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