Blog during 2009

DECEMBER

2009-12-25 Christmas eve was a nice and calm happening at our house :)
Brizna is not tip-top in her stomach - all snow? she is the best plow we got ...... - no extra Christmas food for her in other words =(

Here are the photos of the puppies at 4 weeks of age! To arrange photos of them standing in this age (referring to the pups age...... nothing else......) is almost impossible! Patience, patience and a lot of hour later they where finally done! Blue and wine red found Briznas bowl with food today. She had not even touch it yet so the crocks where soft by the water and both puppies ate good! ...... hahahah. More photos in the a-litter album on their site as soon as possible. Tomorrow it is archery-competition on the schedule =)

Female 1   4 weeks old	Wine red
Male 1   4 weeks old	Blue
Female 2   4 weeks old	Yellow
Female 4   4 weeks old	Grey
Female 4   4 weeks old	Lime
Male 2   4 weeks old	Green
Female 5   4 weeks old	Red

  

Yellow to the left and Lime to the right

2009-12-22 Well, everybody that are waiting for some 3 weeks photos and updates, here it comes .... Have taken time of in middle of all preparations for Christmas calibration and latterly DRAGGED myself away from the puppies nest! It is happening so much with them now, every day something new in their development. This is one of the lucky times as a breeder - to get the chance to see a litter develop from birth to they day they leave for the big world - and all so close! When they open their eyes, when you definite can say they now can hear and the first wave of tails that is not accidently (or pure instinct) and when they first come towards you - even though they hardly can walk - just because they hear you talking...... wow.... you do understand I am behind schedule in preparation for Christmas, right?!

We celebrated the puppies 3 week of age with..... deworming! Urk they felt all of them. hahahaha ..... The crossed meat afterwards where much more in their taste :)

Now the whole gang got teeth - feel way more in there than it actually is! and like children everything will be exam by mouth. Brizna has started to play with them outside the nest. They are now in so much control of their bodies that they can do small attacks towards her. It looks so fun when they, without any hesitation, are attacking one a lot bigger than they are!! After the play both Brizna and the puppies are sleeping good for a long time! She plays very gentle with them and are mostly buffing them with her nose but not as hard as they fall. Good Mum! They, on the other hand, are grabbing what ever they can on her and back of with it still inside the mouth!

Photos of the litter when they are 4 week will be updated the day after Christmas eve - I think I can promise that. They will be 4 week on Christmas eve, but in Sweden, that is the day we eat all good food and give Christmas presents, so the computers will stay of! I also hope I will get help so it will be the first side photos standing ; )

Wish you all a Merry Christmas!

2009-12-17 The puppies at the age of 3 weeks!

Female 1 3 weeks old	Female 1 3 weeks old
Male 1 3 weeks old	Male 1 3 weeks old
Female 2 3 weeks old	Female 2 3 weeks old
Female 3 3 weeks old	Female 3 3 weeks old
Female 4 3 weeks old	Female 4 3 weeks old
Male 2 3 weeks  old	Male 2 3 weeks old
Female 5 3 weeks old	Female 5 3 weeks old

2009-12-15 Do you know that it is no problem what so ever to sleep, yawn and give food to puppies while sitting!?!
Oh, yes! It is true, Brizna can!

Yesterday Rex meet his offspring for the first time. The puppy I had in my lap he exam with a lots of interest, but to close to the puppies box he did not dear to go. He sniffed in the air from distains and that was quite smart of him because Brizna kept herself kindly but determined between the box and Rex. She gave him a couple of pushes with her nose to make sure he understood to keep the right distant and he did. ;-)

Also the puppies had their first taste of crossed meat..... well that where a success.... yes, they behaved like crazy walking all over each other and fought to get closest to get more! They also had to duck for the drops coming out of Briznas mouth! There where only one taken it calmly. The red female where not fighting for more like the rest of them, no instead she stayed put (laying down) and just waited for the meat to come to here!!!

2009-12-10 Today the A-litter is 2 weeks old and they can all see and hear. Some of them have already started to show their charm by waving the tail when you talk to them or even answered loudly!! :) Except for taken the weight of the puppies and take photos of them I have today clean up the house. Göte and I have been married for 21 years today! I even got 5 roses from him :) We had a nice dinner with wine and salad and when we had our coffee and cake afterwards we looked at the Nobel festival - only to se the desert and the lovely dresses they have. It has been a tradition to se it on TV every ear.
 

Female 1 2 weeks old	Female 1 2 weeks old
Male 1 2 weeks old	Male 1 2 weeks old
Female 2 2 weeks old	Female 2 2 weeks old
Female 3 2 weeks old	Female 3 2 weeks old
Female 4 2 weeks old	Female 4 2 weeks old
Male 2 2 weeks old	Male 2 2 weeks old
Female 5 2 weeks old	Female 5 2 weeks old

2009-12-09 Yesterday when taken weight I noticed that all are now over 1000 gram  =) Beside only two left with just a sign of eyes to open the rest have open theirs now

Today we tried to take some new photos and the attention where to get head profile......yeah right!!! Now when they all have eyes, the two left open theirs today, they would definite not have their heads in one direction long enough for the photographer to take the photo. The photos went blur, they had their heads hanging or in some total other direction than we wanted. lol....... puppies are not easy to work with.... Jennifer where behind the camera today and I tried to hold them still as long as a cold. Well tomorrow they will turn 2 weeks of age and we will do a new try ;-) New photos are updated at their own photo page - look under litter A.

2009-12-06 Second in advent! - so soon?! We have made train, house and outdoors-toilet in gingerbread for the winter land today. I also tried to order new carpets to the living room but no luck there. Everything sold out and I am not surprised - two big carpets for the price of one. The Christmas curtains I want where also sold out so I guess I have to go for the old once this year too.

They lovely pack in the nest are 10 days today and I could see they have started to open their eyes! They had also made some kind of pact today - every time I lifted the camera they yawn!!! You take a look your selves. Click on the photo!

 

 

2009-12-05 Brizna has, as all my females have had, her own way of given food to the small ones!! While she is laying on her back total up side down the puppies will get strong bone muzzles and are training their balance at the same time eating...... 

I wish I could give them names already because I got very nice once to use, but it it not yet time for the buyers to choose yet, so I just have to wait. Some of the buyers have chosen the name they want for their puppy on A and that is nice.  Beside I do not know yet witch one to put on breeding-terms. I do know her name will be Alpha! When they where born there where two I liked right away, but now there are two others that also are coming more and more..... well this is a nice problem I think :)  .... One female are not booked and as they are have turned out so far I have no problem letting one female stay at home at all ;) They are so nice I love to keep two out of this litter... :)

2009-12-03 Today the puppies are 1 week of age and we have taken new weight. All have double their weight from birth and some even more!!! lol food monsters ?!! New photos taken and there are more to see at the A-litters own photo page! Enjoy!
 

Female 1 1 week old	Female 1 1 week old
Male 1 1 week old	Male 1 1 week old
Female 2 1 week old	Female 2 1 week old
Female 3 1 week old	Female 3 1 week old
Female 4 1 week old	Female 4 1 week old
Male  2 1 week old	Male  2 1 week old
Female 5 1 week old	Female 5 1 week old

2009-12-02 Now we have entered the Christmas month! When I got up early this morning the whole area where frosty and it was quite cold outside. Brrrrr......

I had to take some photos despite the kill outside, but I did not take that many and where back inside rather quick!! AND it is much nicer and warmer to photo the puppies anyway =)

Tomorrow it has gone one week since the litter was born ..... where did that week go? They are eating and growing, eating and growing. New photos of them will be updated tomorrow! In the guestbook a lot of peoples have suggested female names on A - Fun and Thank you all! - some of them are not that odd, in fact rather common but good names anyway and I did have them on my list already. But there are a few very nice and odd names I do like a lot and I have picked some of them out and will use these. 

NOVEMBER

2009-11-30  We have taken new weight of the puppies today =) They have all gain weight good except for the small male (green) who is a little bit behind the others in gaining, but he has gain weight too. Brizna is ripping the newspapers in small stripes and putting the stripes over the puppies to cover them when she have to leave the nest to get out, eat and drink water! Good MUM! =)
 

Female 1 4 days old	Male1 4 days old
Female 2 4 days old	Female 3 4 days old
Female 4 4 days old	Male 2 4 days old
Female 5 4 days old

2009-11-28 Guess my surprise when suddenly Brizna stood beside me in the kitchen today! Her tail waived so hard the whole body moved form side to side! Happy she is so "fit for fight" already BUT not leave the puppies so soon, thank you! After a quick stop in our backyard and some food she ran upstairs to the puppies again - good girl =)

 

In the evening we weighted the puppies and took photos of them. Easy to deal with? NO, not so cooperative despite they are only two days old. All of them had gain weight really good =)

Female 1	Male 1
Female 2	Female 3
Female 4	Male 2
Female 5

2009-11-26 Went to bed early (for me early) only to get up again because Brizna started to deliver the puppies =) 00:20 in the morning (or rather night) the first puppy was born. I saw the head when it came and the tongue was out! hm... a puppy that poke the tongue out at the world when being delivered...... what will become of this one with that attitude?! It is a female (photo). Puppy number 2, a male, came 00:53. Then 3 more females: 01:08, 01:19, 01:31. Puppy number 6, a male, came 02:15. The last female came 02:50. Brizna had 7 puppies in around 2,5 hours! I have never have had that fast delivery befor!! All are doing fine, goes for our great mother Brizna too =) Thank you Maria, Kennel Sinjanus, for the company and help. The first photos of the litter are not so good I am afraid. The bad light in the room forced us to use the lightening and it where to strong it seems. I have tried to brighten them down a bit, but they are not good. The last two we took without the lightening and the brightness are ok but they went blurry.  ..... Well this is the one we got and better than no one!
 

Hane 1 Mörk blått band	Tik 2 Gult band	Tik 3 Mörk grått band
Tik 4 Ljus grönt band	Hane 2 Mörk grönt band	Tik 5 Rött band

 

2009-11-09 This weekend has been something I tell you! We start with Saturday: First Angelica that got a silver medal in archery on 25 meter indoors competition! Great done girl and congratulation =)
Then we got the information that Vajert Dimma and her daughter from her first litter - Anni von der Burgkamp - have been put up to show in Herning, Denmark and Dimma got CAC, BOB, CACIB and the title: DANISH CHAMPION! Anni got exc2 and became 2d best female. Jihaaa!
Sunday then: Dimma got BOB and CACIB today too, as well as the new title for Denmark: DANISH WINNER 2009! She also became DKK Race Winner 2009! (She is then the second offspring from us that manage to get that title - her grandmother, Qinza was the first!) Today, not able to take the CAC, it went on to her daughter, Anni! Lovely! Anni also became the 2d best female today!!! I believe the journey back home to Germany for Andrea (owner of Dimma and breeder of Anni "the puppy on the photo") must gone on clouds! =) BIG grandslam and we say both congratulation and VAJERT done!

When news like this reach us. Our hearts gets warm and you realize that it actually can have it´s moments of joy and happiness to be breeder after all! I just hade to pet Briznas big belly and explain that her aunt and cousin made BIG names in Denmark this weekend..... I do not think she quit got it, but she gave me kisses on my hand ;) To this we should ad that Vajert Daphne got CK, BOB and CACIB in Växjö, Sweden last weekend! WOW! As I said - it is a joy to be a breeder now and then ;)

One not so happy thing have also happen - yes, why not? - Today when I checked my guestbook there was a massage from Jennys daughter and it made me so happy! I responded directly and saved it ..... just to se everything go away ..... eh.... what happen? Everything was gone! Writer, the note, my answer .... Everything! Left where just a empty box! So if you se this, I have NOT taken your note away, and the guestbook holder are trying to figure out what happen and are doing their very best to get it back again. While they are working on that I will leave your note... or should I say "empty box" as it is now. Please write again! Now an explanation to the rest of you - Jenny owned Effis (Paradise Lady) sister Alice! Now her daughter found us and where so happy she did because Laekenois is not so common and we did own siblings from the same litter once!  We are very happy you found us and that you wrote a note in the guestbook about it. Thank you for that! Alice was a very nice female and I liked her a lot. She was very good in obedient and had a lovely character and great exterior. I do not recall how old she became, but I know she became older than Effi. I do hope your note can be found and put back where it should be.... in the empty box ;)

OCTOBER

2009-10-29 Brizna has gain weight already so going to the vet for the ultrasound where more a question of how many there might be than if there where any at all. YES there are puppies al right!! We counted to about 7-8 and in end of November they are here =)

Our Christmas will be very special this year! Well Rex mother, Vajert Xtra and her littermates are born before Christmas and our Cairn terrier - litter as well, but they where all to young to do any harm..... wonder what this litter will do.... Christmas tree here we come...... lol......

2009-10-15 Got a SMS today from Railys co-owner Jeanette. They where in Västerås today and there Raily did the mental-test at the police force (L-test) He approved with no fear of gunfire and they said he is suited for police- guarding- or military (force) dog! Now it is going to be interesting to se if there will be anyone that do not judge him out after the fur and looks - yes, it has happened to us 2 times earlier ...... (..... well in Vajert Qinchos case one guard did not matter. He looked at the result Qincho made at the L-test and took him in. Qincho worked as a guard-dog until his death.) There is lack of dogs suited for force-work in Sweden and when it is they might think twice before letting the looks or/and fur decide to take the dog or not!! Keeping fingers crossed he will end up with a good owner and trainer ... and Jeanette..... you have done a tremendous job with him - proud of you!!

2009-10-13 The time of wonder has not passed ....... Even has started to "trough and play"!!!! We do not know what "hit" him but suddenly he actually thinks it is fun to play with the stock! He for sure is a man that gives a lot of joy to our family. There is not one day passing by we do not laugh out loud over his behavior and things he comes up with. Funny dog =) 

It has start to show that Brizna has gain weight a little bit ;-) she has also shown morning sickness..... nice and hopefully the right reason for it!!! In week 44 we do the ultrasound ...  we are so excited!

2009-10-10 One week ago (3d of October 2009) our youngest daughter Stephanie, "played" with the computer while I cleaned the house..... = She managed to execute the start up files, al mails, documents and photos taken after 14th of July 2009. Everybody that might read this and know they have sent me a mail PLEASE resend them!!!! Now after total reboot of the hard drive it is almost it self again. Sorry to say that almost every photo of the mating of Rex and Brizna is gone and also all water playing photos....... well well just to expect with a 3 years ole in the house........

2009-10-02 October already! The trees that is suppose to be cut before the winter are done and we already had two nights with minus degrees, burrrrrr.......  One flower that is coming now is the autumn-anemone (Wonder what the name could be in English..... the photo)

The days are as lovely as a autumn day could be. + 10-12 degrees Celsius and sunny. I and the dogs are enjoying every walk now =)
In the end of October we will do an ultrasound (echo) to se if Brizna is pregnant for sure. However my guess is that morning sickness will tell us sooner ;-)

SEPTEMBER

2009-09-25 Yesterday I got help by Jennifer to take some photos of Rex and Brizna during the mating. Tank you sweetheart! I already said that this mating is special but this special...? When we first got out it was cloudy, a bit windy and chilly. Rex and Brizna did there "toilet", started to run hunting games like maniacs and we hade to jump away not to get hit by them and off course some wrestling. After that is was obvious time for mating. Rex got stuck right away and when he started to turn around the sun came thru the clouds, the wind stopped and it became a very nice sunny autumn day!!! hm ...... wonder if one should put in any interpreter to this or not......? well... you judge by one of the nice photos that Jennifer got.

2009-09-23 Now the mating is for sure! After two days of training, courtesan, and affectionate and tender  cherish of each other it was today like "let´s get parents"  I managed to take this photo just before Rex started with the classic stepping. Put the camera away and just in time to help them out because he was already stuck! They had a hanging for 7 min. this first time. What a nice mating that happen. Both where very calm, still and quiet. 

2009-09-20 Today Rex got his "reward" ...... love-date with Brizna. They can now pronouns themselves as truly adults!..... and Rex like to say that if it is going to be rewards like this he will go as many mentally-tests I can find for him!!!!! .

2009-09-19 Finally it was time for the BIG Swedish mentally-test. With Rex, Raika (in the end of her fake pregnancy) and Jennifer in the car we headed to Örebro Working club today. Mentally judges where: Martti Keskinen and Barbro Kamleitner. Rex was the first to enter the track of the two and did a great job. If we should ask him he would probably say the "trough and play" part was the best of the whole test.    .... well while thinking of it he might actually say the mud-ditch beside the track ........... there it was wet, cooler and nice.... when he eventually came up from it, to say hi to the social figurant, he had mud up to his belly ..... oh boy! (points of because of that.....) Despite lack of concentration today (might have something to do with Brizna has started her heat?!) he manage to get 330 points and no fear of gunfire and approved!  The exterior-part he did before so together with the mentally approval he got the title: KORAD!  

Then it was Raikas turn and she loves to trough and play as much as Rex BUT not today!?! at least not with the test-leader.... with Jennifer, that did the track with her, it was no problem. Raika also went to the public with the toy to check if anyone there where interested to play with her, but the test-leader..... nope! Not today anyway! (A LOTS of points where missed because of this) The rest of the track she did very nicely and, as her brother, she also found the ditch!! hm...... well in the end the points, 215 and no fear of gunfire, where to low to get approval. It does not matter because she did what she should in the parts where it counts and have a great quick of reaction and that means a lot to me =) Good work girls!     

2009-09-02 Now the first month of autumn starts. brrrrr .... shivering just thinking of it. The trees has already started to change into autumn-suite and it is cold outside even though the sun is shining.

Have started up the training with the dogs after a short break. Nice to work with them again =) I also started up the training books. In them I am writing everything that can be good too go back to if needed. Day, weather, moments, if anything happens - reactions, things to remember (also especially good once if you do something different to solve a problem), next step etc. I discovered that I have not done "my job" properly. Have not written every time we train like I use to do before...... Brizna do not even got one! On the other hand she came back 1 of April this year and I did find notes I have made on paper..... ok promise to get better and also to start up one for Brizna!

Today I called The Swedish Kennel Club to listen if they had read the x-ray of Brizna yet and if not - when they might do it. A very happy lady told me they read it yesterday and the results are: HD A/A and ED 0/0..... Jiiipiiiie!!!

AUGUST

2009-08-27 Today he was here and after that it is working!!!!! Keeping fingers crossed it will stay that way for a long time. He could not find out what causing the problem, but what ever he did to fix it - it must have been right. Thank you!

The Oskar, this year, for fake pregnancy goes to.... Vajert Raika.... congratulation girl! =(  She is now in for hard training to lose weight! We will re-mate on her next heat and then we wish for a normal one - no more silent once please. 

Even in not sad at all. He has mated Vajert Xena. Now it is up to her to produce some egg to get pups. We will keep our fingers crossed and are looking forward to hear about the ultrasound in end of September.

2009-08-26 The phone company called us today and told us that a technician will come tomorrow...... Now we are talking!! They could se that internet is restarting 22000 times/day and that is not right..... No? ..... Ok, Now something seems to happen anyway!

2009-08-23 WOW! I could get my mails today!!!!!Internet is not working properly but much better.

2009-08-18 Today I had a new loooooong talk with the phone company and this time I was not nice at all. They promised to fix this latest on Friday.........

2009-08-15 Angelica went back to archery school today. New term starts on Wednesday and she has a lot to do before that not being in the flat for the whole summer.

I and the girls had a calm day in front of the TV watching the WC. We have got a nasty cold and are keeping fingers crossed it is not the flue everyone is talking about. 

2009-08-13 Had a new "session" with the phone company today and again they promised to fix the problem within the week..... yeh, right!..... I will believe that when I can send this blog up to the homepage!!!

2009-08-12 Today our youngest daughter, Stephanie, is having her 3 birthday. She became very happy over her gifts and we had a lovely cake that our oldest girl, Angelica, made. Thank you love!

2009-08-06 Today the phone company fixed the problem with the phone but we still have problems with internet. I can not get my mails either! Getting tired over this by now...........

2009-08-02 We have now been out of phone for one week... and internet is living its on life it seems. Hopefully we will have everything fixed within this week, but the phone company could not promise anything.

Got a mail from Carole telling that Vajert Balto now got a new title in rally obedience. WOW! Boy you are so good and we are so proud over you too! Congratulation!

Friday we got a mail from Sonja that Vajert Inka past away the 24 of July 2009. We are so sorry and our thoughts goes to you Sonja.

JULY

2009-07-20 This weekend Angelica and I have been at Junior-SM for hunt/field/board archery in Edsbyn.

We went up to the camp on Thursday and had Brizna with us. On Friday the first competition took place. Hunt track and Angelica was group leader this day. Here she is reading the information she has to tell the others in the group. 

After some information from the arrangers everybody goes to the warm up/in shooting aria and will then see the targets that will be at the track.  after the in shooting everybody goes back to the pole of the group and the judges follows the group out the where they shall start their track.  They also tells them how long time it is left for first arrow to be shoot away. The group will then follow the marks of the track and after 15 targets they have lunch brake and then 15 more targets to take care of. 3 arrows i allowed to use on each target. The first arrow that is in point zone is the one counting. That means if arrow 1 is a point arrow you do not have to shoot any more, do you choose to shoot one more and number 2 will hit the heart (highest point) number 1 is still the points you get! 
 

To come back from the track with all arrows safe is a good competition among the shooters - and the parents (read the one paying for the the arrows...) will agree - even though the points total may not be so good.

This was Angelicas second competition in hunting track and her first with the new bow (she only got if for one month)! All arrows where safe home, but she lost the screw that is holding the arrow shelf on the bow..... =(
Angelica have had no chance to train for hunting track because her home club do not got any and the one the gymnasium have - nobody have had time yet to show her where it is located, therefore the points total was not as good as she hoped for, but she did much better than last time anyway =) and she had a great time in the woods =) She loves the competition form and will train it as soon as she is down at the gymnasium again and as soon as she knows where the track is. (hm... I do not know what I like that..... paying for the arrows......). The photo, a bow left,  is the start target for her group. They shall now count the distance to the target, from the pole, nail the arrow in the ring (hopefully) to get the highest points or at least somewhere on the body that gives points. There are parts on the body that is "dead zoon" = no points to count. For example: it is the the feet and peek on birds, the horns on the deer etc. Depending on wish arrow that is the point arrow they got different points. Therefore the arrows are marked with 1, 2 or 3. At the first target (a bow) Angelica had one arrow flying way up over the target and we found it in the woods (the wood started about 25-35 meter behind the target)!!! The distance to the target was about 50-55 meter in this case!

Next target where birds (you chose wish one to shoot at - the photo down). Here the tricky part is 1) to count the distance 2) calculate that the ground is going uphill 3) Keep the balance! 4) The wind- if there is any. Angelica had bad points luck here.... The first arrow was a pointing one, she became unsure if it was in so she took a second arrow. That one hit the heart!!!, but as the 1st one was a point arrow that is the point she had to count.... .... in this case it is a shame that it is not the best arrow counting..... To walk a hunting track with 2X15 targets is very condition taking!!! This day the sun was shining and it was very hot in the woods - they had to drink a lot of water not to faint. The mosquitoes had their day for sure! Happy over the fact that over 100 peoples where in the woods this day.....  With one of the targets they almost stepped on a snake! Thank God nobody did.

On Sunday (19/7) it was time for Angelica to compete again. This time in board and in a wind with about 4-6 m/s (somebody said it was up to almost 8) and constantly turning - sometimes straight at the shooters, sometimes from side to side and suddenly none wind at all just to start when the arrow was already on its way- should the whole gang shoot 3 arrows á 12 rounds at 60 meter (in Angelicas year class) twice with lunch in between and finals after that. NOBODY reached the score they are used to in the hard wind!!! The arrows dropped in front of the board (no wind any longer) and sat very low in the board for almost everybody given them low points. Some other strange thing this day was actually the weather! When we arrived to the aria the rain where poring down. When the shooters got ready to shoot the up warming arrows the rain stopped! Then when it was lunch brake it started again and it rained hard. When the speaker said the lunch brake where over the rain stopped and the shooters could do the second round. Strange right?!?! Angelica did new personal record and club record, but even though she did go to the finals and there lost over the one winning their class total, she where not pleased over the day and her shooting at all. After the competition we sat in the caravan talking about this weekend before we slowly started our 420 km way home again. The rain where poring down the whole drive and the last 200 km I did not see anything on the car display because the light there went of!!!! Right after 03.00 this morning we finally where home again and went straight to bed!!!

 

 

2009-07-14 Today Cassandra took a play bath in the yard and experienced that you can not do that with Rex and Brizna outside! It went into water play with them instead and it was very fun until both dogs tried to grab Cassandra's toes, moving under the water......

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2009-07-12  Now we are home again for a few days. Even and Raika are also home and he is not interested in her anymore. We just have to cross our fingers that they mated properly when they had their chance ;-) He has hurt his back legs and jaws while being away but it is not serious. You can say he has not eaten as he should, poor boy has it very hard to eat when the females are in heat, and now he is just skin and bone again!

2009-07-09 During this days we been here the camping area closest to us has changed visitors every day. Rex has not shown any interest of the one coming or leaving - even though his rope was long enough for him to walk over to them - until they lifted the wooden plates that is under the support legs of the caravan - then he stood on his back feet jumped backwards..... trough the stick, trough the stick.......   A man from Denmark laugh at him and wonder if he should trough it towards Rex .... God NO....  My, what was he thinking.......?!

I am so proud over the fact that Rex could lay outside on the rope without barking or anything. Even when the darkness come it was total quiet outside..... Sitting there telling the others what I think, and they agreed, what do I see ....!?!?!?! Rex is coming from a total different way across the field from us with the rope and the ground crock dragging behind him! No wonder it was total quiet outside! There are people walking in the darkness talking but Rex do not mind them instead he walks up to us to get rid of the "things" hanging behind him jumping in the grass when he moves forwards. Just wonder for how long he has been gone and how far he went!!

The woods around the camp where like troll-woods and it was lovely to take long walks in them with Brizna and Rex. Laekenois is not the optimal breed for Micke (that is strange.... ;) ) however he did like Brizna a lot! She walked around us in the tent of the caravan and did not leave it until we told her she could. Good girl!

2009-07-07 At the dog pension we where in for a surprise. Even mated Raika! .... hey wait a minute .... stop here..... is she in heat?..... I have checked her every day and have not seen that she started yet...... is this a silent heat? I have never ever heard of a female standing for the male other than in the heat - anyone else that has? - so I guess she must have one of this silent heats. Well then, we just have to wait to see if there will be any puppies this time. Strange.......

At the camping place Micke and Tarja waited for us and helped out to get everything in order. Thank you beloved friends for all help.  =)

2009-07-06 Home again to repack the caravan. We are going for almost one week of camping with our beloved friends Tarja and Micke at kennel Turning Leaf´s. It is a lot of stuff to bring along - clouds, shoes, food and everything else a big family like ours needs. Even and Raika will stay in a dog pension and we will "drop" them of tomorrow. Rex and Brizna will come along with us. Finally we will meet again!

2009-07-04--05 The sun was shining when we woke up this morning! The weather from last night was gone! We had some rain today too but it did not come until closing time - and this first day where over. When we had our gathering, at the evening the sun come back again. We had a lot of visitors over this weekend and we did a new record selling the pancakes! Tired and happy we went home again at Sunday evening. When we left the aria it started to rain again and a lot of it too. Where we lucky or what?!!

2009-07-03 Today we where at Monica and Mickes place and had a good time with the puppies. After that we did some shopping and put the last things into the caravan - hooked it on to the car - and drown down to Stallarholmen for the yearly event of our Viking festival =). It was lovely to meet everybody again and despite the rain we had a lovely time putting everything up for the weekend. Thunder and rain will not stop us!  

JUNE

2009-06-20 Today we where suppose to got to Hallsberg for Angelica to train archery but it was no weather for it so we changed our minds and had a nice calm day - like doing nothing half the day - instead. In the afternoon the sun was back and we took the dummy (retrieving bag that floats) and the dogs (Rex, Raika and Brizna) and went down to the lake. Angelica took a lot of photos and they went just lovely! The dogs played in the water and retrieved the dummy and a lot of peoples sitting in their boats looked at them and smiled. One family left their boat and came over to "our landing-stage" to have a closer look. Brizna is the best swimmer of them and she also understand the retrieving in water. Rex liked the idea and swam out to get the dummy from her. He was also the one that almost went into the water from the landing-stage, but no not this first time .... maybe next .... he did, however, run over to the family to say hi before he came back to us and enter the water from the beach. Raika waited at the beach and took the dummy when Brizna or Rex came up with it.....

2009-06-19 Midsummereve and mixed weather. We had lunch inside because the rain that find the way over us. Later the sun was shining again so we had coffee and pie with apples and rhubarb in the garden. We also put up the kubb (A  Swedish wood game) because we always play it at midsummer...... it just have to be like that ...... or?.....  Even bend over to smell on one of the throwing sticks and I told the others not to worry. He will NOT touch any of them! He is the only one that is allowed to be out with us if we play games just because he will not think of the idea to touch anything or to "sabotage" by taken anything and run of with it...... HA... he said and grabbed the stick and retrieving it to me! (admit I still got the feeling of surprise in my body) I was so surprise I never thought of going for the camera! Instead I through the stick to se if it was just a temporary thing happening to Even that minute, but NO!..... of he went, picked it up and came back to me with it. He also hold on to it and did not let go when I tried to get it!!!!?!!! .. twice..... hm... bottom time may not be over after all.....

2009-06-17 Today helpful coworkers to Göte fixed the wheel for us at the factory nearby. Thank you, thank you, thank you..... I took Brizna with me when I took the car to the Götes work to give her some social training - and that is exactly what she got! A high-pressure started so even I jumped high, a lot of noise from plates, open stairs (non favorite of Brizna), screaming brakes from big trucks with woods coming to the factory, peoples coming in and out from doors all over the place and they wanted to pet Brizna when they saw her. She did not mind at all - waiving her tail and liked every minute of it.... well except for the open stairs.....  It turned out it would take much longer time fixing the car than they first thought so I and Brizna took a nice walk home and while the car got fixed Brizna played at our yard with Raika and Even (yes, you did read it right! Even did play again!)

2009-06-16 Oh, yes the car is not longer for driving..... it is something within the wheel that has broken, so now I do not have any car until this is fixed..... I am so tired right now of everything that stops working in our home. Why is this happening to us?!!!

2006-06-15 Today it was  Angelicas first day at summer work. After that we went to  Hallsberg for archery training. Right now she is "shooting in" her new bow to learn how it works and also to get use to the extra pound she now has and it looks good! She loves her new bow very much. On our way home I got a bit worried because the car started to sound very strange. It sounds like a cross in one of the wheels..... Do not say the car will broke down too.

2009-06-12 Yesterday Cassandra's first year in school was over! We had luck with the weather even though it was very windy. When we still lived in Stockholm we had as tradition to go to Tarja and her family for strawberry cake, coffee and later in the evening barbecue with friends and it does feels strange that it is no longer happening. We did have strawberries but missed our friends a lot.

2009-06-01 Angelica's first year at archery-school is almost over and soon she will come home for summer-work!! Can not still believe she got it in economic crises like this! So happy for her.

We have had a couples of days with very high temperatures and today I have to save the plants in the kitchen garden. Stupid of me to have Brizna outside when I started the water!! She was as crazy as Rex always is chasing the water. Well none of them will be allowed outside when I watering ... if I do not want to have some crazy photos of course...... lol...... ;-)

MAY

2009-05-31

 

Wish all mums out there a happy mothers day!

 

2009-05-30 Ok, now my calf hurts! I had it coming when getting the not so brilliant idea of playing football with Even (of all). Have not laugh so much in a log time as today! He was, off course, TOTAL uninterested of the ball until we more or less kicked it (gently) on him or under his legs THEN he played a little with his pawls at it, rolled it a bit too but he also became a little bit mad or exited - who knows - because he started to nip my fingers and hands while I laughed at him and finally he nipped my calf (ouch!)!!!! My husband laugh his head of over the way Even played (or not played)!

The other dogs got to play too and, as a BIG different from Even, they love to play and starts right away. The girls thinks that Raika is the most fun to play with because she lets of the ball even when they tell her to and she does not jump towards the ball when they prepare to kick it- like Rex is doing (even though he also let it go when they tell him). Instead she nicely waits until they have kicked it away. The most scary is Gaïa who runs them over if they are standing in her way - she is not holding out from them! The most boring one, they feel, is Brizna, who loves to play football but dislike to share the pray...... hahahaha - she wants to be chased with the ball in her mouth and this game she can play within hours!!!!  and the girls runs after her off course.... to make her drop the ball!!!! hahahahahaha

2009-05-27 In hard wind, but a nice sunny day, we trained "things - seek", "messenger sending" and "lay down-stay" with Brizna and Rex today and they did very good both of them. Carina´s dogs, from kennel Cajiros, did great! While the dogs rested Carina and I had coffee and ate the peaces from the cake I saved from yesterday. Can en training be better? 

This evening I got a mail from the owner of Vajert Donna telling they put her to sleep today!?!  Why? I do not know for sure.... they wrote that Donna has changed her behavior towards the cats and visiting dogs and it has become a problem, but I have not heard anything about that until today. I can not help wondering if there where no chance to give her a new home at all ... ?! A healthy female, free on hips and elbows with obedience-training and merits in shows, not yet 5 years of age!?! ...... I also was told, from a total different person, that Donna´s owners are expecting a new puppy - a groenendael!? WHAT? but the last I heard from them, they where expecting a Samojed puppy....I do not understand - on the other hand maybe it is not for me to understand. However an unpleasant feeling got over me.

2009-05-23 We have been on a new journey! This time to a special show for Belgians at Ivön (south of Sweden). Judge for Laekenois was Mary Grove, England.

Rex was put up for his first show ever and Brizna for main reason of socialization. I also know that Gun´s new puppy girl - the photo to the left - (after Izor ) would be there and I was hoping that the rest of the litter should as well. 

The trip started not so good if you ask the girls..... I packed the car with the girls in it waiting for us to go and  with Rex running at the yard playing. I open the gate and told him to get into the car and he did BUT not on his side in the crate - No he took a huge jump in with the girls! Turned around in their laps and lay down on them..... God .... crazy dog! Got him out of there and put him at his place while both girls where crying. It turned out he scratched them on their legs while he turned around. After a lots of hugs I went up after Brizna for her to run in the yard while I packed the last things into the car. (She never got the chance to jump in at the wrong place.) Of we went and the rest of the trip was very nice.

The morning after we went to the show. The first thing I saw was the girl puppies after Izor!!! Lovely - all 4 of them! (3 photo down and Gun´s female above) and BOY they are good looking! I fell in love with all of them and offered a space in my car home for any of them - strange that no one took the offer.....!

Guns female became BOB puppy and ended up as BIS 3 puppy =) Congratulations! Both progeny and breeding class (puppy) got honor price off course, and I actually tried to admit as the breeder of the girls.... but that could not be done ;-) Congratulations Anette (the real breeder) - they are terrific! (Now I am waiting to se the male out of the litter happy that is living at kennel Lacken Vacken - something were said about not until next year and the WW show........ ;-) ... can I wait that looooooong?)

Rex got CK, best open male and best male. Brizna got CK, best youth and in the class of best female she was against a Champion female (INTUCH SUCH DKUCH VDHCH KBHV-05 ROSTOCKSIGER-06, 07
CHARLOTTE DU CLOS DES ALLEINES - the mother of the puppies at the show) and to my BIG SURPRISE Brizna won over her (?!!)  Angelica had to jump in as handler on Brizna in the final of BOB against Rex. She did great and won the BOB! Rex became then BOS! WOW!!!!! The judge gave me a lot of credit for both Rex and Brizna´s openness, happiness and way to be. On both critics she has written: Exuberant character! That feels very nice to get! (Photo down - Brizna)

 

While waiting for the finals to start I took Rex to judge Jesper Andersson to get the exterior part of Korning done. No problem and he is now approved! Late n the afternoon (early evening) the final started and Rex became BIS 4 open, Brizna became BIS 3 youth class and BIS 4 total. After the finals the hardest moment of the day starts ....... to get all the gifts and dog foods into the car! As always SBLO have managed to get huge sponsoring and gifts from all over the place! I do not know how they do it?  After a while we did get everything into the car without leaving the tired kids or the leftovers from the lunch behind ;-). When I drew back to Angelicas place it was with joy in my hart, tired as the kids, red face because of the sun and still excited over everything that had happen this day. Tack you, SBLO, for once again a nice show with great arrangement!  

2009-05-03 Remember thinking - it can not be true - when the clock started to ring. Time to get up for breakfast. I do not know what went wrong, but we did get there late and the breakfast where nothing but a moment of stress - we could hardly get anything in us. Back to the cabin with only feeling of stress. We decided to take just one trip to the car and we actually succeeded to bring all stuff and the dogs at once. Of the ferry and to the central station to leave Angelica for her train back to the archery-gymnasium. Thank you sweetheart for the company during this trip! I went to Älvsjö, refilled gas and water, bought a cup of coffee at Mc Donald's (also better tasting then on the ferry) and drank it while walking the dogs. Went to my mother at Stallarholmen, left the wine they wanted (hope you liked them) refilled water, had breakfast while watching Rex and Raika play. I was home in the afternoon that day. Stopped once to refill water but the trip went ok except for the fact that I felt very tired..... wonder why?....... I felt to sleep right after dinner this evening and Raika and Rex did  too ;-)

2009-05-02 Up before the rooster (it felt like anyway) for breakfast. It was so much people! That early?! - then we realized that it actually where very late for some of them..... well ... yes, directly from the dance floor (still drunk most of them) to eat something before going to bed it seemed.. sough... We had window table and it looks like a promising sunny day a head. It was so beautiful and we forgot the time looking at the nice nature passing by outside. Suddenly we saw the port - had to run to the cabin and get the dogs, down to the car and up again for the rest of the stuff, down to the car again and now it was standing total alone at the car deck! Of the ferry and towards Helsinki.

How far we had driven when the instrument for the car temperature went up high, I do not know but it was about 1- 1,5 hour. I stopped at the highway side and turned the warning lights on......  to discover they DID NOT work!!!! They just made a terrible sound and the only "thing" blinking was the lightening coming out of my eyes thinking of my husband in that moment. Anyhow..... open the hood and refilled water started again and drove to the nearest gas station where we refilled water and also refilled all the bottles and dog-bowls as well....... just in case of.... Standing there refilling I looked up and just beside the woods I saw a dog yard! how about that! perfect - always a meaning to everything =) Raika and Rex loved coming out and run around playing in the yard for a bit.

The sun has made the day very warm already (despite the early hour) and it would probably get even warmer during the day so we bought a lot for us to drink before starting towards the test area again. After a while it was time to leave the highway for the smaller roads. It became trickier to follow the roadmap and after a while I got the feeling we where probably lost, went back a few km to the nearest gas station I remember seeing. Refilled water (believe it or not!) and asked for the road .... it turned out we where not lost at all. About 8 km after the spot we turned around was the location of the club!!!! So we went back and it was no problem finding it. We also find a nice spot under a lot of trees where I could back up the car to get shadow for a long time! We took a walk with the dogs and while I went to the test field to look at other dogs getting tested Angelica stayed in the car to sleep ...strange... the youth seems to have no strength anymore.... I felt very alert! ;-)

Sari and Marjaana came to the club with a basket full of coffee, coffee bread and pizza. They came just in time for Rex to enter the test. I went to the car to get him, but when we came back they had changed their minds and wanted lunch before Rex. Instead we sat down and had marvelous coffee - I needed that for sure, the one you get on the ferry is NOT to recommend - this was strong and good. Sitting there in the sun talking about everything between heaven and earth enjoying every minute ..... they called out for Rex... right that is the reason for being here..... First control of the ear-tattoo and he got a new collar that was very tight around his neck..... poor boy.... Out on the field for contact/accessibility and trough and play - no problem at all! He loves to trough and play. His reactions towards the sledge was nothing. He waited for it to come close enough and walked up to exam it.

Threat number 1 was no threat for Rex - he wanted the stick the judge used to threat him and me with when she came at us screaming - so when the judge was close enough he jumped up and took it! He he... this is mine he said.

The overall (at this track a big black plastic bag) was a bit unhappy for Rex. The bag is laying on the ground and when you and the dog passes by it will swish up and drop down. But Rex went up to it to check it out and swish - up it went and down again. He made a short stop and it was over! First I thought it hit him, but it did not. The barrow is coming down, from behind,  rolling from a ramp - like a skate-board ramp. Rex jumped up and down beside it like this I want to play with!! (What did he think? The biggest ball ever?) hm.... crazy!

Time for the dark-room (at this track a container). It is very crowdie inside. A tarpaulin is at the floor to make it slippery and to make sound when the dog walks/runs over it. Wood boxes everywhere and a lot of lumber here and there. They also built up on height so the dog can not stand on the back legs to try to se over everything where the owner is. In the end of the container, in the left corner stood a chair for me to sit on. The space where not bigger than the chair to fit in! The dog have to go like a L to get to the owner. When Rex entered the container and they closed the door it became very dark inside, they dropped concrete plates at the floor and it made so much noise it started to "ring" in my ears. Instead of using his nose Rex tried to find me by turning his head from side to side and listen..... (eh.. and he is suppose to be a seek-dog.....). Suddenly he realized where I was sitting (probably used his nose) and he jumped (!) over all the stuff and ended up in my lap! He was so trilled over the fact he found me there!!! The judge started to laugh at him.

Time for the wall and threat 2. You put the dog in a short - and I mean short - leash towards a wall (look at the photo) and leave the aria for threat 2 to start. When the judge put the stick away he will go up to the dog to address it. It was no problem for Rex and the judge told me he thought of Rex to be a great personal-seek dog while he has low sharpness without any remaining. Then it was time for the shooting. Afterwards the judge said that maybe he saw a little straw on Rex ear that might moved, but it was probably the wind while nothing else on Rex were moving!..... he laugh and said that Rex probably could not hear nothing. He got 248 points out of 300 possible! I have been told that it is the highest score on Laekenois in Finland and Rex is now sharing it with his uncle: Vajert Xplosive! WOW! Two males with the same score and both form our breeding! That makes us proud!

Then it was Raika's turn. First control of the earmark and THAT is not easy to do on her because she can not be still with the head....... She just needs to give kisses or try to sit in the lap on the one looking...... Out on the field for contact/accessibility and trough and play - no problem for her. I already know that Raika got more sharpness than Rex and it showed in the trough and play part. She pulled, backed, pulled and growled and did not let go even though the judge hold her hand over Raika's eyes. I will not let go she said, I want it - and got her trope´ =)

Her reactions towards the sledge was very interesting. She jumped towards it barking (attacks) - remembered that she is not allowed to bark at "things" we are meeting on our walks, so she turned at me like "Sorry mum, forgot"  - just to realize I did not say anything and then she did a new attack towards the sledge that still was coming towards us -  remembered again, turned to me, no reaction from me, back to the attacks and this she did until the sledge was close enough then she went around and up to it to check it out. She lifted up the cans inside and nabbed a bit in the hat .... hahaha....

Threat number 1 was harder for Raika. She did stand up at first but, in different from Rex, Raika did se it as a threat and backed of when the judge came closer. So he dropped the stick and came over to address her friendly. Well that was no problem. The overall was a bit unhappy for her as for Rex. Raika went up to it to check it out (stupid curious dogs .....lol...) and up it went touch her at her right front pawl and she got very surprised and off course a bit scared - jumped of, over a small fence that felt down, went around it just to come back to the overall to check it out! Good girl - very nice done. The barrow was strange and she walked backwards to se where it was going - scared? No, not a bit! In the dark-room she was much faster finding me than Rex! She - smart as she is - started to track in the darkness after me!

By the wall and threat number 2 she once again shown that she has more sharpness in her than Rex, but without any remaining aggressiveness, so it was no problem for the judge to address her when the threats was over. Nice!

She reacted as much as Rex by the shooting - that is - none at all! 169 points was the result and I am so happy. Good work girl! The judges were very impressed over their ways, their openness and willingness to trough and also over how fast they got over what happen (their quick off reactions). I got a lots of nice comments about them.

After the test we sat down on the grass to eat homemade frozen pizza ...... it is true! It was still frozen but that did not mater at all. We sliced it up and let the peaces lay into the sun and when they where more cold than frozen we ate them and they tasted very nice! Before we went back to Turku we refilled ... yes, right... water and brake oil (!). We stopped on the way to go to the ladies room and a quick look into the mirror told me that the sun has given a nice  tone to the face today. =9 ... and yes, we did refill the water too.

With the dogs and all other stuff in the cabin we went to eat dinner. None of us felt any hunger until the smell of food reached us! We sat at the table within the window for 1,5 hour enjoying the sunset and the nature while we ate. And, hand on the heart, we had to much!!! Boy did it taste good or what!?! After dinner we went for shopping and later to the bar and the dance floor, but none of us had the strength left to do anything else but watch the others at the floor. We fell to sleep without problem this evening - just to wake up every time Raika barked because someone passed outside our door and accidently fell on it or put a hand on the door because of the roundness under the shoes........ it happen four times during the night..... grrrrrr.......

2009-05-01 As usual when we are going some ware things start to happen. This time with no exception! Late last night, when Göte picked up the girls from a disco, the car engine almost started to boil for him. He stopped and discovered that the engine was leaking water. He refilled and drew home. This morning when we open the hood we discovered that the water was all gone again. Oh no, Not today when I, Angelica, Rex and Raika are on our way to Finland for the big mentally-test there!!! What to do? Well we filled as many bottles we could with water and packed the car full. Refilled the engine and started our drive.

Why think the thought that it could be a better idea to cancel the trip not to risk been standing between the home and the ferry or even worse somewhere on the roads in Finland........

In Arboga we refilled petrol, water and brake oil (!) At my mothers place in Stallarholmen while Rex and Raika played at her yard we refilled water - half of it was then already gone - and more brake oil (!) hm..... we had a very nice dinner and time in the sun. Rex did his best to make my aunty trough the rug for him - or the ball - over and over again. He dropped the toy into her lap several of times or dropped the hard ball on her feet jumping backwards while waiting for her to through it..... Crazy boy!

Their Viking-boat is almost ready to put into the lake now. Boy it smell good with tar and hopefully it will not take so much water in like last year.

Time to drive further to Stockholm and the ferry.

In Älvsjö we refilled petrol and water..... you are starting to get the grip now eh...... this refill water thing will be a serial! Took the dogs for a walk and than drew the last bit to the terminal. Took some photos while waiting for check-in.... and are standing as number four in the line... well.... the only line that was not open this evening it turned out!!! Behind us the other cars started to change lines and we just thought it was typical stressed people afraid they ferry would leave without them..... after a while we realized that it would probably not come any personal to open this line so we did like the other before us. 

We got a very nice cabin located at a good place for the dogs. After second time to the car for the last things we where rather tired in the legs. Went up on deck and just enjoyed the sunset! while leaving Stockholm behind us.

We had a sandwich and coffee (terrible taste at the ferry) and went to the cabin to change for some party-time... Very late, after a walk with the dogs at the deck, we went to bed for a few hours sleep.  =)

APRIL

2009-04-20 The Easter holiday is now over and the "normal" routines have started again. During the holiday we took Gaïa and Raika for tracking-training, Brizna for finding things- training (do not know the correct word for it) and Rex for seek-training. The did great all of them and we had a great time and lovely spring weather!

Gaïa proved once again that she is a terrific tracker-dog. Raika is a good tracker in the woods, but now when we are training on open area she has problem with the wind AND the fact that it is candy in the track.... lol.  (We do not learn tracking with candy when training for Swedish tracks.)

MARCH

2008-03-27 Susanne and Joachim came yesterday to bring  Daphne home again... we misses her so much all ready!

The ultrasound made the 25 of Marsh showed she was empty - we had our thoughts she could be even though she has shown signs of pregnancy, but as we know now it was not the fact. The 5th of July she will turn 5 years of age and will then total belong to Susanne according to the breeding terms. That means I can not do a re-mating between Daphne and Hakon!  BUT - Susanne and Joachim have talked this over and made up their minds, so when they came they had a little surprise to me...... No, they will not let me use Daphne again, but they want to give me a female puppy after her when they take a litter..... and I will have the first choice as well =)
THANK - sweet, kind and caring - YOU!  for thinking of me in this situation - I am so happy you will give me a puppy because it means I will not loose this line after all.

So the future then..... well Raika will be mated on her next heat (July 2009). That was all ready planed before this all happen, but now I have to do the choice between the males I have been looking at......  After that I have to take some time to re-plan my future breeding. 

2009-03-10 When I came home this morning, after leaving Stephanie at the daycare, Daphne did not wait for me inside as she use to. She was still sleeping! Gave her breakfast and she did eat, but I did get the same feeling as last night, eating just because I am looking at her. After breakfast we went outside for our walk and what did she do? She went out on the lawn and brought up the whole breakfast!! Am I still imaging or......

Called the vet. and got an appointment the 25th of March - then we know for sure..... 

2009-03-09 This morning it actually seemed like Daphne had hard time eaten her breakfast.

It was a marvelous nice weather outside so after our long walk I grabbed the camera and took some photos of her. In the evening she ate with no hunger again ..... did get the feeling she is eating because I am looking at her.....

Could it be she is pregnant or is it just me hoping so much I think I see all signs that can be......?

 

FEBRUARY

2009-02-26 We want to say THANK YOU to Sari and Hannu, Esa and Maarit and off course one extra thank you to Kirsi and Toumo with families that made our trip fulfilled with great food and memories to take home with us and remember by heart! Now we keep fingers crossed Hakon and Daphne will be parents in end of April.

2009-02-24 Home going day =(.

Kati came over with Fata Morgana to visit. A lovely female I played a lot with in the snow. We went inside for coffee and talked a lot about breeding, mating, brining up, mentally and training and the time flew by. Packed the car to drive down to the ferry in Helsinki. After left our things in the cabin we went for shopping. Time for a ice-cold trip with Daphne and dinner. It was a bit windy going home and you could feel it in the boat..... We went to bed rather early but I had hard time sleep this night.

2009-02-23 Today we went to the vet. to take a progesterone-test on Daphne. We moved our trip home from tonight to tomorrow incase of...... Now we are waiting for the result. The test came back this afternoon and the matingtime for Daphne is over.... Now we have to keep finger crossed they will be parents in end of April. Today Sari made a soup of potatoes, vegetables, deer-meat and greenmouldcheese. To desert we hade a marvelous appel-cake. I was thinking to stick around longer - just for the food..... ;) In the evening we sat down talking with a nice wine in the glasses.

2009-02-22 Today we went home to Hakon and his family for new mating-date =) The sun was shining and the children where outside playing in the snow. Inside the stove on the wood (literally inside) a homemade pea soup was bubble. It was one of the best i ever had and with the coffee afterwards we had semla (cream bun eaten during Lent) ala Finland. Not like ours (A Swedish bun from the beginning) but tasty. Jennifer is a bit afraid this trip has made her gain weight!!! hahahaha.....

2009-02-21 What a day!!! This became a day I will late forget - if ever! It has been a longtime dream for me to go dog sledding and during the contacts with Sari I mention it when she told me her family where on the way up to Lapland to dog sled. She also said she has close friends whom are training and competing in sled-driving. When she came home she sent me photos of their trip and I was total drawling over the photos...... jealous?.....well ok, yes.... some....I admit......

Then the day before going to Finland for the mating Sari told me she had arranged, with her friends, for us to go dog sledding after Huskies! WOW!

When we came to the forest and the camp we where at least as exited as the dogs - we for have been given this chance and they for pullingtime! It was snowing and now and then the sun came trough! One incredible winter day in head of us. Before takeoff the dogs are so exited - barking, jumping up and down trying to pull the sled themselves and anxious to take of - wise to have the sled tied up at the car. Then you let the tie off and give them start command and "off they go" - total silence! Like pushing a but! Even the dogs left at the camp went total silence!!   

Sitting there in the sled with only the sound of the wind, the runners sound towards the snow and the dogs breading - time seemed to stop - I just waited for a big moose to came out of the forest looking at us wondering what kind of strange thing we where..... (but there where no moose instead the sun came trough the trees) The feeling to be closer towards nature than ever before was tremendous! The left back dog put out his tong and draw it against a wall of snow making a strange hole-line along the side - he was drinking! The others took up some snow now and then in same purpose - get ride of the thirst - without slowing down the speed!

When we came back to the camp I was total exhilarated. They switch the two dogs closest to the sled (the strongest one) for two that had not yet pulled and it was Jennifers turn to go. In mean time we went inside, refilled the wood and Sari started to heat up the food we had taken with us for lunch.

While we stood with the dogs in the camp discussing breeding, how to choose a probably leader in a litter and so on - we heard the dogs coming back with Jennifer and went out to the road to meet them...... she was laying down in the sled! hahaha.... it turned out that she had slide down bit by bit every time the sled went over the bumps until she was total laying down..... unfortunately her drive was a bit shorter than the rest of us because she could not keep her hands warm despite the gloves, so Tuomo took a shorter track for her to get inside to warm up. Jennifer hands were total red - poor girl.

Next highlight of the day came! Kirsi took of 4 dogs from the sled down to 4 and also changed the top male with one of her best top females that had not yet pulled and at the same time she tells me that I, MOI, ME was the one going to drive the sled. I can not tell you how fun it was and a little bit scary in the forest, but Kirsi said I was a good driver and should have had 6 dogs instead of 4! Am I proud or what?!!
After the sled rides we went into the cabin to eat a lovely lasagna, salad, and a special cheesebread from Lapland (like a cheesecake) with cloudberry jam on and good red wine along with it. To the coffee we had lemon mousse - al made by Sari. BOY it tasted good!!
The time goes to fast when you enjoy yourself and we had to go home to Sari to wait for Hakon with family to come. After a lots of hugs and a millions thanks we had to brake loose the little spits, that Jennifer felt in love with, from her arms and almost drag her to the car! A THOUSAND MILLION TANK YOU to Kirsi and Tuomo with dogs for letting us come and sled, and tank you for the new invitation - we will accept it for sure. =) Good luck with your sled-competitions during the year! 

In the afternoon Hakon with family came over to us. It is very nice to se that Hakon and Daphne really likes each other as much as they seems to do =9. They looks great together. They played a lot between the "acts" today. Suddenly one of the Rottweilers at the neighbors started to howl.... optimal day? Total exhausted after everything that had happen this day it was no problem felling to sleep. I probably had a smile all over the face the whole night!

2009-02-20 After a nice breakfast we loaded the car and went of the ferry going to Hamina and the first date with Hakon. So exited to se how they will like each other. In Hamina we stopped to ask an older couple of the road the last bit. I had this feeling that I should have taken right instead of going straight forward, but was not sure - better to ask someone I thought and on a parking lot outside a store we found this couple. None of them could speak English, so they could not show the the way and tied in Finnish.... NOT a language of mine....but I did understand so much that we where rather close and it was a bit tricky the last bit. Their is one language that works all over the world - body language - so the man showed with his body he should go first and we should follow him. It was not long to the right road, but he turned left instead of right and when he turned the car around right wheal got stuck in the snow half down into the ditch!!!!! We went out of our car and went over to them to try to help them push the car back up on the road again - easier said than done in the snow. His wife took a branch and tried to "lift" the front of the car with it..... hm.. well.... I asked for it and put it behind/under the spinning wheel. Two push and the car was back up on the road again! Just 200-300 meter in right direction we found Hakons house. We says Kitos (Thank you in Finnish) to the cople. Hakon went from boy to a man and afterwards we had a tremendous tasty dinner of moos and smashed potatoes and salad. For dessert Maarit had made a cake with lemon taste and cloudberry on top - Yummy! Daphne and Hakon had a new dating time before we went home to Sari in the evening.  

2009-02-19 In Stockholm to take the ferry to Finland. We had a great time at the ferry with good food and a lot of fun. I was hoping to been able to update the blog every day, but it turned out my wireless internet did not work on the ferry and not in Finland either!?! Well you have to wait to read it until we are home again then =) 

2009-02-08 Today we celebrate Cassandra on her 7 birthday! She has counted down the days since Christmas so today she is very happy.   

..... and finally Daphne started her heat!! So - Finland and Hakon - the 19th of February we come!   YEAH!

JANUARY

2009-01-24 To walk the dogs is playing with life now days. The nature is offering ice - no snow at all - just stormy weather and ice to walk on. Even the dogs seems to understand to be careful - they are taking it much calmer then they usually do. Let us hope we will not have a reply of the strange winter last year - the snow came at Easter! Usually the Easter means the spring its on its way but last year....?...... well the kids loved it! Now we want the spring to come for sure - instead of this grey, windy and dark weather .......... and of course for Daphne to finally start her heat.....

2009-01-19 Things are happening in the Laekenois world that gives us cold shivers down our backs...... Not enough with the tragic death of Izor (shivering) now the news about the death of Sunred´s Bamse (the photo) reached us. His owner found him dead on the floor! A young male that "just" sleeps in?! The cause of death is still unknown. Our thoughts goes to his breeder and owner Sören with family in Denmark. 

Now it is enough! Now it must stop, no more sad news for a while. We want some happiness, joy and good news for a change and we want it to start right away and go on for a loooooong time.

Got new photos of Missy from her new owners, Janne & Helene, and boy did they come in right time! THANK YOU so much - they are lovely and I just had to put one of them up at the start site.  

And so, Daphne, we are waiting for you to start your heat - please do ... soon - so we can go to Hakon and all the others that are waiting for us to come to Finland!

2009-01-12 Optimal day and new mating =) Hopefully Mary at kennel Pokénas (Sweden) will have a lot to do from the 15-16th of Mars - we cross our fingers it will be a "gang" of pups in the house then! (Pedigree-here!) Even... well he seems to not have any contact with the earth somehow...... hahahaha walking among pink clouds.....?

2009-01-10 & 11 Ok, none of them can clamed they are virgins anymore..... ;) ....  Evens and Xena are mated! You can find information about both dogs at this site. Even and KBHV-07 Xena.

2009-01-01 The plans for 2009 are, among other tings, 3 trips to Finland. The first to mate Daphne and boy do I long for the smell of puppies again?! Can hardly wait for the day they are here....

The second trip will be with Rex, Raika and Gaïa.... so excited and is already crossing my fingers for their results. (hope, hope, hope) The third trip is to Nordic Winner Show 2009 in - hopefully- in the end of the year.

I will also go to IPO camp with Raika this year. We where suppose to go last year but, as always it feels, things got in the way and spoiled that plan for sure.... grrrr... This year I do hope nothing will stand in the way for us to go.

I also hope 2009 to be a competition year. Have plans to start in obedient, tracking and hopefully also personals-seek with Rex.

It is one thing to have hopes, dreams and wishes and an other to make them come true. I know a lot of things can happen during a year in the "dog world " and within the family. Only the end of the year 2009 will have the answered.

Wish for all of you a great 2009 what ever you do with your dogs!