A souvenir from Finland

Well it was a whirlwind trip to Finland, I arrived late Saturday and checked straight into airport hotel for well needed sleep as it would be an early start for the show,  so it was a pleasant surprise to be upgraded at the Holiday Inn to an executive suite - though with my stay there only being around 7.5 hours  and most of that for sleeping I couldn't get much benefit from it!  - Nina and Harri then kindly picked me up to visit the show at Kotka, where the weather was bright and sunny - but boy was it cold, -6C without wind chill, which they said took it over -10, great for the dogs.

It was lovely watching so many nice dogs - and lovely to see Fihtolas Qumina take Best bitch and Lecibsin Sappa BIS.  My photos of the day are not great - but lucky for me Harri took some lovely ones.

Then a quick get away from the show to drive north - to rendezvous with Jukka Kuusisto to pick up a souvenir!

Meet Lecibsin Ukas to Elbereth, a 13 month old boy - who we are delighted has joined us, and a huge thank you to Jukka for letting me twist his arm, and let Uka come to UK and to Nina and Harri for helping me with the whole trip/planning etc. Uka is already hip scored and eye tested (pra carrier) and has the sweetest of nature and lovely sensible character, taking the transition from his home at Lecibsin to a stop over at Nina's, and then the long trip here in his stride, Halla and he are already the best of friends.

He has a super pedigree, and is a strong built boy with super movement, below are some super natural photos taken in Finland by Harri.  We are delighted he is here safely and his first night went better than I could have ever expected showing his fabulous temperament - and that of course of Matkamies.  I hope to mate Uka with Shacal Reilu Peli this spring/summer.

Crufts 2016

Well what a show - a thrilling, amazing day at Crufts 2016.  With Matkamies taking BOB back in 2015 it was going to be a hard act to follow.

Elbereth Valkotassu

It started in Post Graduate dog  - I had honour of handling Gemma & Rob's Elbereth Valkotassu - as Gemma is a little too close to the arrival of their baby to be running around the ring - and from a class of 12 dogs  - Tassu was placed 1st, he was so good, showing beautifully for me, and I came out of the ring to a jubilant and very emotional Gemma.  Rob captured their lovely boy on camera.

 In open it was the turn of Multi Ch Elbereth Matkamies ShCM who was second behind one of the top winning dogs from Finland.

Then onto the bitches, where in the veteran bitch class Kia was second, Suvi 4th and Apina VHC, then Tilkkuturkin Hallantuoma to Elbereth JW won the Junior bitch class, and Elbereth Kaikki Meille Allforus won a huge post graduate bitch class of 19 with owner Caron Bell.

Then it was the turn of Elbereth Pelinainen JW who won the strong Limit bitch class, with her best buddy Elbereth Suvituuli taking second in the Good citizen class.

So for the bitch challenge - I was delighted to see three half sisters standing proudly and competing for the bitch CC.  Then over the moon when best bitch was awarded to Pelinainen, and res BB to Hallantuoma.  Peli's second CC and Halla's 4th Res CC.

Then it was the challenge for BOB and we were head to head with the lovely Marymead Muskateer, and so it was a very emotional moment for me, when our judge, Miss Eliina Haapaniemi from Finland awarded BOB to the young (2 year old) Pelinainen, not sure who was more over the moon, owners, Barry & Angela or me!

Especially significant for me is that my four first placed dog/bitches are all sired by the UK's number one dog - Matkamies, from each of his three UK litter and his litter in Finland.

Elbereth Pelinainen JW

Ruth Dalrymple/ The Kennel Club ©

Photo by Yulia Titovets

OnEdition/The Kennel Club ©

Not just for puppies

Had a few moments to updated blog with some pictures of some of the older Elbereth Lapphunds:)

Elbereth Taika AW

First pictured is Elbereth Taika AW, the first and only Finnish Lapphund to date to gain her agility warrant, Magic as she is known to her friends was bred from the very special millennium litter, Fin Ch Lumiturpa Nörri x WW02 Sulyka Mischa at Elbereth, she is pictured at just over 13.5 years of age!

Elbereth Jarkko

Then we have the handsome Elbereth Jarkko, a few months off his 11th birthday.  He was bred from the all Finnish combination of Fin Ch Staalon Lapinjoiku x Fin/Belg Ch Lumiturpa Pigga at Elbereth.  Such a softy, who recently gained his bronze good citizen award.

Elbereth Norppa

Elbereth Tuula

Two litter mates feature next, wolf sables, Elbereth Tuula (bitch) and Elbereth Norppa (dog). They are out of Pigga and by the lovely Int/Fin Ch Lecibin Hapmi who we were fortunate to have stay with us for a couple of years. 

Every bit the softy, Hapmi captured hearts of many and he left a great legacy of some quality dogs with his superb temperament.

Norppa was successfully shown as  a youngster - and his greatest achievement was BOB at Crufts 2008.  Now neutered and retired.  The pair are 8 years old in these pictures.

Elbereth Myssy joins Bridus

In 2011 we imported Lumiturpa Mamman Mamo in whelp to Lecibsin Kepponen, as yet another litter "made in Finland", pictured are sister and brother Myssy and Tuuri. 





Elbereth Tuuri (photo by AHP photography)



Elbereth Keijo

Multi Champion Elbereth Matkamies ShCM is a well known show dog, and now he is proving to be a good sire, with puppies from his first litter (to Elbereth Penikka) now maturing into impressive dogs/bitches.  Elbereth Miskakarhu recently won his JW and sister Suvituuli has won a number of Best bitch and even a BOB in 2013.  Featured here is one of their brothers, Elbereth Keijo.




Elbereth Keijo

 

Elbereth Pikkuinen

The baby puppies will be undertaking their puppy career in 2014, Matkamies' second litter are to Elbereth Tiia, son E Matti won Best puppy on his debut, pictured here are Pikku (bitch) at 4 months and Tassu (dog) at 6 months. Otso at 6 months and Matti and Helmi at 3 months.

Elbereth Maanantain Otso



Elbereth Valkotassu



Elbereth Helmi



Elbereth Matti

Five weeks - and we get outside

Finally there has been a break in the weather and the puppies are now getting regular visits outside.  It is funny because at first the big wide world is so scary they want to come in, but once they realise they can run about and frolic/play in the bigger place, then they don't want to come in!  A couple of organised escape plans were put into action to get out of the puppy pen, so have had to resort to more cable ties to secure the panels!  Wednesday the weather was very kind, so plenty of outside fresh air, and now they are very peaceful in doors as Zoomies are outside, plus as a bonus all the poos have been outside.  At moment energy levels of a five week pup are such that they sleep for 2 hours, then run about for 15 mins, then back to sleep for 2 hours etc Plus now eating 4 hearty proper food meals a day with top ups from Tullu.

Managed some quick head shots outside

Lightening

Tanny

Triangle

Creamy

Dotcom

Tullu puppies at 4 weeks

As I weighed these I was rather surprised by their weights, and quickly checked back to the last two litters, to see that yes these are a hefty lot!  Bigger than Tia's five or Penikka's seven.  Probably as a direct result of them all really taking to real food.  The temptation of some ground chicken mixed with lactol got their heads in the food bowl, and soon after they were happy to try anything softened.  Now at 4 weeks they all have little set of teeth - so are happy to try a little firmer kibble.  Four good meals a day - plus their mum on tap is definitely showing on the scales!

They are now very people orientated - with such adorable waggy tails!  Trouble is now changing newspaper in their pen is such a game as far as they are concerned - and really I could do without their help!

With the weather being so bad and the ground so wet they have not ventured outside yet - but fingers crossed we can get the outdoor pen up this weekend and start the exposure to outside and some house-training.

We were very lucky this week (well you are!) as Pia and Thomas popped over to get some stunning photos.  We did have to wake some up and they were not terribly cooperative - you will easily spot who I mean!  But am sure you will agree these are lovely shots.  (don't forget you can view bigger pictures by clicking on the thumbnails).

Lightening
(Wolf sable bitch)

Tanny
(wolf sable bitch)

Triangle
(wolf sable bitch)

Creamy
(cream ?w/s dog)

Dot.com
(wolf sable dog)

Diamond
(tricolour bitch)

Then we did some candid shots - using a reindeer pelt

Tullu Puppies at Three Weeks

This week sees major development changes, the puppies are now more active, walking, playing, making a noise! and endearingly wagging their tails!  I have also started them on softened food and as ever with Lapphund pups they took to it immediately, greedy for semi solid food.  They now look more like puppies than otters!

Cutting their nails is now harder as they wriggle a lot more, and they were quite wriggly for these pictures!

Lightening

Tanny

Triangle

Creamy

Dot.Com

Diamond