End of 2012

Merry Christmas and have a great year 2013!

It is again time to reflect the past year and it's been one to remember.

I want to thank all my friends - with you we have shared some great moments and gained treasured memories during the year!

Without you it just wouldn't be the same!

So many memories, don't even know where to start.

The first part of the year I was pregnant and doing things a bit slower but we continued to do agility, attend to shows and all right up to the D-day.

Andy, Exclamation Dream Catcher rocked the stage as a puppy

Nasu, Easeful Flaming Fury gained new titles

Litter sister Andy & Fiona ( E. Dream Catcher & E. Dare To Dream )  just few weeks before my  daughter was born

I feel so blessed with everything that has happened this year.

The most important moment had absolutely nothing to do with dogs though. My daughter, Senni was born on the 23rd of May. 

This day was so special in many ways. Not only was my daughter born but it was my grandmother's name day and also the day my grandfather passed away. A special day in all ways.

Leaving the hospital to go home <3

Some special moments more from 2012

Lempi became Finnish Tracking Champion on her first try

 Lempi, Exclamation Silver Kiss returned to hunting tracking after her maternity leave. She gave birth to 5 boys in February and became Finnish Tracking Champion in May. Super, I say!

Eva returned to rings in July after her maternity leave

Eva, Ch Exclamation Winter Kiss had 3 boys in March and returned to shows in July after a year's break. Even without her full coat she was constantly placing in the top.

Andy had a smashing year

Andy, Exclamation Dream Catcher had a super puppy career, gaining BOB's and BIG placements time after time. But his start in the adults was a really great too! He gained 5 CC's and he was awarded BEST HEAD in the show at our annual Main Speciality under Rainer Vuorinen, the founding member of Finnish cocker club in Finland.

Sisi is all grown up now

 Sisi, Exclamation Time To Remember has also had quite a year. Not only was she Best in Variety 3rd in our Club show but also the BEST Finnish Bred particolour in the show. She also gained a long list of titles: BALT & EE & LT & LV JCH.

Nessi was shown limited but with super results

Our Basset Fauve de Bretagne girl Nessi, C.I.B Easeful Cafe Espresso gained several BOB's and was also BOS in Finnish Basset Club's annual Main Speciality.

Miro entered the rings

 Our second generation debuted also this year. Miro, Exclamation Miracle On Ice, Eva & Joe's son was a consistent winner in puppy classes, gaining multiple BOB's, BIG & BIS placements.

Armas debuted in the rings too

 Armas, Exclamation Beyond The Horizon also started his show career. He ended up as Best In Show 5 puppy and Best Black puppy in our annual Club show.

Chiqi

Eva

Our dogs do a lot of variety of sports. Our active agility dogs ( almost ready to compete ) are Chiqi, C.I.B Afterglow Shake Ya Tic Tacs and Eva, Ch Exclamation Winter Kiss.

Senni and her parents and godparents ( two of them not able to be present though )

I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for sharing these special moments with us.

The most important thing is to enjoy your life - to be happy - it's all that matters.

Audrey Hepburn

Agility!

Our passion sport - agility....

We do agility with many of dogs, nearly all do at least every now and then this fun sport. But with some we train seriously.

One of our these serious enthusiastic is Chiqi, C.I.B Afterglow Shake Ya Tic Tacs. Chiqi and Outi will start in official classes next year and they had a trial last Sunday in our local club's unofficial competition.
You can enjoy the speed of this couple here.

I gotta say I am impressed... Chiqi was in season and had a month's break from all training and this was just the third time they were at it after this break. Looking good, looking good..... Watch out for news from this sport too!

Chiqi

me & Eva

End of the year - the Winner shows

Each show year traditionally ends with the Finnish Winner shows in December.
That was the case also this year, though we only had our fauve's with us.
No big success but that is never all. This is the time when we catch up with dear friends from all over.
So big hugs to you all, such a pleasure, once again :)

Here's a few shots from the weekend.

Baskethill's Kissing Life, a brand new HeJW-12 !
Huge congrats to Isa's breeder Jaana Heiskari and owners Outi & Kalle Heikkinen!

Our young girl Nasu

Nessi

FiW-12 BOS Dyfrgi's Ametrine & BOB Multi Ch Shiroblam First Slip
Huge congrats to Elisabeth for Uno's BIG-3 also!

Now we take a well deserved rest from shows and make some new exciting plans and wait for 2013!

End of an era

Sounds like doomsday - but it's not :D

Miro had his last entry as a puppy, oh my, little guy, almost all grown up - where did the time go?

But nevertheless, we started our car on Father's Day ( yes, and my husband was sooooo pleased :D ) at the crack of dawn and headed to Helsinki.
It was a long day but all worth it!

Thank you so much Jaana for some nice company and everything else! Always great to see friends!

Miro behaved like a king and it showed in the results!

11.11.2012 Helsinki, all breeds puppy show
breed & group judge: Kati Heiskanen

Exclamation Miracle On Ice: BEST MALE, prize of honour, BOB, BEST IN GROUP 3rd !

© Jetta Tschokkinen

Miro's critique was absolutely gorgeous.
Masculine, beautiful entirety. Good proportions. Moves effortlessly. Absolutely charming temperament. Masculine, beautiful head. Kind expression. Elegant neck. Strong topline. Good tailset. Excellent body and angulations. Strong bones. Good coat. Shows himself happily and vigorously. Promising puppy.

Couple of show weekends

I have been lazy with updating....

We participated to a couple of shows during the last two weekends. And also met with dear friends on both occasions. Never mind the show stuff but to see dear friends and catch up - that is what makes my day!

So here's a sum up on what we've been up to.

28.10.2012 Lahti, all breeds puppy show
breed & group judge: Eeva Resko

Exclamation Miracle On Ice: Best male, prize of honour, BOB & BEST IN GROUP!!

Miro Best In Group!

Eerondaali Olivia: Best female, prize of honour, BOS

Beautiful Viva

What can I say! Superb day with the best of company possible, Outi & Pete!
Outi - million, million thanks for everything!
And big hugs to Outi, Henna and Pete for lovely Viva's success!

21.10.2012 Turku, International show
judge: Johan Andersson, Sweden

Exclamation Miracle On Ice: BOB puppy

Miro

Exclamation Dream Catcher: EXC, JUN/2

Andy

Exclamation Winter Kiss: EXC

Eva <3

Eva on the table

I want to congratulate my dear friend Karin for a new Finnish Champion - Rotojet's Ring Ring Yes Hello! Well deserved!!!

Ring Ring

Annual Club Show

It was again time for our main event of the year on Sunday.
Our annual Club Show is an event where we can see most of the cockers shown in Finland all in one place. Judge is always from our breed's homeland, USA. 

Thank you all dear friends for a lovely day and special thanks to Noora and Anni, who came to help me. 
But without one person I don't think I'd even gone this year. Outi - you are truly one in a million.

Please enjoy.

14.10.2012 Lahti, Club Show
judge: Douglas A. Johnsson, USA

Exclamation Miracle on Ice: Best in Variety 2nd male puppy ( ASCOB )

Miro

Exclamation New Horizon: 2nd in ASCOB male puppies 7-9mnths

Cosmo

Exclamation Beyond The Horizon: BEST IN SHOW -5 puppy & BEST BLACK PUPPY IN THE SHOW

Armas

Exclamation Winter Kiss: 3rd in ASCOB champion females

Eva

Exclamation Dream Catcher: 4th in BLACK junior males

Andy

Exclamation Time To Remember: Best in Variety 3rd female ( PARTI ) & BEST FINNISH BRED PARTICOLOUR IN THE SHOW!

Sisi

(c) Jaana Myllymäki

Congratulations Anni and Outi for Ch Little Life Key To Secret - Donna's BEST IN SHOW WORKING DOG!

This has been really the highlight of the year for ages in our breed in Finland. I am a little bit concerned that the entries have come down hugely over the past year, not only in these main events ( main speciality and the Club Show ) but overall in all shows. When you look at the statistics, it tells a crimson story.
So far ( from January to September 2012 ) ONLY one show has had an entry over 20 cockers and only 15 shows has had entry of 10 or more. And we've had 74 shows !!! This is really sad. As the dogs shown are pretty much the same ones.
Yes, of course it is not so simple and easy to get your puppies to a home that is ready to keep the coat in show condition throughout the year but it is not the whole truth.
We have some excellent dogs here in Finland, not only imported ones but why is it that we see them so rarely in the showrings?
That is a question that I think all should think and ask themselves, can I do something to help. A lot is depending on the people that still go to the shows. There must be a reason why e.g I've heard from complete outsiders to our breed that not all are welcomed to the showplace, or at least that is what it feels like. Sad. And without a shadow of a doubt there is LOTS of room for improvement!! xx

Training with puppies

We've attended a few puppyshows during the last couple of weekends so our little ones get a little training for the adult rings. 

I want to thank Anni and Pete for helping me out in the ring with these rascals and each and everyone of the owners of these babies for taking such great care of them!

Here's a summary and few pics from two days of mud. LOL.

30.9. Tampere, all breeds puppy show
judge: Maret Kärdi, Estonia

Exclamation Miracle On Ice: Baby class / 1, prize of honour, Best male 2nd

Exclamation Miracle Hunter: Baby class / 2, prize of honour

Exclamation Beyond The Horizon: Puppy class / 2, prize of honour

Armas

Kennel Exclamation: 2, prize of honour

from left to right - Miro, Armas, Cosmo & Manu

29.9. Tampere, all breeds puppy show
judge: Tarja Hovila

Exclamation Miracle On Ice: Baby class / 2, prize of honour

Miro

Exclamation Miracle Hunter: Baby class / 4, prize of honour

Mike with Anni

Exclamation Beyond The Horizon: Puppy class / 3, prize of honour

Armas

Kennel Exclamation: 2, prize of honour

left to right - Miro, Cosmo, Mike & Armas

* * * * *

22.9. Orivesi, all breeds puppy show
judge: Jaana Hartus

Exclamation Miracle On Ice: Baby class / 1, prize of honour, Best male 2nd

Exclamation New Horizon: Puppy class / 2, prize of honour

Another busy weekend

Yes we had a busy weekend with the youth and elderly departments this time.
Thank you so much Noora for a nice weekend - nice results, great fun and lots of laughs!

Please enjoy!

16.9.2012 Hyvinkää, national speciality show
judge: Eeva Resko

Little Life Pure Charm: EXC, JUN/2, CQ, Best male 4th, res-CC


Nico on the move

Truly Yours Avantgarde: EXC, Veteran/1, CQ, Best male 3rd, BOB Veteran

Lovely couple, Ricky & Noora <3

Shadyhill's Canadian Treasure: EXC, OPEN/1, CQ, Best female 2nd, CC

Fun with the crazy girl :D

15.9. Turku, all breeds puppy show
judge: Eeva Resko

Exclamation Beyond The Horizon: Baby puppy/2, prize of honour

Exclamation Miracle On Ice: Baby puppy/1, Best male, prize of honour, BOS

A trip to Estonia

Wow, what a trip! First of all - Noora <3, thank you ever so much for the best company and even bigger congratulations for a super day with the grand old man Ricky! And big hugs to Outi - what a day!

Noora and I took a roadtrip to Tallinn, Estonia. It was so relaxing that it hardly felt like a showtrip at all! :)

Please enjoy!

8.9.2012 Luige, Estonia, National all breeds show
breed judge: Malgorzata Wieremiejczyk-Wierzchowska, Poland
group judge: Leif Lehmann-Jörgensen, Denmark
BIS puppy: Zidy Munsterhielm-Ehnberg, Finland

Exclamation Miracle On Ice: BOB puppy & BEST IN SHOW 4th puppy!!

Miro <3

Truly Yours Avantgarde: EXC, Veteran/1, Best male, BOB Veteran -> Ee & Lv VCh, BOB, BEST IN GROUP!!

Ricky <3

Shadyhill's Canadian Treasure: EXC, Open/1, Best Female, BOS, CC !!

Tracy <3

I have to say it really was a super day by all means! I am so happy for our Tracy - she has only started to grow her hair back and gained already nice results from showrings!
But above all - I am so proud that there are no words to describe! My little man- Miro - Exclamation Miracle On Ice... This was his debut in the showrings and I couldn't be more proud! My own second generation breeding, out of two beautiful champions, C.I.B Afterglow Tokyo Joe and Ch Exclamation Winter Kiss. His critique was one of the best I've ever gotten to my dogs.

Judge's words:

Beautiful outstanding dog. Extremely elegant, excellent head, excellent neck & topline & front chest, excellent chest, very well balanced, excellent movement & temperament.

BEST IN SHOW 4 puppy

 

A little comedy - nice idea - not so in the execution :D