Blackburn ZZTopDog is one of four pups from Falling Branch Katie of Blackburn's first litter, sired by All Seasons B.D.L.W.D. (Woody) of Dutch Creek.  We didn't originally plan on keeping ZZ - he was originally destined for a friend of our's kennel.  When that friend ended up unable to take ZZ, we decided to keep him.  We're glad we kept him, though, as ZZ is quite a unique little terrier.  If Jack Russells are known for their attitude, ZZ is the poster-child for that attitude.  We can't claim that we named him "TopDog" because of his attitude (actually, we thought he was going to be rough-coated when he was a pup, so we started calling him Rough Boy.  This is of course a well-known song by the band ZZTop, so his name gradually morphed into ZZTopDog).  The name sure suits him, though: he thinks he is TOP DOG.  While he's yet to really show himself as "top dog" in any particular arena - he's yet to win any championships - he does quite well in racing and go-to-ground.  It seems as though ZZ picked up from his half-brother - Dutch Creek Rick O'Shea of Blackburn - on how to react to racing.  ZZ gets quite excited whenever he's near a racetrack or hears other dogs racing - in fact, we speculate that it was at the 1999 North American Working Terrier Classic in Georgetown, Kentucky (at the age of 5 months) that ZZ 'decided' that he was going to love racing as much as Ricky.

ZZ has started to show his heritage in the field as well.  He has been put to raccoon and possum numerous times thus far and he is a nice worker.  He is cautious and intelligent, yet by no means is he timid.  He holds his quarry like a terrier his size should.  He's been fun to have in the field thus far and we look forward to working him for many years to come.