Winner -09 Nordic Winner -09 - Vini resCACIB at both shows

Vini was 2nd best male with reserve CACIB at both shows in Helsinki: Winner 09 and Nordic Winner 09. Thank you judges: Dan Ericsson (Sweden) and Ronald Irving (UK). Filisite Brash Celebration was best male and BOB at both shows and BIS at the Nordic Winner.

Vini's young daughter Quaint Nuez Moscado was BOS with CAC at the Winner 2009 and gained the titles of Junior Winner + Winner 2009.

Vini's daughter BOB at Turku int. show today

Vini's daughter Quaint Nuez Moscado was BOB at Turku int. show today. The show was her first official show and she gained there her first CC. A month ago she was BOS at the unofficial Black & White show. Good start for show career - Congratulations!

Vini playing ball

Vini has been bored when I have been too busy with work. This morning was different. Vini received from Arne (one of my colleagues) many tennis balls and what a joy it was. I threw them away and Vini fetched. Thank you, Arne, you really knew what scottie boys like!

Vini BOB at Black & White -show

We had a wonderful day today at the yearly unofficial Black & White show in Tuusula. Vini was BOB and BIS2 and his daughter Quaint Nuez Moscado BOS and BIS-junior at her very first show - and there were over 30 scotties! The judge was Maren Bichel, from kennel Sir Darnley's, Germany. We are so delighted, thank you Maren!

Vini gathering new experiences

Vini had a luxurious week when I was travelling for work and he could enjoy the company of other people. He had long walks both at home in Espoo and on the coast of Helsinki. He learned to know new play mates (e.g. a giant schnauzer) and slept in new beds and on new sofas, cleaned his beard on new clean carpets and marked his new territory. He also gave a shock to a postman by barking behind the door, but after two nights realised that postmans are normal in a block of flats. He saw things he will not see at home in the suburbs of Espoo.

When I fetched him home this morning, he seemed to be thinking: ok, you are back, let's go then. No overwhelming welcoming. I guess that is what scotties are like. They know that you are there for them - and they are right!

Ups and downs

We have had ups and downs with Vini's training. Yesterday it was the time for downs. Vini has attended a preparatory course for agility and yesterday was the last session.

Vini rushed all-over from one dog to another. He was not concentrating at all. He has never been the best pupil, but this time he was definitely the worst.

After the training I was thinking of what went wrong. After having a thought I realise it now. Vini had not had enough time with me before the training. We had just had a short walk after my work and then rushed to the training.

Learning by doing is our method - or should I say: "learning by doing mistakes". I do hope this method will gain results!

Vini's offspring doing great at shows

Vinis daughter Quaint Macarena was shown the first time at Tervakoski INT show on the 30th of August and was 2nd best bitch with CAC and resCACIB. Congratulations! Her brother Quaint Monty Pous has recently been placed several times in best male competition. Well done both, dad is so proud of you!

Lazy summer days

Vini and I are enjoying the last days of our long holiday. Fortunately weather has been nice and warm. This week we spent a lovely day at a summer cottage by a lake with Lola (Finnish Lapphund). Dogs ran around chasing each other. Vini had a long lead so that he would not escape to chase badgers who lived in the near forest. Last summer he did escape but luckily I catched him before he reached them.

Vini is very much interested in water. He can spend ages leaning towards the surface of a lake. Somehow he manages to know how far he can lean without falling into the water.

Today we had a tour in the South West Finland. Saw beautiful villages, had a coffee with juicy carrot cake in the Fagervik historical village and admired shiny Corvette after another to pass.

Vini's son Quaint Monty Pous BOB in Porvoo

Vini sends his warmest congratulations to his son Quaint Monty Pous who won CAC and was BOB at Porvoo show today. Well done! 

Scottie specialty show

It is a week since the specialty show of the Scottish Terrier Club of Finland. Show is the most important happening for scottie people in Finland and it is every year nice to see so many scotties with their owners. This year show was in a beautiful setting of Aulanko national park close to Hämeenlinna city. In August weather can be unpredictable but this time we had a very sunny and warm day. Under trees it was not too hot.

Our judge was Sue Thomson (kennel Ashgate) from the UK and the entry was almost 70 scotties from puppies to veterans. As usual we had guests from Russia and Estonia, too. In fact, the BOB and BIS was the Russian owned male FI & RU CH V-07,-08 Sansibiliti Spy Who Loved Me who is out of Swedish blood lines (So What Excalibur x Dundee Jeweller's Eye). BOS came from Estonia: FI JV-08 HUN Terrier Club JV-08 EE JCH Marland Tresor out of Swedish and Estonian lines (Raglan Rufus x Marland Say-So). 2nd best male was Sirkiss Sleight Of Hand from junior class, 3rd Lucky Star's Mr. Marlon also from junior class and 4th Gilmoore's Victor Hugo from open class. 2nd best female was Caramia Mariss Of Tinus Baskervilium from open class, 3rd BALT & EE & LV & LT & RU & RO CH, BALT & EE & LV & LT & RO JMVA, BALTJV-08, LVV-08 BALTV-08 Hocline's Obviously Scottish from champion class and 4th Grafity of Bumage again from open class. The biggest classes were junior bitches (12 entries), champion dogs and open bitches (11 entries).

Vini and I spent a lovely day at the show even though I could not relax before having been in the ring with him (with 'excellent' ). I can sympathise new handlers who show their dogs the first time. In Finland owners or breeders usually show their dogs themselves without the help of professional handlers. I vividly remember my first entry in the show ring with my scottie Saku. Saku's hair was far too long and he did not want to move (he usually didn't). I did not know what to do in the ring. Everything went wrong that could go wrong. After having been to hundreds of shows showing my own dogs or as a ring steward I still am nervous before entering a ring.

The club shows are always cosy and relaxed. This year people had the opportunity to stay overnight both before and after the show. It was nice sitting on the terrace and chat about scotties. Not to mention the get-together around a campfire under a full moon.

Photos of the show

Arja & Vini

At home after Europe expedition

We have been at home for two weeks now after 2,5 months travel around Europe (Finland - Germany - Luxembourg - France - UK - Ireland - Switzerland - Italy - Austria - Netherlands - Denmark - Sweden). The journey was lovely, 12 000 kilometres in a camping car full of experiences, lovely landscapes, 9 dog shows in six countries. We enjoyed the company of our friends and their dogs, local cuisine and wine, fresh fruits and vegetables, a lot of sun.

Fascinating about Europe is that European countries are at the same time similar and different from each other. There were differences in behaviour: how people interact with each other, how they treat authorities and regulations and what is their attitude towards dogs. People reflect their culture and history which makes Europeans both challenging and fascinating to understand. Variety of languages is vast. I spoke six languages during the journey but was still unable to communicate with some natives in the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium or Denmark.

At dog shows there were more similarities than differences. Written critiques we received in most countries (but not in the UK or Ireland), judging was pretty much the same in each country but rules & practices in ring differed.

Vini had a good journey show-wise. He was placed once BIG1 (Turin int. in Italy), once BIG2 (Echt int. in the Netherlands), was BOB at 4 shows and gained the titles of IRL & S & INT CH, EUW-09. He was also happy to meet his relatives (sister, father, granny) and a number of other dogs around Europe. 

Arja & Vini

Pictures from our journey