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What a Handsome Boy ~
Fauni and Dog Shows
When I was a
puppy, Mum used to get very strange almost daily. Every now and then
on our walks, she changed my normal collar into a thin one and started
to run up and down and round and round. I followed her - what else was
there for me to do. Besides, it was fun! I liked it so much that I used
to jump up and down, up and down. Mum didn't find that too funny and kept
telling me off, but I remembered it only for a round or two. Quite often
we had those running sessions with Veera and her Mum. The more, the merrier,
you know: usually our Mums ended up laughing at us - and we ended up getting
wild.
One day we sat in a car for a couple of hours. When we got out, there were hundreds of other dogs. I got a little nervous. But then we saw Hilkka and some of my dog friends, and I got really glad. Dog shows are ok! Suddenly Mum took the thin collar out from her bag and took me into the ring. Oh, this is why we have done those silly rehearsals! 'Be a handsome boy now', Mum whispered to me - and a handsome boy I became. I stood like a statue (Hilkka has taught me that when I still lived with her) and to Mum's surprise, when we started running, I didn't jump at all but trotted beautifully!
"Oh,
how the time flies!" sighed Mum in Midsummer 2004. That was my 7th birthday!
She told me that it means something special, at least what comes to our
show trips to Sweden. I became a Veteran! Hmmm, one might argue with that,
I don't really feel any different, quite opposite. But obviously
it means at least that if I'm handsome and beautiful enough, I get to show
my lovely movements to other dogs than just salukis, in a very big ring,
where there is really enough space to enjoy? That was the impression I got,
when we visited Gällivare on the Midsummer day. Photos
on this page: Pirjo Puttonen, Hanna Koski, Heli Perkkiö and Harri Alaperä |
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Mum kept telling me that I had to know how to run beautifully when
we go to a dog-show. I didn't quite get what she meant. I already knew
how to run beautifully: beautifully means FAST! But boy, was I wrong...
Today, though I've lately concentrated more on lure coursing, I have been
to many shows, also abroad. Seeing Saluki girls is the best thing shows give
to me, but whenever we enter the ring, I forget everything else and concentrate
on being handsome. That's why Mum says that I am a real show man. When you
try hard enough, you will be rewarded.