happy birthday ...

... to the Persikka litter who are 4 years old today!

What a gorgeous bunch they are now at 4 years - and what a gorgeous bunch they were at 4 weeks.

I must confess that I raided some people's Facebook pages for some of these photos and just plain nicked them.  That's right, I'm shameless like that.  Had to be done. 

Persikka Kuura  -  aka Kuura  -  formerly known as Junior

 

Persikka Bo  -  aka Bo  -  formerly known as Budgie

Persikka Sonni  -  aka Buddy  -  formerly known as Kicker

Persikka Tippi  -  aka Tippi  -  formerly known as Honey

Persikka Marja  -  aka Marja  -  formerly known as Marilyn

Persikka Ukko  -  aka Ukko  -  formerly known as Kuusi

Persikka Kasari  -  aka Sisu  -  formerly known as Vee

wham, bam, thank you sir

We had an eventful weekend around here.  Not only was there Halloween and Tuuli's 3rd birthday within 2 days of each other, but we also had a visitor in the form of Kuura who arrived on Thursday night in the hope of performing studly duties on the waiting Tuuli at some point over the next few days.

It was pretty late on Thursday when we arrived and all the other dogs were in bed so I took Kuura for a little walk and then put him to bed too.  After a few minutes of woofing and whining didn't elicit the hoped-for response from us, he happily went to sleep.  The following morning I took everyone out for a walk two-by-two, finishing by putting Keskiyo in the car out of the way and taking Tuuli last.  Then we came back and I let them all loose to have a play and hopefully for Kuura and Tuuli to start getting interested in each other.

I left Tuuli and Kuura saying hello at the front door and I must admit that the next thing on my agenda was a coffee.  Kuura had other ideas, though, because by the time I got to the kitchen door he had accomplished the task he was brought in for, they were tied and Tuuli was screeching in indignation that she was stuck to him.

You  might think that my house must be positively palatial in order to afford enough time to achieve a mating while I stroll from room to room.  However nothing could be further from the truth.  The fact is that it took all of 20 seconds from "hello, how are you" to "way-hey, job done".   So coffee had to wait for the 12 minutes or so that they were tied.

My experience of dog mating is restricted to the 6 litters of Lapphunds I have had, plus using a couple of dogs at stud with other bitches, plus two failed attempts, one of which was the unsuccessful artificial insemination of Emmi a few months ago and the other my very first attempted mating Neka more than 8 years ago.  So I don't exactly have years and years of experience, as such, but I do have a bit.  And in all those 9 attempted natural matings (usually more than once or twice), I have never - I mean, never - had it all happen so quickly, so easily, with so little fuss and bother and without wearing out my own knees and back in the process.  Not to mention having to get far more intimately acquainted with the dogs than I would prefer. 

And in case I was tempted to think that it was just dumb luck and good timing, the next morning he did the same thing again.  This time it took all of, oh, about 30 seconds instead of 20.  Wham, bam, indeed.  And thank you very much Kuura.  I am mightily impressed with his skills!

 In 5 weeks or so we will find out if he is as productive as he is efficient, and we hope to be looking forward to new year's day puppies, give or take 24 hours.

Handsome Kuura hanging out in the garden during his visit.

And rolling around barking like a fool after his performance, utterly pleased with himself.  Fair enough, I guess - I'm pretty pleased with him too.

Pretty boy with a rainbow
















And if you're wondering whether there are any photos of the happy couple together, frankly there simply was no time.  I didn't dare let them spend any extra time together, otherwise who knows how many puppies we might end up with.

But here is Tuuli enjoying one of her favorite walks (top) and on her 3rd birthday on her favorite tree stump (bottom).

this & that

After the great Tuuli/Taito event, I had a few opportunities to see some other members of the family.

First, there was the Richmond Championship show where Finnish Lapphunds were judged by Valerie Foss.  Taito was 2nd and Kuura was 3rd Limit Dog and Kiittaa was Reserve Postgraduate Bitch.

 Kuura hanging out at the benches

 Kiittaa looking gorgeous - photo Blake Bower

Taito concentrating hard on standing - or on the sausage I'm

holding in front of him - photo Blake Bower

After that there was a brief overnight visit from Taika and Minna and then a visit for me with Neka and Tuuli to Jane and her fur-gang.  Somehow I managed to take no photos of either of these events.  The first one was a very short stay, and we spent most of our time getting everyone walked.  With the second, I spent most of my time trying to keep Neka from all the joyful and embarrassing activities she specialises in when visiting other people's houses, viz running upstairs to investigate the bedrooms, opening cupboards and rummaging around to see what she can find, sticking her head into the rubbish bin for the same reason, breaking and entering into the garage in search of the pussycat ensconced there.  And one or two other things.  Embarrassing, yes, but she does make me laugh.

And I've had some new photos of Bo enjoying her new hobby of haystack climbing.

Bo on a haystack - photo John Dobbie

Finally, the belly update.  We are now about 2-and-a-bit weeks from puppy arrival day.  Tuuli is starting to slow down on her walks - i.e. she doesn't do quite so much flat-out running.  And for a week now she has been on daily worming.

You can see she's a bit dubious about all this posing malarkey this morning.

The other newsworthy event in relation to all things puppy is that the new whelping box has arrived.  That width equals half of the floor dimensions.  I wasn't happy with the recommended "Border Collie" size as I remember how little space the litter of 9 had in a "medium-sized" whelping box by the time they were 3 and 4 weeks old.  So I went for the size up and it is going to be enormous!  Lots of space for mum to stretch out and excellent for growing puppies to exercise.  But it will take up approximately half of Jay's office in the back bedroom so he will be needing some kind of rope and pulley system to hoist himself from the doorway to his desk.  Rest assured I will have the camera at the ready.

 Neka is hoping the whelping box isn't for her benefit

Crufts 2013

One blog post every 3 months or so isn't bad, right?  Er, only one in 6 months, you say?  Yes, that is quite bad, I accept it.

Moving on.

I had a fantastic day at Crufts last weekend.  For once I wasn't handling any dogs at all, and while I missed my normal frantic dashing from one dog and class to the next, it was a real treat to just sit there and watch it all.  I didn't even take a camera with me.  I did get a few rather distant and occasionally blurry shots with my phone, though.

Our judge was Jeff Horswell, a very experienced judge who we have been under on many previous occasions.  Not all of the Infindigo gang who qualified actually came, but of those who did enter, first up was Postgraduate Dog featuring Rauhan, Usko and Kuura. 

Rauhan was being handled by 15-year-old Lexi Birks at her first ever Crufts.  She and her family have Infindigo Riemu Kiittaa who has been to a few shows, but Lexi had never before shown a different dog.  I thought it would be a lovely experience for her, since Rauhan has been so easy to show in the past.  Lexi did a great job, although Rauhan was out of practice as he doesn't go to ringcraft.  He trotted nicely around the ring for Lexi and was happy enough to let the judge examine him, but I had completely forgotten to warn Lexi that he would need a firm grip in order to show his teeth.  So the judge never did get to see those teeth.  Needless to say, he didn't place!

Rauhan & Lexi

Handled so well by Ian, Usko trotted quite beautifully around the ring, as usual.  However, when it came time for the judge to go over him, he didn't have quite enough time to settle and decided he'd rather wiggle around and be silly rather than let the judge anywhere near.  This is a boy who still goes regularly to ringcraft, so there is no excuse whatsoever except pure, unadulterated joie de vivre and, er, naughtiness.  The owner of Usko's sire Albmi did point out that it was next to impossible to show him too for the same reason.  So there you go - show naughtiness appears to run in families.  You have been warned.

Ironically, Usko was also entered in the Good Citizen Dog class for dogs who have passed at least one level of the Kennel Club Good Citizen training scheme.  The judge did not bother with further examination of those entries and he placed 3rd.  I am assured that outside of the show ring, Usko is a very good citizen indeed!

Usko & Ian

Finally, it was Kuura and Daniel.  As I recall, the last time Kuura was in the ring, on the occasion of his Crufts qualifying show, I was handling him.  Therefore it was a real treat to get to sit ringside and actually see him perform.  He was totally focused on Daniel at all times (apart from a quick glance at me to have his unfortunately blurry photo taken).  There was only the tiniest boo-boo of a sit while the judge was doing his examination.  Well done, team!  Kuura placed an outstanding 3rd in the largest class of the day.

Kuura & Daniel focused

Kuura & Daniel not so focused!

Here is the judge's critique of Kuura:

3 McGinlay & Spencer’s Infindigo Persikka Kuura, liked his overall balance. Not as heavy in body as some & has very good feet. Lovely eyes, correct stop, firm topline.

Kuura also entered the next class, Limit Dog, where he placed again, this time in Reserve.  One of the competition in this class was Taito with Emma.  Taito doesn't go to many shows, but I always have high hopes for him when he does as he's such a beautiful specimen and he normally does very well.  However, he doesn't go to ringcraft, either, and so you never know if you're going to get Taito the showdog or Taito the utter clown.  You can guess which dog turned up for Crufts, can't you?  Yup.  He ran, he skipped sideways, he danced, he laughed, he hoovered everything up off the floor.  You can see in his photo how much fun he was having and that his feet are not even straight on the floor.  After their turn around the ring, Emma's face says it all, really.

Naughty Taito & exasperated Emma

Taito proving he is capable of standing nicely occasionally

For the very first time ever - and not unsurprisingly - Taito did not place.  Oh, the shame!   Such is life when you share it with a big, goofy and adorable clown of a dog. 

After the judging of the dogs was completed, it was Neka's turn in Veteran Bitch.  She looked fabulous on the day and was handled so well by Jane Treasure who has Infindigo Riemu Emmi.  Neka is not always the easiest dog to show as she tends to get rather - how shall I put it - enthusiastic in the show ring.  Jane did a brilliant job of keeping all 4 of her paws on the floor and her mouth mostly quiet.  We were utterly thrilled when Neka placed 1st in a class of really beautiful veterans, taking out no fewer than two former Crufts champions in the process.  Well done you two!  I haven't yet broken it to Jane that I may never show Neka myself again. 

Hard to tell, but it is indeed Neka & Jane

Another blurry Neka & Jane

Neka chilling in her crate after her triumph

The judge's critique of Neka:

VB (5) 1 Henson & Simmons’ Elbereth Onnekas for Infindigo, feminine, correct proportions. Just a bit better in head than 2. Well set ears, good neck, nice front. Feet slightly flat. Correct body depth & short loin, moderate rear;

Finally, it was the Special Puppy Bitch class for Kiittaa and Lexi.  It was my first chance to see Kiittaa in the ring as I didn't get to many shows last year, and it was lovely to see how well Lexi has trained her pup to behave so nicely in the show ring.  After a great performance, they won their class!  I was so proud of them both at their very first Crufts experience.

Kiittaa & Lexi

The judge's critique of Kiittaa:

PB (2) 1 Birks’ Infindigo Riemu Kiitaa, nice type pup, feminine head, pigment & eye colour match coat, enough neck, well made front & rear, nice profile mover. Can develop in width of chest & tighten in front;

It's always a nice bonus when you get to qualify for next year's Crufts at the same time as attending this year's, and so it happened for Kuura, Neka and Kiittaa. 

Due to the changing status of Finnish Lapphunds from Rare Breed status, last year it was tougher than ever to qualify for Crufts.  So I was very proud indeed of the dozen or so who did.  And I was very proud indeed, too, of those who turned up whether they behaved well or not and whether they placed or not.  In fact, I'm pretty proud of all the Infindigo Finnish Lapphunds whether they have ever been to a show or not.  Can you tell?

Keksi goes home

Remember a while ago I gave a plug to a fashion blog featuring Karhu & Wendy?  Right now, before you do another thing, go out and buy a copy of this month's Look magazine.  Well, you can wait until after you've read my blog, obviously.  And, ok, maybe not if you're a guy.  And perhaps it can wait until tomorrow, if it must.  But as soon as you get your copy (it's the one with Alesha Dixon on the cover), turn to page 64 to see none other than Karhu & Wendy! 

Here's a sliver of a peak:



















Looking somewhat less than model-perfect these days is Karhu's sister, Keksi.  Her fur is falling out in truly alarming amounts and she's skinny beyond recognition.  It's all normal stuff for this period after the puppies have been weaned and she'll get even worse before she gets better.  A couple of weeks of good walks will get her muscle tone back in business, and by the time the puppies are 6 months old, she will be looking her normal shiny, healthy self with a brand new coat.

In the meantime, here's how she looked today before going off back home to Daniel, Jim, Ismo & Kuura:

Everyone was glad to see her:

Tuuli will miss Keksi for sure, but I don't think the puppies have noticed she's gone.  They're just waiting patiently for their sardine-improved dinner.

mama has arrived

Yesterday we had a quick trip to our usual meeting point, Leigh Woods, to hook up with Daniel & Jim, have a little stroll in the mud, I mean, woods, and bring Keksi home for the duration of her pregnancy.

Kuura was looking gorgeous after his big moult.  He's still very fluffy at each end - around his neck ruff, trousers and tail, although he's lost most of his undercoat now.  Here he is back in the car which is showing the muddy evidence of our walk. 

And Keksi?  Well, she is looking ready to burst, frankly.  No wonder Daniel was having nightmares about her giving birth before making it to Devon.  Oh, she's big.  Really big.  The puppies are due to arrive in approximately a week.  Tomorrow an update on The Belly and a little poll on the size of the litter.  I'm saying more than 5.  Definitely more than 5. 

poo day

Contented mum with her skirt of nursing babies this morning












Those of you who have been following this blog for a while will know that I never shy away from describing in graphic and sticky detail the, er, messier side of puppy rearing. You will remember the night of worry I had with Neka and her vomiting and diarrhea in the garden.

For Taika's litter, I had a very different poo story - but again it was such a worry.

Well, today is the day I regale you with tales of poo & placentas for this litter. It's not all puppy cuddles & warm milk, you know.

In the wild - and indeed in the captivity of breeders' whelping rooms - dogs and their relatives eat all the stuff that comes with newborn puppies, including the bag the puppy is delivered in, membranes, umbilical cord and placenta. It's kinda disgusting for us humans to consider, but it is a natural instinct, and in the wild the nutritious blood-filled placentas would be the only food the newly whelped dam would have for several days until she could leave her babies to hunt.

Not only do the placentas offer good nutrition for the dam, but some also believe that eating them encourages good maternal behaviour and the production of milk. So it's a good idea for her to have them. Some will even ask the vet performing a caesarian to return some of the placentas for this purpose.

So, we have adequately established that placentas = good. However, everything in moderation, is a useful tenet in this instance. I've seen it recommended that the breeder try to limit the bitch's consumption of placentas and take some of them away because in addition to all the good stuff, placentas - being so rich and full of blood - also produce thick, black diarrhea. You've seen or - even worse - smelled digested blood? Pretty disgusting. Well, placenta poo is digested blood with bells on.

That's what Neka was struggling with after her 9 puppies (and their 9 placentas) and that's what Keksi had last night.

But drama? Not a bit of it. Four times during the night she woke us and beetled off downstairs to the door. She's still moving very quickly for a lady who has just given birth 7 times, but she does take smaller quick steps! It's clear that she goes to the back garden to do her business at home, as that's where she heads each time. I have to call her back to the front door and the neighbouring park as we no longer have any grass out back thanks to past puppies.

Each time she simply scooted out to the park, relieved herself of a long wee and two great handfuls of black, tarry poo and then turned tail to return to her brood. No hassle, no drama, no accidents.

And this morning, a mere 30 hours after giving birth, no more black poo! Well, whaddeya know. I'm pretty sure I was still dealing with it 4 or 5 days after birth with the litter of 9. So perhaps the moral of this story is to limit the number of placentas eaten by the bitch to 7. That seems an ideal number. On this occasion, anyway. Have you ever heard that no two bitches and no two births are the same? Yeah, well, that. Inconvenient, n'est-ce pas?

There are some humans who even think it's a good idea to eat their own human placentas. But let's not go into that - diarrhea, green slime, black and red slime, vomit, etc, all of it is fair game on this blog, but not even I am willing to go there!

Did I say it's not all puppy cuddles & warm milk? Hell, it's not even mostly puppy cuddles & warm milk. And I haven't even gotten to the green stuff yet. You lucky people have all that to come.

But, first, here is a row of sleeping puppies from last night. You can see where Honey and Marilyn (and probably the rest of them too) have been wiping their green dye off onto the vet bed. It was changed for a clean one no less than 4 times yesterday. And you can see that Marilyn, 3rd from the top, is still sporting the slightest green tinge.



















And so to finish...
Someone asked me how I know that Junior is a domino and not just a brightly coloured black & tan. The answer is this: it's not always going to be easy to tell with puppies, but here was my proof with this puppy. The first indication of the domino pattern is in the white face - particularly the centre of the face where most other patterns are dark - and the very large white 'eyebrows'.
















Then, to look at the colour of the fur on his body; white on his belly and legs, shading gradually up through the sable-y colour you see here to a dark silvery-grey stripe down his back. Striking, no?















As it is with wolf sable puppies, I suspect this coat colour will change and change as time goes on. I'll keep you posted.