happy birthday to the veterans

Well, well, well.  A few months ago I had the shock of realising that my puppy dog Neka had somehow reached the age of 10 years while I had my back turned.  Even greater than that, though, is to find that today her (and my) first litter of puppies turn 7 years old and become officially veterans. 

It really doesn't feel like 7 years since I first read The Book of Bitch cover to cover (3 times) in preparation for what was to come.  Nor does it seem like 7 years since I sat up 3 nights in a row with an increasingly-restless Neka as we both steeled ourselves for the big new adventure.  And it doesn't seem like 7 years since Neka shredded the sofa cushion, leaving the foam in chunks all over the floor, so that she had a nice comfy nest to give birth in.  (Don't worry - I did move her upstairs to her brand new and shiny whelping box.  I was just a bit tardy in doing so, apparently.)  These days I am much more in tune to the grunting of a bitch whose contractions have started.

So a very happy birthday to my gorgeous firstborns and the very first Infindigo veterans, in birth order, as always, at 7 weeks and 7 years (or as close to 7 years as I have).  I was a bit slow to request new pics of the new veterans, so if I get some more up-to-date photos, I'll update the blog post too.

Infindigo Kultainen (Koda)

Koda 7 Weeks

Koda 7 Years

Infindigo Taika (Taika)

Taika 7 Weeks

Baby Taika with baby Jamie

Taika 7 Years - Beach Dog

Happy rolling dog

Infindigo Pikkukarhu (Karhu)

Karhu 7 Weeks

Karhu 7 Years - Another Beach Dog

Another happy rolling dog - I can see a pattern developing here

Infindigo Seppo (Diesel)

Diesel 7 Weeks

Diesel 3 Years - Yet another beach dog

Infindigo Taito (Taito)

Taito 7 Weeks

Taito 7 Years - Photo (c) Mark Treasure

Infindigo Keksi (Keksi)

Keksi 7 Weeks

Keksi (left) 7 Years with her son Kuura (right)

Infindigo Tuuri (Torvi)

Torvi 7 Weeks

Torvi 6.5 Years

happy 6th birthday

... to Neka's first litter, the 7 gorgeous puppies she had by Elbereth Kimmi.  In one way, it's hard to believe it has already been 6 years since my first litter of Finnish Lapphund puppies was born.  In another way, so much has happened with me & the dogs since then that 6 years doesn't seem like very long at all.

At any rate, these dogs are now fully-fledged adults, fully-developed in body and coat and in the prime of their lives.  They are all beautiful to look at, healthy and all with the most wonderful gentle and sweet characters.  To date, Taika has become a mum, Keksi has become a mum - twice, Taito is hopefully soon to become a dad, and Karhu is an increasingly famous model using his stage name "Mr K" on Thankfifi and elsewhere.  Torvi, Koda and Diesel are beloved pets with no additional jobs other than being adored. 

Happy birthday, firstborns!  I'm so very proud of you all.

And here's how unbelievably cute they were at 6 - 7 weeks. 

 L-R: Keksi, Taika, Torvi, Karhu, Koda (with no head), Diesel (at the back)

L-R: Karhu, Taito, Keksi (on top of) Torvi, Diesel, Taika

And as I didn't manage to capture either Koda or Diesel very well in either of these pics, here is one of just those two at 4 weeks.

 Koda (left) & Diesel (right)