Fin Ch/Belg Ch Lumiturpa Pigga at Elbereth 29/8/1998 to 11/9/2014

I had always hoped Pigga would last forever, in fact often joked that as she was such a calm bitch who lived life at "Pigga pace", she was conserving her energy to live to a record age, but sadly she left as at the very ripe old age of sixteen years.  

first day

Pigga joined us on 30th January 2003, I had seen her in Finland as a youngster and wanted to buy her - but she was not for sale, so I was very fortunate when on a trip in 2002 I managed to persuade Matti & Riitta to let me "borrow" her for a litter, to help increase the gene pool here in UK.  So it was planned and we mated her with Fin Ch Staalon Lapinjoiku and her flight was booked.  I can remember that evening like it was yesterday - as I left home to drive to meet her at Heathrow it started to snow, just a little covering of a couple of inches, but when I arrived at the cargo centre I was informed that the snow and more importantly the ice on the runways/standings meant her plane had not even landed yet - even though it had been expected some 1.5 hours before.  I waited and waited - as three hours passed it was suggested I went home, but I dare not because of the snow, not wanting to drive more than I had to.  Then it was announced that as the plane had been circling the Heathrow airspace for so long it was going to have to go to Gatwick to be refuelled, but it would not be unloaded there.  So I waited and waited, drinking a number of those vending machine hot chocolates to keep me warm in the drafty cargo office!  I was really stressing how Pigga would be coping in the confines of her flight crate in the hold of the plane for over 10 hours, and of course she was (we hoped)in early stages of pregnancy.  When midnight came and she was finally landed and was released from the box, I truly expected her to be very stressed and messy, from such a long flight.  But this was Pigga we were talking about, she was fine!  She jumped into my car - we drove home carefully, and then I let her into the house, she walked straight into living room, laid down and said  "yes this will do nicely"  not a peep was heard from her, and from the next day it was like she had always lived with us.

Her litter was born, six puppies, 5 boys and the one girl, and we realised that we could not bear to send her home, so negotiations started - and we were very lucky that Matti & Riitta agreed she could stay in UK.  She had a limited show career - adding her Belgian Title and Brussels 03 winner title to her Finnish crown, but she was notoriously lazy and really did not get the point of showing off she was much more suited to being a lady of leisure at home, taking advantage of all creature comforts.

Pigga was a very gentle girl, I can honestly say I never heard her growl, she was very friendly and loved humans, and was happy to get on with any dog she met.  Once you met her you just had to love her, and she was so happy to share her affection about, she would go and stay with anyone - and was adopted by a number of lonely campers over the years on holidays, from young Josh & Phillip to not so young Steve and Andy, the latter even had T-Shirts printed with the slogan "I've slept with the Pigga-la- la". She was well known for pawing at you as she sat by your side - thriving on human attention.

 A great brood bitch, she had three special litters here in UK, to add to the two she had in Finland, and from her kids in Finland she has had significant impact - and she is behind a number of our more recent UK imports - albeit a few generations back and those in other countries!  Her second UK litter in 2004 was 6 girls and 1 boy (redressing the balance a little, sired by Elbereth Runo in Bernavia, and her last litter was born in August 2005 - to the very handsome Hapmi, again six puppies.

If you met her you loved her - fact!

Run free - Pigga

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