goodbye to Neka

 NEKA

Elbereth Onnekas for Infindigo ShCM

25 March 2004 – 28 September 2015

Neka at 2 Years - Photo by Farlap

At 10 Years

I don’t know how to even begin to say goodbye to Neka.  Words are usually my thing, but for this there are none.  They are too dry, too small, utterly inadequate.  I always say that having to let them go is the price we pay for the years of joy our pets give us.  It is a heavy price, but they give us so much.  It is right and fitting that the sorrow of losing them should be profound, but that doesn’t make it any easier.

Neka was my first dog and my heart dog.  She was cheeky, full of fun, so clever and with a great sense of humour.  She went everywhere with me that she possibly could, and I will miss her so much that I don’t know how to face losing her.

As a youngster she was naughty, full of energy and mischief and specialised in escaping out the front door at every opportunity.  Early one morning we had to extract her from the kitchen of neighbours who inadvertently left their door open and had an unexpected visitor join them for breakfast.  On several occasions I caught up with her because she was busy bouncing in circles around the neighbourhood fearless, unperturbed cat.  She was nosey and more than a little stubborn, and she made us laugh every day.

Neka 9 weeks

Neka's First Winter

As a showdog she was always talented, enthusiastic and frequently comical in her performance.  She helped to put Finnish Lapphunds on the map in south west England, doing an enormous amount of winning in Any Variety Not Separately Classified classes when there were few or no breed classes at open shows.  In fact, on 2 April 2006 she became the first Finnish Lapphund in the UK to win the Show Certificate of Merit.  Everyone always knew when Neka was strutting her stuff in the ring because she shouted all about it at every opportunity.  She qualified for Crufts every one of her 11 years and attended most of those she qualified for, her top Crufts win being the best Veteran Bitch in 2013.   

She gave us 16 beautiful puppies in two litters, one of which was a litter of 9 – the largest litter of Lapphund puppies born in the UK to date.  She was a gentle, patient and attentive mother and went on to be a doting granny and great-granny to every litter of puppies we had since.  She was always ready to step in and help out with cleaning up or with keeping the youngsters happy and entertained.  Our puppies have all been immeasurably lucky to have had her in their lives, and they give their families so much pleasure due in large part to her influence. 

  

Playing with the Puppies - age 11

In middle age, Neka suffered a lengthy bout of pancreatitis.  She almost didn’t survive it, and it took a full 18 months for her to recover.  Nevertheless, she eventually bounced back and went on to take up running with me, a sport she enjoyed until after her 10^th birthday when arthritis in one paw started to slow her down.  Her brush with illness did age her, however, and by the time of her 11^th birthday, she was older than her years.  In recent months she was declining noticeably, slowing down and becoming rather blind and quite deaf.

While I was in Canada visiting my family, a mild stomach bug triggered another attack of pancreatitis.  Neka fought it the whole time I was away, but the day I returned she worsened considerably.  With suspected tumours, in pain and too weak to stand, she had no fight left.  Our wonderful vets treated her symptoms aggressively with intravenous fluid, heavy pain medication and antibiotics, but she didn't respond and they were unable to get her very high temperature under control.  

I was so grateful that I got back in time to say goodbye and be with her at the end.  I was just sorry I didn't get the opportunity to take her to the beach one last time - her favorite place.  On the 6^th anniversary of the death of Anniebear, Neka was given sleep.  I hope Annie was there with her too.

We picked up 8-week-old Neka the day after we moved into this house, so we have never known a time here without her.  It is too quiet now.  Empty.  The other dogs are subdued and don’t even bark when we arrive home without the watchdog of their pack here to raise the alarm.  And they don't even know when mealtimes are anymore because that was her job too.
 

But Neka will live on in her wonderful puppies, her grand-puppies and through all the generations to follow.  And she will be forever young and full of life in my heart. Run free, my Moo, until I catch up with you.  I hope there are beaches and snow where you are.

Age 6 Years

Age 10 Years Still Loving the Beach

moving day

I was getting worried there for a minute.  These puppies were getting really unbelievably noisy.  Especially at night.  The more noisy they got (at 2am and 3am and 4am), the more we shut them in, sealed the windows and doors and tried to find a way for us (and our long-suffering neighbours) to get some sleep.

And then there was the worry about how the new owners would cope with them.

After two nights of increasingly disturbing decibels, I moved the little sods downstairs 3 days earlier than I normally would.  And then - voila! - the noise stopped.  Looks like the poor little mites were overheating in that small room.  And of course the more I shut them in the hotter they got.  It was a bit of a vicious circle - or a figure-8 even.

And in case there was any doubt what they were squawking about, this morning they went out into their garden pen and had a fabulous time.  A bit later they went out again ... the sun was shining ... it was quite warm out there ... I was a bit slow in getting some shade up for them ... and, lo, the racket started up again.  They were stomping around, tongues hanging out, yelling their heads off.  Brought them back in, quiet ensued. 

Proper little snow dogs.

They are 4 weeks old today, so new portraits going up tomorrow.  If I find time to edit them, that is.  Because we have a houseful of people coming to see the puppies this weekend and I have about an hour of work per person to make the house halfway presentable.  Wish me luck!

When the puppies moved into the big pen downstairs, the first point of business was to get to know their great-granny Neka.

Neka wastes no time getting acquainted (& checking for food)

And then there was Auntie Tuuli to meet

Too much excitement!

Eating from their own little bowls now

All in a row

First time in the big wide world

birthday puppies

No, I don't actually think that getting a puppy as a birthday present is a good idea.  In fact, I think it's a bad idea.  Puppies are not presents - they are carefully planned members of the family.  Would you adopt a child as a present?  Of course not.  So there you go.

But today, on the 8th birthday of Neka's first litter of puppies, I had confirmation that one of the daughters of one of the girls in that litter is in whelp and we have puppies on the way in about 5 weeks.  Little Neka great-grandkids, courtesy of Emmi.

Tuuli & Emmi in the car on the way to Surrey

A couple of months ago Emmi's season coincided with a sudden, unplanned trip to Surrey - such convenient timing!  But in this instance the timing was actually perfect as Emmi was on her way to meet her beau Ch Lecibsin Salo of TabanyaRuu JW ShCM. 

We were thrilled and very grateful when Liz gave us the opportunity to have puppies from her special boy and everything has been crossed since then.

It was pretty early in Emmi's season, but it was love at first sight and although I thought it should be too early for her to be mated, the two lovebirds were both convinced the time was right.  As usual, the dogs knew better than the humans.

Emmi meets Salo

And so without delay or kerfuffle, the deed was done.  And done again the following day.

The happy couple

Salo is exhausted after all that hard work

In addition to the quick visits for mating, there was also time for some old fashioned fun out walking.  And if you're wondering why Emmi was off lead at such a crucial point in her season, we were walking in an area where I could see far into the distance and we were quite alone.  And fortunately Emmi is never one for running off.

Emmi & Tuuli -- fun in the woods

Pretty Emmi chilling in the back of the car

show certificate of merit

Way back about 8 or 9 years ago Neka became the first Finnish Lapphund to win the Show Certificate of Merit, at a time when it was the only title available for Lappies to win.  It's a Kennel Club award that dogs can achieve through success at open shows, collecting points for Best of Breed, Best Any Variety Not Separately Classified and Group wins. 

I am thrilled that, with Jane, Emmi has become the first Infindigo Lappy to win the title and she now officially has some letters after her name.

Infindigo Riemu Emmi ShCM

Emmi posing with her winnings - photo (c) Mark Treasure

There was cake.  There might even have been a bottle (or two) of Prosecco as well.

Not only did Emmi get her ShCM, but she got the last few points she needed (with some to spare) in fine style by winning Group 1 at Chippenham & District Society show under judge Barry Blundon.  Here she is strutting her stuff with Jane in the group.

Emmi has many strings to her bow - in addition to having her Show Certificate of Merit, she has also recently been confirmed as a Pets as Therapy dog and is now waiting for her first placement.  She is also the first Infindigo to do that.  Beauty, brains and terrific character - Neka and I are so proud.

Crufts 2015

A couple of weekends ago I loaded 3 dogs into the car and made the annual pilgrimage to the Birmingham NEC for the mad day that is Crufts.

I got there just in time to get stuck in the dire traffic queuing to get in which meant that I got into the venue just in time to get the dogs brushed before judging started.  More or less. 

First up for the Infindigo gang were Ukko with me and Kuura with Jane in Postgraduate dog followed by Rauhan who placed 2nd in Limit Dog.  Luckily Mark Treasure was there with his ever-ready camera because without him I would have had no photos at all.

Ukko was such a good boy, considering he doesn't exactly go to shows regularly

Gorgeous Kuura

Rauhan standing like a little star

Next up was Talvi, VHC in Junior Bitch and then Kiittaa who placed 3rd in Postgraduate Bitch and Emmi Reserve in Limit Bitch.

Ian & Talvi

Kiittaa & Lexi looked rather shocked about something

Jane with Emmi the little pro

Finally there was Neka.  It was 2 weeks before her 11th birthday, her 10th and final Crufts.  As usual, she had an absolute blast.  Not only that, but she also qualified for her 11th Crufts by placing 3rd in Veteran Bitch.  So proud of my old girl.

My sweet Neka, the old pro

Look how happy she is!