves them lying around for her kennel mates to chew!  So, should you visit our kennels, please do not leave your shoes lying around!  You will definitely have to go home barefoot.

In November 2008 Mika and Uzzi (Lusahn Command ‘n Conquer of Zingora) blessed us with seven beautiful little girls – one solid red, two brindles, one black brindle and three tri-colours.  Initially she was quite amazed and intrigued by these seven squirming little creatures but very soon her maternal instinct surfaced and was a caring and loving bully mum!  All her pups have inherited the parents’ amenable temperament and there was never an ill ‘yap’ or ‘nip’ between them.

In April 2010 Mika  and  Google (Zingora Canis Major) presented us with two most beautiful brindle girls.    Once again Mika nurtured her pups with much love and care.

Pedigree for Lusahn Desert Rose of Zingora

In February 2007 I attended the Major Trophy Show in the UK. What an experience!Even better was the fact that I met up with Skye’s grandfather, the renowned Kalsar Sweet William and what a sweet boy he is!; After the trophy show I flew over to the Netherlands to visit with Brigitte and Paul of the Grisse Basse kennels and of course, to collect little Grisse Basse Starlight Girl!

Skye was the smallest in the litter but surely has the biggest heart and a most wonderful sense of humour. She flew in the cabin with me all the way from Amsterdam in Holland, over to Munich in Germany and then onto Cape Town in South Africa.Hence her name Skye at the tender age of 8 weeks she was already a well seasoned traveller!

She has the wonderful Dutch temperament and fits well into my small kennel.In November 2008 she presented us with four beautiful little pups, two boys, two girls and despite it being her maiden litter turned out to be the most incredible mother.
In April 2010 Skye once again blessed our home with another litter, this time two girls and one boy, all of them white.
The sire of both litters is Uzzi (Lusahn Command ‘n Conquer of Zingora). All her pups have inherited not only the parents’ good looks but also the temperament!

Pedigree for Zingora Bellatrix

Moon, our 'ditsy blonde' was the first born of a litter of eight (4 girls and 4 boys) chubby bully pups! She is a hyperactive, smiling girl, with a continuous wagging tail - at times we wonder when she is going to 'take off' with that whirring propeller like tail!  She is an extremely ardent fan of water - loves swimming in the sea, playing with the hose pipe and when it's too chilly to indulge in these past times she will happily carry her big black Kong around in that big smiley mouth of hers.

Moon is also a very competent flirt!  She seems to sense immediately when someone needs reassurance that bullies are actually very affectionate creatures and will do her utmost to charm her way into someone's heart.  Her many ploys include lying next to that person, putting her pretty head onto the chest and just stare lovingly into their eyes!  Inevitably she gets what she wants, a cuddle, gentle stroking and tickling of the tummy - but beware - should you stop all this activity she will certainly let you know that you need to continue!  Once again this shows the amenable temperament of our bullies.  Sadly, despite several attempts, Moon was never destined to be a bully mum.  She is now spayed and her constant companion is Uzzi!

Rest In Peace

16.01.2000 -  14.01.2010

In loving memory of our Bounce.
In my arms I carried her home
In my arms I let her go…..

Bounce was our proverbial 'clown in a dog suit'.  She arrived at our home at the age of 10 weeks.....and what a surprise she was!  She was my first bull terrier!  At the time part our household consisted of two cats (aged 10 years and 5 years) and these two 'raised' Bounce!  She simply loved them.  Initially Bounce thought that Blade, the older cat, was her mother and many times tried to 'suckle' her....Blade, very politely, with a claw retracted paw, reassured her that this was not so!  Taz, our ginger tom, was her 'playmate'!  The two of them would go careening up and down the passage creating havoc that only a bully and a cat can create.  When Taz had had enough of Bounce's attention he would calmly jump up onto the dining room table and ignore her.

Bounce was the one who educated us to the fact that skirting boards can be chewed, shoes can be 'stolen' out of a cupboard - with a closed door - that it's not wise to leave a 9 month old bully pup alone in house!  Even if it was only for 30 minutes.  Once, and only once, I left her alone in the house while I just 'popped' down to the shops.  Upon my return I couldn't open the front door, there was something obstructing it.  Eventually, after much pushing and shoving, I discovered that our 'sweet' little girl, had pulled our two seater leather settee right up to the front door.  Not only that, she had torn open the side and promptly climbed inside to wait for her 'mummy' to come home!  Clearly a case of stress!! She also taught us about 'hucklebutting' - that 'mad moment' when they charge from one end of the house to the other, onto the couch, off the couch, round the coffee table, round the dining room table, into the garden, back into the house, down the passage, onto the bed, whirring around on the bed, sending duvet and cushions flying and then flopping down onto the floor with a delighted grin on the face and tongue hanging out of the side of the mouth. And all you can do is stand still and wait for the moment to be over!

Bounce was also our 'talker'.  Whenever I was having a conversation on the phone Bounce always had to express her 'tuppence' worth!  Often my friends wanted to know who is 'talking' in the background and when I told them that it is Bounce they were amazed because she really sounded as if she was telling us a story!   She loved it when we have visitors, especially the children!

Bounce passed on to Rainbow Bridge on the 9th January 2010.  R.I.P. our beautiful lady – until we meet again.

Rainbow Bridge

It is called the Rainbow Bridge because of its many colours.

‘Bounce’

She has the most mischievous eyes I have ever seen,
A face full of smiles Letting you know she is queen.
At a jaunty stride Off she goes,
Nothing can hide From that inquisitive nose.
The ginger tom Is such great fun
At a leaping run, To pounce upon
Tugging an ear or two
Is even better
The tail is temping too
If only he would let her.
Digging in the garden Another favourite pastime,
With ne’er a ‘beg pardon
For all the dirt and grime.
Climbing onto tables
To see what’s on top,
Licking stolen soup ladles,
Running off with socks.
I can only but giggle
When there’s a need to chastise
As she squirms with a wiggle
Showing off her feminine wiles.
With her every ounce
She has made my life merrier

My dog, ‘Bounce’,
My Bull Terrier.
Inge Emmerson 21 July 2000