Today Titan gained his final points to become an Australian Champion. He will be known as Aus Ch. Pakkanen Av Vintervidda (Imp NOR). 
We are super proud of this puppy. Its hard to believe he's actually 14 months old now as he still delights us every day with his 'happy go lucky' charming puppy ways. 
He was handled to his title by our friend Mel Scriven from Lempo Kennels in Victoria. Mel loves this little guy almost as much as we do and when i was worrying about Summer coming into season and wondering if i should try to send him on a holiday (to protect his puppy innocence from dealing with the hormones and to protect me from him becoming a hormone driven boy) she volunteered before i could finish the thought aloud. So we started the planning, before we even found out we were going to be moving to Victoria. We'd already scheduled a show outing or two around some sheep herding for the month or so we were expecting Summer to be in season. I was thinking i was clever to get him some sheep time (which we just dont get here) and now he's the advance party for our move and he'll get to see sheep for almost 2 years.. So, off he went, without a care in world, on the plane down to Victoria. Mel picked him up and he was perfectly fine and is apparently wooing the donkeys next door to their house and trying to charm the Samoyed at home and the Lappies and Ladies in Victoria. Best of luck to our little star, we're sure he'll find a few more fans.

6/7/2013 FLCV Specialty Champ Show

I just love returning to Victoria. This time to attend the Finnish Lapphund Club of Victorias Specialty Champ Show. This year they had secured Finnish Judge Mr Matti Tuominen who had agreed to give written critiques and gradings (Excellent, Very Good, Good etc) in addition to our usual show process so it was all a bit exciting (and nerve wracking) to wait until the end to receive the judges feedback and see how we did.

The show itself was run so well. I have to thank the steward for this. Glen Cunningham is an amazing individual and really goes above and beyond to keep everything running smoothly in the ring. Outside the ring the FLCV Show committee work tirelessly to keep everything seamless. To the point where the poor show secretary, Sue Sharp of Janoby Kennels didnt even get to celebrate the moment when two dogs of her own breeding were running off for Best in Specialty Show. Such dedication!

So for those interested in the results all of our Lappies did pretty well. They all received an Excellent grading.
Titan [Pakkanen av Vintervidda (Imp NOR)] took 2nd in the Junior Dog class.
Dolce [Aus Ch. Armahani Crystal Caibmat RN] was unplaced in Aus Bred dog
Summer [Aus Ch. Lecibsin Sametti (Imp UK)] was 1st in a competitive Junior Bitch class.
Mischa [Aus Ch. & Neut Ch. Armahani Bloodstone Bilaidit RN] was 2nd in the Neuter Bitch class.

Summer went on to win Junior in Show over the Junior dog class winner. We are thrilled with this little beauty. She really shone on the day and we couldnt be happier with all of the dogs on what was a very long day.

15/7/2013 Mischa is a Star!

Show star one day, Rally Sensation the next. Mischa was awarded Neuter in Group at Bungendore & Palerang District show on the weekend and was beautifully handled by interstate visitor Lyndsay. Lyndsay handles the rather handsome Arley (Ch. Finnesse Aim for Fame (AI)) in South Australia and we heard she would be in Canberra. Knowing she's a bit of a fan of Mischa i thought we'd lay it on thick. Mischa did a lovely job and came away with a ribbon a travel mug and a blue blanket for her troubles.

Titan and Summer also showed with Summer taking Best of Breed and Titan taking Runner Up. i thought he might've had it over her on the day but she just pipped him.
I later entered Titan in a 'Trainee Judges Sweepstakes' This is for aspiring judges to get more hands on experience with the breeds and was really well supported with approximately 28 Working Dogs entered. Titan was shortlisted. So proud of this gorgeous boy.
The next morning at ridiculous o'clock, we drove to Sydney to catch up with some more Lappies as i'd entered Mischa and Dolce in an Advanced Rally Trial. One look at the set up and i had my doubts about how Dolce would go and he didnt even make it into the ring. Better luck next time.
Mischa on the other hand was all geared up to go. A bit of confusion by the steward meant we were waiting for much longer than we expected and Mish had given up and decided to lay down and get cuddles from her new best friend Liz, (owner of Ludo, another ridiculously handsome Lappie from Finnesse Kennels who had his first go in a Rally Trial on the day also). I thought we might be doomed but Mischa managed to pull it together for the trial even if it wasnt her most enthusiastic effort. We passed with a score of 80/100 and Mischa now has her Rally Advanced Title and will be known as Aus Ch & Neut Ch Armahani Bloodstone Bilaidit RA. We are so proud of our beautiful cream angel.

27/7/2013 Dolce Advances in Rally

Today Dolce had his first go at Rally - O Advanced. Its the first time he's ever trialled off lead and i am so proud of how he went. He qualified with a score of 83/100. He gave me such great focus and surprised me by sticking by me for the whole course. There were a few dogs on the day who took off from their owners and had some fun running around and i was glad he wasn't one of them.. Whilst i'd mostly predicted he would be a difficult 'boy' he seemed to use up all the unresponsiveness outside the ring as he turned on as soon as we were inside and was just brilliant the whole time.

Mischa was also entered. In Excellent this time. But i mis-timed her entry when a dog ahead of us was absent and as a consequence didnt have time to settle her in. Hopefully i'll be more organised next time

The long weekend came around and the Saturday and Sunday saw us showing in Canberra. Summer took RUBOB on Saturday and Best of Breed with Titan Runner Up on the Sunday.
Monday was Rally Day. Also held locally, Dolce and Mischa were super excited to get in the car after watching the other two the previous two days. We got to the trial nice and early and i got Dolce out and all prepped to go. He was called into the ring even earlier than i had expected and was a little flaky for his first Rally run. But at least he made it through. I cost him a couple of points but he qualified with a rather uninspiring 74. This earnt him his Rally Novice Title.
Fortunately we had a trial again in the afternoon where i thought he would redeem himself.
An altercation outside the ring with a rather feisty smaller dog and i thought i might've lost him but he amazed me by switching on and doing surprisingly well. I made the same mistake (which I wasnt aware of until the end of the day) which left him with a rather undeserving 84/100. I was so disappointed to see the score as i thought he'd been exceptional. Turns out, he was exceptional it was just my lousy handling that cost him 10 points. I was really proud of him during his second run.

MIscha came 8th in the first Advanced Trial with an 88/100 (again i cost her 10 points - if only i'd known what i was doing wrong earlier) and AGAIN i cost her 10 points in the 2nd trial and cost her the qualification. Mischa, unlike Dolce, gets flakier as the day progresses. She was a little all over the place so i certainly don't think it will hurt us to compete again in the Advanced A class.

Wow, May has started with a flurry of activity. Earlier in February, we entered Mischa in a Rally Trial, thinking just to try it out. We had a great time and Mish really enjoyed herself (she's a real show off sometimes) and quickly bitten by this new sporting bug, we looked for more trials. This weekend was our first chance to enter another one, and knowing that Dolce also likes Obedience (in fact he's better than Mish WHEN he applies himself) we entered them both. As predicted, Dolce needed a practice run and some time to settle in before gaining a qualifying score of 83/100 with his second trial. Mischa qualified in both trials with scores of 88 and 90/100. She has now earnt her Rally Novice title. This is our very first sporting title ever. I was thrilled that Mischa took me on this ride. I am really enjoying the thrill that comes with competing in the sporting arena. Its less about how pretty she looks or how well a judge knows and likes a breed and all about teamwork, working together to achieve a common purpose. It just thrills me when it works and even when it doesnt its a learning experience for us both.
That was just the Saturday.
On the Sunday we'd entered Herding and had signed up all 4 Lappies to test their Instinct.
I am thrilled to say that all 4 of the dogs gained their Herding Instinct Certificates. Mischa saw sheep a few weeks ago for a quick run, for Dolce its been 12 months and it was Summer and Titans very first time meeting sheep.
You wouldnt know it though, because Titan was like lightning, switching on for the sheep and Summer was pretty quick off the mark too. Titan was that fast we didnt even get any photos of him. But he made lots of people chuckle and gush over how clever he was. He wasnt listening because he still wanted the sheep. This boy has potential.
In the Canberra area we haven't found anyone that does Herding training or practice yet, so we just don't know how much we'll be able to develop the instinct unless we travel, so we may not get much further with it. But its nice to know the instinct is there.

Bitten by the Rally bug, i entered Dolce and Mischa into more Rally trials. They were held at the ACT Companion Dog Club showgrounds and we arrived in plenty of time. A mishap with getting Mish officially measured shook her confidence a little but she'd settled again in time for her first Rally Advanced trial. This trial is all off leash and the temptation and excitement got a little too much for Mischa at times with her bouncing ahead of me. This cost a bunch of points but i was so delighted to see her so happy and Mischa still got a pass with 79/100. 

Then it was Dolce's turn. I'd had him out for some practice to make sure he was settled. Dolce was a little shaky on the first two stations and i nearly lost him on the 3rd but then suddenly he switched on and gave me amazing focus. Dolce qualified with a score of 91/100 and thrilled me by taking 3rd place.

From at least as far back as my search for Summer i've noted some spectacular dogs overseas. Tracing and following pedigrees fast became a hobby that i really enjoyed. I started contacting owners and breeders, discussing not just the possibility of girls, but also the option to collect semen from some key males. Not all of them worked out and for one reason or another i set aside plenty of lovely boys in favour of others.
I somehow managed to shortlist 6 dogs and over the last year have been busy arranging their collection. I am delighted to have befriended their owners and / or breeders, building a rapport and bond that sees them just as excited as i am about the future offspring these boys will produce for us in Australia. We have imported frozen semen from: Fin & Rus Ch. Dagolas Naavaparta, Fin Ch. Firepower Casanova, Fin Ch. Hillasuon Leojokela, Multi Ch. Lapinpeikon Häntä Heikki, Fin Ch. Shacal Tiku & Multi Ch. Staalon Usvatassu