Finally I found enough time & energy to do some updates...

Our summer didn't go quite the way we had thought. Joose got prostate problems in May and was given some hormone shots that, according to the Finnish Kennel Club's anti-doping rules, prevented him from taking part in any official show or coursing/racing competition during the summer. So we had to say goodbye to the shows and competitions we had planned to attend with him, starting from SA-FA specialty show in June. In september Joose was castrated as the shots didn't help the problem. Luckily the good news is that now he's doing great and is again full of energy!

But we still have some news that could have been updated a bit more promptly...

Joose's daughter Sherry won the working class at SA-FA specialty, judged by Ms Colleen Khoury ("Quom") from Australia. Second in the class was her sister Wilma. Well done, girls! Their brother Weeti was also shown, but he wasn't placed in the champion class this time.

Sherry got other good results during the summer, too:
- 5th Best Bitch with CAC-quality points (434), Tammela Int coursing 27 June
- EX 1 working class Oulu all breed show 12 July. Judge: Mr Fernando Madeira Rodrigues, Portugal
- 1st with new track record (23,50 s / 280 m), Oulu racing 19 July, in HOT weather
- 1st, winner of SA-FA Racing Championships (480 m), Hyvinkää 6 September
- 1st, Helsinki racing competition (480 m) 4 October

And let's not forget Wilma's results either:
- among top 7 out of 24 Open Class bitches, Lövudden spec (Sweden) 12 July. Judge: Jaime Ganoza ("Dega"), Peru
- EX 1 working class Valkeakoski all breed show 23 August. Judge: Zeljko Gajic, Slovenia
- 5th place, SA-FA Coursing Championships, Harjavalta 31 August
- EX 3 working class Lahti spec 1 November, judge Anne Klaas ("Oshanameh's"), Estonia

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Now it's time to wish all our friends Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
See you in 2009! :)
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Goodbye, dear Lillie

17.5.2008

Happy 5th Birthday to Joose's kids Helmi, Martha, Nita, Sherry, Windy, Wilma and Weeti!

And... Congratulations to Wilma who went BOS with CAC in Rauma last weekend! Judge was Zvi Kupferberg from Israel. Well done, Marika!

Wilma

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And... Congratulations also to Windy who received a pretty nice result of 246,5 points in Obedience Winner Class in Vantaa a few weeks ago. Keep up the good work, Marie!

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Joose himself tried something totally new when we entered him to the Finnish Kennel Club's Mental Test. Joose passed the test with 123 points, which - I've understood - is a nice result for an Afghan Hound. But I must say that I am not at all familiar with this test and the scoring, so we just believe what others tell us about Joose's result... ;-)

Joose's results:
Capacity to Function: +1
Tendency to aggressive behavior: +1
Desire for defense action: -1
Desire for fight: -1
Nerves: +1
Temperament: +2
Hardness: +1
Accessibility: +3
Secure to shots: +++

More info about the test can be found here

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We haven't been showing for quite a while, but Nea visited her first official show in April when we went to see Lahti int show. As you can see, she was really interested in knowing who's who in the ring... :)

Nea, 4 months, and Wilma's owner Marika studying the show catalogue

Photo by Marika Leppänen

Our baby girl was born on 27 December
pictured here at the age of 6 days :)

Photo by Geir Kristiansen

Birthday Greetings also to Joose's sisters Goldie, Emma and Elsa
and brothers Arttu and Emil!

I guess at least one show a year is about a must for an Afghan Hound at his best age, so Joose went to his first show this year when we travelled to Sweden to the famous "Skokloster Summer Show" in Mariefred. For some reason this was the first time any of our dogs was entered at this show, earlier years I've been busy showing elsewhere or with some other activities, I guess.  Anyway, now it was time to go and I must say I really don't regret the decision, the whole weekend was a nice experience and worth a visit.

This time the show was rather different for me as I wasn't able to handle my own dog due to a backache that hit me on Saturday morning. So I want to warmly thank Terja Koivumäki for showing Joose both days, you did a great job and saved our weekend!!

As Joose isn't a Swedish Champion, he was shown both days in Open Class together with many well-known International or National Champions from Finland, Denmark/USA, Norway and France and of course some Swedish dogs reaching for their championships.
On Saturday the males were judged by Mr Darko Petreski, breeder of Celestian Afghans from Croatia. He placed Joose 2nd in the Open Class with CC quality-award that gave him a place for the Best Male competition. During the day Mr Petreski entitled only 8 males in total from all the classes to this competition, so I was very proud to notice that by the end of the day Joose was among the 8 best males! Mr Petreski also invited Joose to a special competition of the day for Best Movements.
Sunday's judge was the breeder of Saxonmill Afghans, Ms Roberta Hall from UK. Another nice placement for Joose who this time was 3rd in Open Class, again with CC quality award.

I would like to thank both the judges and our ring side supporters for your glowing comments. Once more special thanks to you Terja for the beautiful handling! It was so nice for once to see my own dog in the ring and enjoy the super co-operation between you two! I let the pictures speak for themselves:

Click here for more pictures!

Today we received a nice letter from the FCI informing us that "the title of International Beauty Champion proposed for your Afghan Hound Nabila's Eyez On Me has been confirmed"!

Joose - now officially Int Ch Nabila's Eyez On Me
 

 

Joose is very proud to announce that his son Weeti (Nabila's Junoesque) completed his Finnish Champion title at the Helsinki Sighthound Club's Specialty under breed specialist Mr Bernard Barjot from France who placed him as 2nd Best Male in top competiton! This was Weeti's first show since June 2006 and what a nice come back he had! Lots of congratulations to owner-handler Tiina Jokinen & family!!!

21 July:
New Finnish Champion
Nabila's Junoesque "Weeti"
Thank you Tuuli Koivumäki for the photo!

... And right after I had published the news above of yesterday's show, I got a message from Weeti's owners telling that he today had won the champion class and again 2nd Best Male at Hyvinkää under Mr Francesco Cochetti from Italy. Congratulations Weeti & owners Tiina and Pekka for a great weekend!! :)

And the next day, again 2nd Best Male
Photo by Pekka Jokinen
 

Let's start from Wednesday 6 June, when Sherry successfully defended her win at the Helsinki Kennel District Championships by winning the competition second year in a row. But she also won the CAC and thus completed her Racing Champion title!!! Congratulations to Sherry and Nina!!! And to make the day even more memorable, Sherry was being filmed for a TV-programme "Häntä pystyyn" (Tail Up). The programme will be shown in Finnish TV channel 4 (Nelonen) at the end of next autumn. Looking forward to that! :)

Getting ready...

Last comments to the camera...

... and ACTION!

And first feelings after the race

Congratulations to Nina and
the New Fin Racing Ch
CVM-06 TS-06 DVR-06 SM-06 JK-06
Nabila's Jet Set Queen!

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But let's not forget the other star of the week! The Finnish National Specialty Show was arranged last Saturday in Helsinki. The judges were Mr Per Lundstrom from Sweden for puppies and juniors and breeder-judge Mr Åge Gjetnes from Norway for other classes. Wilma was entered in the Utility Class and what a day she had! She first won her class and was then placed as "5th Best Bitch" (only 4 are placed officially, but the judge chose 5 bitches to the top final) and won res-CAC, among 56 bitches present! And at the end of the day she was crowned as BIS Utility class dog! Congratulations again to Wilma and owner-handler Marika Leppänen!

Wilma going BIS Utility Class dog at SA-FA Specialty 2007
Photo by Minna-Liisa Kourusuo

And at home after a long show day
Photo by Marika Leppänen

Grandma Lillie and father Joose are very happy and proud! (They were staying at home as I was working as a ring steward.) It was very nice to notice that two Lillie's granddaughters were shown and both with great results: Wilma being among the Top 5 Bitches and "Cara" (Nabila's Love In A Mist, by Lillie's daughter N. Exclusive Kiss) being BOS-puppy! Congratulations also to Cara's owner Tina Salo! :)

Joose's daughter Sherry (CVM-06 TS-06 DVR-06 SM-06 JK-06 Nabila's Jet Set Queen) started her track racing season 2007 with a nice win at the Afghan Hound Club of Finland's Championships in Tampere yesterday. Congratulations Sherry and owner Nina!!

Birthday news...

Joose's kids are turning 4 years old today. Helmi, Martha, Merlin, Nita, Sherry, Weeti, Wilma & Windy: Happy Birthday to each of you!!!

Another #1 placement for Joose's daughters

We are very happy and proud to announce another #1 placement for Joose's daughters:

Sherry is the #1 Track Racing Afghan of the Year 2006 in Finland!!!
She also got the prize for the Newcomer of the Year in Racing.

Wilma, who last year was awarded as #1 Coursing Afghan of 2005,
 was now listed as #3 Utility Afghan of the Year 2006.

Congratulations to Sherry & owner Nina Taskila
and Wilma & owner Marika Leppänen!!!

It's time for birthday cake...

Lillie is celebrating her 9th birthday today!
Lots of greetings to her brother Romppu and sisters Lola and Dusty!