crufts 2011

Team Infindigo*
L-R: Paula & Inko, Emma & Rauhan, Liz & Usko, Karhu & Wendy, Taito with Matilda & Emma
Missing in action: Tarkka & Jo who unfortunately had already taken off by the time we got organised into the group shot.

So it's all done and dusted for Finnish Lapphunds at Crufts 2011 and now we start working towards next year. I want to thank the human members of Team Infindigo for getting their dogs qualified to attend and then for bringing them looking so spectacular. I think this is the first year yet that everyone turned up in good coat! Usually someone or other is moulting or in season or both. This year everyone was looking in tiptop condition and I was thrilled with all of them.

Quite apart from the good looks, in a breed where some males can be very stroppy indeed with other males, and at the sort of event where the stress levels can also cause some bitches to be very snappy with other bitches, the temperment of this bunch is truly second to none. I couldn't be more proud of them.

For the first year I brought no dogs with me as Neka and Keskiyo were both bred by the Crufts judge so were ineligible. Somehow I still managed to bring as much stuff with me as if I had 3 dogs in tow, but it was great to be able to relax and enjoy the day. I'm usually so distracted by my own dogs that I don't get to see much of what's going on.

Of the 11 who qualified in 2010, 6 attended. First up was Usko and Ian, taking 2nd place in Special Puppy Dog. You would never guess from the professional looking performance in these photos, but there was the teensiest bit of tail chasing involved. Luckily Ian's blushes were spared because Usko was far from the most badly behaved puppy in attendance, as he shared the class with a pair of puppies who are affectionately renown for their metaphorical devil horns.

The puppy classes at Crufts are always entertaining for the spectators. Something about the big event, inexperience and youthful exuberance gets the better of them everytime. Not to mention a nerve or two affecting the handler.

Apologies to Ian for managing to chop his head off in every single good photo of Usko. Oops.






The young pro.

















"Anything interesting going on over there?"



















Job very nicely done.










Next came the Postgraduate Dog class featuring the brothers Tarkka and Rauhan where both boys placed in a big class; Tarkka in Reserve and Rauhan bagging 2nd. I'm so grateful to Emma for asking me to handle Rauhan for her as I love the opportunity to show "my" dogs.




Tarkka on the move.


















"How good was I!?"
















Rauhan's rock-solid show stand. Didn't 2-yr-old Dorothy do an excellent job of training him!












I didn't get any very good photos of him moving, but many terrific standing shots.















Then the older pair of brothers came next - Taito took 3rd in Limit Dog and Karhu VHC (5th) in Open Dog up against no less than 3 European top-winning multi-champions and the top-winning dog in the UK for 2010.





Taito a bit too intent on checking out the floor for dropped treats.











Out-of-practice showdog happily sitting around on the job.



















But we got there in the end.


















There they go. I was a bit distracted from watching Karhu by Wendy's gorgeous trousers.














Being examined.


























Last up was Inko who was accidentally entered into 2 large classes but managed to do well in both of them, coming Reserve (4th) in Postgraduate Bitch and VHC (5th) in Limit Bitch.






Paying a bit too much attention to Paula but with quite gorgeous movement nonetheless.


















In the tradition of her mum's show style, having a little something to say.



















Showing her trademark spectacular tail.











And so Usko, Rauhan & Taito have all qualified for Crufts 2012. Now that Finnish Lapphunds have Challenge Certificates on offer (i.e. can become Champions and are no longer considered a Rare Breed), qualifying for Crufts will be more difficult than ever as only a small proportion of shows are now qualifiers. As a result, it's likely that Crufts 2012 will have a pretty small entry - shame.

*Thanks are also due to the behind-the-scenes members of the team - Andrew and Scott - who tirelessly took so many of these great photos.