in the meantime

Back along before I got distracted by seasons, progesterone testing and trips to France, the brothers Usko & Kallio had their very first show at Darlington. As, of course, did their owners Ian & Liz and Nicole & Charlie. Although it meant rather more driving than I would like, I had to be there to cheer them on.



Usko (L) & Kallio (R)







No one was more shocked than I to see that Usko's "little" brother Kallio had not only overtaken him in the size department, but looked about a month more mature as well.

Handled by yours truly, Kallio went into the showring and didn't have 4 paws on the ground at any one time. And he flatly refused to let the judge come anywhere near him - he thought it was a great game! And that carried right on through winning best puppy in breed and going into the big puppy group ring. As they announced the Finnish Lapphund, before all the spectators and cameras, Kallio hobbled across the ring on 3 legs. Not only did he refuse to walk properly on his lead, he decided he needed to have a good scratch as well and thought he could do so while on the move. Oh, so funny!

Usko, on the other hand, behaved impeccably for Ian & Liz's first real show with him. All those hours of ringcraft classes paid off - Usko behaved like a perfect little showdog in the ring, trotting around beautifully with Ian and standing nicely to let the judge go over him.

I'm sure all the exercise before going into the ring helped. Here are the brothers enjoying their reunion.














































Not only was Kallio bigger than Usko, but he was almost as big as his very big uncle Taito.

















Seeing Usko & Kallio together reminded me so much of seeing Taito & his brother Karhu together at their first show at 6 months of age. Taito, like Kallio, was quite mature while Karhu was like Usko and still looked very much the puppy. Here they are in the ring at the Manchester show 2007. As you can see, their ringcraft has come on quite well since those days - proof that there's hope even for Kallio!





Karhu & Wendy (L); Taito & Emma (R)









2 years on and Karhu has grown right up. At Darlington he went on to win Best Rare Breed in the very last Rare Breed competition that Lapphunds will participate in. Next year we will have challenge certificates and so the fun we've had over the years in Rare Breed classes with the Estrela Mountain Dogs, Pyrenean Sheepdogs and the like will come to an end.

I had some photos of Wendy & Karhu winning Best Rare Breed, but I can't find them at the moment - very frustrating, but not unexpected considering my, er, compromised organisational skills these last few weeks. If you're out there Wendy - please send me some more.




So proud of the beautiful boys!
L-R: Usko, Karhu, Taito, Kallio






Many, many thanks to Scott, Charlie and Ian (& possibly Liz) for the photos. Without you I would have had none at all.