Emmi – A One Year Old
Despite being told by lots of Lappy
people that once we had one Lappy we would want more we were
convinced that we would stick with our one, Miika. Of course,
seasoned Lappy lovers knew better and last April we introduced our
newest family member, Emmi (Infindigo Riemu Emmi).
Today we are celebrating Emmi’s First
Birthday and what a fabulous year it has been.
As we do not live too far away we were
fortunate that we could visit Jennifer, Jay and the Riemu puppies a
few times after they reached four weeks old, also Jennifer posted a
daily blog so we were able to watch them develop.
©
Alexandra NcNicol
L-R: Mikko, Miia, Kiittaa, Emmi, Jacob, Tiia
Finally the day came for us to drive to Devon to bring Emmi home. Emmi and her sister, Tiia, were the last puppies to leave the nest and when we arrived they were having a vocal competition which didn’t seem to stop the whole time we were there. Fortunately once home Emmi soon realised that being noisy was not going in her favour and now only barks when she needs to let me know that someone is coming to visit.
We tried to take Emmi’s introduction
to Miika slowly by letting him into the garden before bringing Emmi
into the house, letting Emmi wander around and then putting her in
her crate before letting Miika back in to say hello. Unfortunately
Miika instantly knew we were up to something and wouldn’t move away
from the back door and so was watching and twitching to get in. As
soon as Emmi spotted Miika she was desperate to get to him so we let
her out of the crate and they have been best friends ever since.
Emmi is the sweetest little girl; she
loves people, children, dogs and other animals equally. It is
lovely to watch Miika and Emmi playing although they can a little
carried away with their game at times. However, it is equally heart
lifting when you see them snuggled up together having a nap.
Sometimes Emmi travels to Bristol with me visiting clients and loves
going on the Park & Ride Bus especially when the other passengers
make a fuss of her.
Emmi wants to please and tries very
hard to do what we ask of her which has been very useful in the Show
Ring.
Once Emmi was four months old she
started Ring Craft classes; she entered her first show at six months.
At this show Emmi worked very hard and was given 2nd
place. Since then she has entered lots of shows – Emmi seems to
really enjoy showing especially when the judge gets close to examine
her, and even going so far as to give him/her a sneaky kiss! Emmi is
very food orientated which can be a bonus when training but can also
cause a bit of problem in the show ring as sometimes she is head down
looking for any free treats left behind by the previous dogs in the
ring instead of trotting nicely. In her puppy year Emmi’s best
achievements in the ring were: 7 x Best Puppy in Breed, 5 x 1st
place, 4 x Pastoral Puppy Group 3 and even a Pastoral Puppy Group 2.
Such proud parents!
Here is Emmi being examined by the
Group Judge at the Welsh Kennel Club Open Show where she was given
the Puppy Group 2.
©
Mark Treasure
We try to attend Lappy Walks whenever
we can. Emmi loves these walks – in fact she was so excited when
we arrived at the New Year Lappy Walk at Pullabrook Woods in Devon in
January that she leapt out of the car and fortunately landed in
Mark’s arms! Emmi is very good off-lead and it was wonderful to
watch her “running the line” of walkers through the woods.
We often walk on Weston Beach too; on one of these walks Miika and Tuuli decided to gang up on Emmi and rolled her in the wet sand until she was wet through and covered from head to toe in sand - she loved every minute of it!
©
Jennifer Simmons
We often walk on Weston Beach too; on one of these walks Miika and Tuuli decided to gang up on Emmi and rolled her in the wet sand until she was wet through and covered from head to toe in sand - she loved every minute of it!
© Jane Treasure
Emmi also attends a Dog Training Club
each week working towards her Bronze Good Citizen Award. She passed
her Puppy Foundation Course in the summer. She picks up the training
very quickly and even pre-empts the next instruction so now we have
to make the training a little more complicated and mix it up so that
she learns to wait for the next command rather than think she knows
what it will be. In December the Club held a Christmas Party. We
played games with the dogs, had a buffet and raffle and then a Fancy
Dress Competition – of course there was only one character that
Emmi could possibly go as – Princess Bride. Here she is in her
pink tutu and veil.
©
Mark Treasure
So Emmi is now a One Year Old,
technically no longer a puppy but she is a Finnish Lapphund so
thankfully retains those fabulous puppy traits that make this breed
so lovable.
Emmi has brought us so much love, joy,
fun and laughter and we are over-whelmed with love for her – our
precious, beautiful princess. We will be eternally grateful to
Jennifer and Jay for trusting us to take care of this super little
girl.
Jane Treasure
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