Armahani News 2010

Louis (Ch C'est Louis Armstrong des Chevaloupsgreg (Imp USA)) and his daughter Taija (Armahani Crystal Cuovgat) at 8 months of age
© D Hughes

It was a very exciting day for me today with Louis (Ch C'est Louis Armstrong des Chevaloupsgreg (Imp USA)) and his 8 month old daughter Taija (Armahani Crystal Cuovgat) doing a hat-trick together at the Ladies Kennel Association Championship Show at KCC Park under NSW judge Ms C Stuart.

To be awarded two classes in group in the one show, for our beautiful but still rare breed, is a very special honour indeed - and lovely for it to be a family occasion. Taija was awarded Best Minor Puppy in Group and Louis, after having being shortlisted down for to the final three for Best in Group earlier, was awarded Best Open in Group.

We've been largely out of the ring over the last couple of months, and this was Taija's first show in around 10 weeks, so her first out of Baby Puppy. Given the very little training we get to do together - mostly at shows - I was a little worried if she would remember anything. But she is such a little star and was still very happy strutting her stuff after multiple times in the ring today.

Taija is the second of the Crystal litter to be awarded her first class in group, with brother Dolce also being awarded a Minor Puppy in Group recently. Their very pretty cream sister Kyla has also been making her mark in the ring, earning her first challenge recently.

Congratulations and thanks also to Taija's mum Cherelle, who takes such special care of this beautiful little girl, and lets me steal her away so often!

Emmi (Ch Lumiturpa Emmi (Imp Fnl)) taking Best of Breed today at the Victorian Spitz Breeds show
© N Toohey

A lovely day today at the Victorian Spitz Breeds Club annual championship show. This is usually a big day for the Lappies here in Victoria, and this year was no exception with an entry of 18, and only 4 absent. It was made extra special with a few brand new exhibits and their brand new handlers. It is so lovely to see new people out there showing our beautiful breed.

It was a first for Ahti, and his owner Melissa, out for the first time. I was very proud to handle Ahti in his class, although Melissa took over for the first time in the dog challenge line up and will be the one to handle him normally. He did her proud, taking out Minor Puppy of Breed. It must have bene quite an unusual sight, having two cream Lappies for a run-off, as Kyla had also won her class, so Ahti was in there competing with his little "auntie" for the minor puppy run-off.

Kulta did us very proud by taking the dog challenge. At 7 years of age, and officially a veteran :-), Kulta only comes out now for these special occasions, and he sure made it clear he's still capable of making his mark. But it was Emmi's show, taking the Best of Breed this year, and earning her highest challenge to date. The Spitz show has always been a good one for Emmi. Her first in 2006 she was Runner up of Breed and Best Junior in Show, in 2007 Best of Breed and Intermediate in Show, in 2008 Runner up Best of Breed, in 2009 she took a break to make way for her daughter Lahti who was Best of Breed in her place, and now in 2010 another Best of Breed. She sure does make me proud and feeling very lucky to have her!

Dolce (Armahani Crystal Caibmat) at 6 months of age with handler S Chouffot in the ring
© G Brassington

Quite the milestone today for Armahani, with the first of our babies to earn a class in group award in the Aussie showring. The accolade went to the lovely young Dolce (Armahani Crystal Caibmat), Emmi and Louis' six month son, earning Minor Puppy in Group at the ACT Ladies Kennel Club Championship Show under NSW judge Mrs C Mulcahy.

It was also a first class in group for his co-owners and loving carers Shareen and Glen. Let's hope it is the first of many achievements to come.

Dolce is a lovely solid young man, with a lot of both of his parents shining through, including his dad's "mummy's boy" tendancies LOL. We're very very proud of him here Armahani and expect him to do great things.

Congratulations Dolce, Shareen and Glen!

In memory of Memphis
© J Lincoln

It is with a very heavy heart that I share the news of the sad loss of our beautiful boy Memphis (Sugarok Southern Sensation).

Tragically, Memphis suffered from a severe seizure on Monday night, of unknown cause, which took a very long time for the vets to get under control. Despite the best of care over the last few days, it became clear that the strength and severity of the seizure meant that he had been quite badly and permantely brain damanged.

Our sympathies also go to those who Memphis has lived with and been loved by, Vanessa, Sarah, David, and of course his breeders Linda and Stephen. Sometimes life can be cruel and unfair, and yet the times and precious memories of Memphis show that life can also be full of joys.

Tanssija and her new born babies
© K Brillinger

A lovely celebration for Armahani Kennels, and for Calaban Kennels in the USA, with the birth of Tanssija's (UKC Ch Armahani Amethyst Aatto) beautiful babies just a few days ago to the handsome Pilgrim (UKC Grand Ch Lecibsin Kumppani).

This is Tanssija's first litter and we are going to be very excited to see how they develop. She has three girls and three boys, although sadly the tiny first born girl, although struggling for a few days, didn't end up making it. She is now a little guardian puppy in heaven watching over her beautiful and healthy siblings who are all doing well.

Congratulations to Kit, from Calaban Kennels, and to all the excited puppy buyers waiting in the wings. We are thrilled to be in a small way part of your family!

A three generation gathering with Jari (Armahani Bloodstone Balva), Kulta (Ch Theldaroy Best Treasure CCD HT), Emmi (Ch Lumiturpa Emmi (Imp Fnl)) and Lahti (Ch Armahani Amethyst Apina)
© J Lncoln

We had a different, but very lovely day today, paying a visit to Lahti and her family, where Jari and his family had come up to play for the day.

Lahti (Ch Armahani Ametheyst Apina) is from our Amethyst litter, so is Kulta (Ch Theldaroy Best Treasure CCD HT)) and Emmi's (Ch Lumiturpa Emmi (Imp Fnl)) daughter. And Jari (Armahani Bloodstone Balva) is her son from our Bloodstone litter. So we had a three generation get-together, which was lots of fun.

Kulta thought his grandson was pretty special, a fact I'm sure was enhanced by the very polite Jari showing the utmost of grandsonly submission :-). He followed him around playing with him through most of the visit. Emmi, who is far lass tolerant of youngsters, wasn't quite so impressed. No Jari, I know your mum lets you steal bones directly out of her mouth, but grandma just doesn't put up with that kind of behaviour!

It was just lovely to see this beautiful and special boy, who always had our hearts, and who is still gentle and far more well-behaved than I had been led to believe :-)

Taija (Armahani Crystal Cuovgat) and Kyla (Armahani Crystal Cearpmat) in the ring
© M Ennor

It sure has been a time of show debuts. This time it was Kyla's (Armahani Crystal Cearpmat)'s turn. Kyla is our little cream girl from Emmi and Louis' litter, and the prettiest thing imaginable.

Today she joined Taija in the ring, although only after this sister combination had taken the opportunity to catch up with some serious ring-side play.

Thank you to Helen for showing Kyla today for her debut, while owner Michelle handled the video camera. We're sure Michelle will be next into the ring, once she's got over those first time nerves!

For something a little bit different, opposite is some video footage of both girls in the ring today. This was Taija's second time in the ring and Kyla's first, so she is still learning not to be a kangaroo :-).

Quito (Armahani Crystal Cappat) concentrating hard like a good show dog
© M Gurney

In Sydney this time, and it was time for little Quito (Armahani Crystal Cappat) to have her show debut.

This very cute and cheeky little girl had us on the edge of our seats waiting to hear what mischief she got up to into the ring. Decriptions of her practice sessions, from her owner and handler Liz, had a number of us laughing quite loudly, as we reassured Liz of first time horror stories of our own.

Well, imagine my surprise today, to hear that Quito took to the ring like a pro, strutting around perfectly with not a step wrong. I hear that the other first timer on the other end of the lead did an amazing job too!

Congratulations Liz and Quito!

Armahani babies at their first picnic - Kyla (Armahani Crystal Cearpmat), Taija (Armahani Crystal Cuovgat) and Ahti (Armahani Bloodstone Bihci)
© J Taylor

Yesterday it was my turn to be out there with a new baby, taking little Taija (Armahani Crystal Cuovgat) out to her first show. What fun we had, with Taija being as good as gold all day, and enjoying herself in the ring, with some lovely comments from the judge. I am really looking forward to showing her off over the coming months. It has been a long time since I have had a baby to show, so it should be lot of fun.

Today was the Finnish Lapphund Club of Victoria's Lappie Picnic, held in the Botanical Gardens in Melbourne. It was a blissful day, with lovely weather in gorgeous surrounds, and great to catch up with friends - both human and canine. As well as Taija, we were joined by two other Armahani babies for their first picnic - Kyla (Armahani Crystal Cearpmat) and the lovely Ahti (Armahani Bloodstone Bihci) who I was very excited to see for the first time since he left home at 8 weeks of age.

Today was also Kulta's (Ch Theldaroy Best Treasure CCD HT) birthday. Amazing to believe it has been 7 years since my beautiful man came into my life and headed me down my current path. Kulta is my first Lappie and has won many a heart to his breed.

Photo coming
© J Thatcher

More show debuts today with the boys Blaez (Armahani Bloodstone Bajann) and Dolce (Armahani Crystal Caibmat) hitting the ring for the first time. Congratulations to Janet with Blaez, who is almost five months old and Shareen and Glen with Dolce, just turned three months.

It was Blaez's turn to be the winner today, taking baby of breed over Dolce and his sister Mischa (Armahani Bloodstone Bilaidit). I'm sure all three babies will do their owners proud over the coming years and look forward to hearing all of their news.

While on that side of the country our babies were shining, news in Melbourne wasn't so good. A freak thunder storm resulted in poor little Kirra (Armahani Crystal Cumma) being hit by a large hailstone, which tragically broke her leg. This poor darling will be having surgery tomorrow, and although the prognosis is good for a full recovery, her parents are understandably quite distraught. We wish Kirra a very speedy recovery.

While we are on the sad news, many of you may be wondering by now what ended up happening to Kulta's babies due in early February. Sadly, none of the babies made it. It was a very tragic time, particularly for their breeder, and our sympathies are still with them.

Some positive news during the week, however, with Mitch (Armahani Amethyst Armo) receiving a clear eye certificate.

Mischa - Armahani Bloodstone Bilaidit - enjoying her first time in the show ring being handled by Glen Brassington
© S Chouffot

A big congratulations to Shareen, Glen and Mischa (Armahani Bloodstone Bilaidit) today on her show debut!

Showing was always going to be Shareen's new hobby, but Glen has fallen truly in love with his little girl, and with Dolce soon to be hitting the ring as well, Mischa has been claimed as his to handle.

I got a very excited phone call from Shareen today, thrilled to pieces with how brand new baby Mischa and brand new handler Glen had done in the ring. Both were apparently like ducks to water and Mischa hardly took a step wrong.

Good luck to this new team in the future. I'm sure there will be plenty of successes to come!

Cookie - Armahani Crystal Ceahppi - with her new owner Kellie
© K Saleeba

The very last of the Crystal babies sadly left me tonight, with a trip to the airport to farewell the last of the girls who were flying off to their new homes. Always stressful at the best of times, I must remember never to book puppies on Friday flights again, with both flights (on two different airlines with two different airlines) managing to be delayed by more than an hour. Luckily both girls have arrived home safely and I can get some sleep.

Little Cookie (previously known as Mistletoe), who is registered as Armahani Crystal Ceahppi ("clever" in Sami) was the first to be dropped off to head to her home in Adelaide. Cookie was the girl that over the last few weeks almost everyone has picked out in their photos. She has the most beautiful outline, with a lot of Louis about her shape and structure, including his gorgeous legth of neck, and the prettiest little face that just sucks you in. I think she will be a simply stunning little girl. In attitude there is a lot about Louis in her also. She is one of those little pups who just will not be picked on by the bigger kids, and is determined to put them in their place. This reminds me so much of Louis when I first met him, playing with his bigger sister Ciowa and best mate Pilgrim, that I haven't been able to help but laugh at her.

She goes to live with Kellie in Adelaide and Shadow the Siberian Husky. There she will mainly concentrate on an agility career, but will also do a bit of showing in the South Australian ring.

So that left one very very special little girl Myrre (previously known as Noelle), also known as Armahani Crystal Ciegus ("secret" in Sami), aka "the nutter", "the mad one", "the crazy one." I cannot even begin to describe how very very funny this little girl is. Imagine a little puppy filled with joy. The imagine the joy levels tripling so they all spill out in every direction. That is Myrre. The craziest, speediest, funniest, most joyful puppy imaginable. She has made me laugh every single day. I can never decide who she takes after the most. She is a lot like Emmi to look at, with her face and expressions. And I always thought her craziness must be pure Loony-Louis. But it was only sitting her tonight thinking "oh I miss that crazy little girl" that I realised I had heard those words many many times when Emmi was first here, from her first owner Johanna in Finland, every time she would reply to one of my updates.

Myrre is going all the way to Queensland, so I will have reason to miss her. But there she is to be truly at home, living with Anne and Janne who can teach her all about her home-country! They emigrated to Australia from Finland a few years ago, along with their two dogs, including Lappie Doris, who was from Lumiturpa Kennels in Finland, like my Emmi. Doris was distantly related to Emmi, and when she died of old age earlier this year, Anne and Janne longed for one of her relatives to fill the hole she had left in their life. So Myrre heads to them to be their much loved companion, as well as a future obedience trial ring star (and any other dog sport she turns her paw to). I'm sure she will do a fantastic job.

So Emmi, Louis and I sit her tonight in the deathly quiet, wondering what to do with ourselves. We will miss our babies, but wish their new owners so much fun and joy with them, and look forward to the photos and updates as they grow.

Some more goodbye's today for the Crystal babies. This afternoon saw me drive to Melbourne airport with little Dolce (previously known as St Nick), our only little boy, who has the registered name Armahani Crystal Caibmat ("to laugh" in Sami). This very very funny and very very irresistible little boy is such a character. There was never any mistaking that he was the boy in the litter, with such a masculine way about him, strutting around like a little man. With a solid little body, a beautiful head, and a lovely combination of both Emmi and Louis' best points, I am so looking forward to seeing how he turns out.

Dolce goes to live just out of the ACT with Shareen and Glen, although will stay in co-ownership with me. They were always planning on a boy out of this litter, and it was more last minute that they decided to look for two puppies. So Dolce also goes to live with Mischa (Armahani Bloodstone Bilaidit) from my last litter, and I'm sure these two will become the best of friends.

I've always been quite drawn to Dolce, but it was sometime over the last week that I seriously fell in love with him and started to wonder how I was going to let him go. A combination of that and him being my first airport drop off in a while, and I was more than a little hysterical at the airport tonight as I said goodbye. Leaning forward to say goodbye to him in his crate, a little puppy kiss on my nose through one of the holes, and I was a complete mess. Poor Shareen could probably hardly make out a word as I rang to let her know her was on his way.

And then I had to rush home for more goodbyes, as little Kirra's (previously known as Holly) owners came to pick up their little girl, who is registered as Armahani Crystal Cumma ("kiss" is Sami). Holly lives up to her name, with puppy kisses on your nose her extra speciality. A simply beautiful little girl, it was no secret she was the easy favourite of a breeder friend of mine, who hinted to keep her a number of times. Beautifully compact, with a lovely lovely head, gorgeous rear angles, nice low hocks, and big attitude in that little body - she has always been hard to look past.

She stays in Melbourne, to live with Brett and Belle, who already love her to pieces. There is some video footage that Belle took when they visited when the pups when about five weeks old, and it was only after I offered them this little girl that they looked back and realised it was their girl that Brett was cuddling! Brett is hoping to get into lots of interesting doggie activities with Kirra, and she will hopefully make it our in the show ring here in Melbourne with us.

So tonight only two little girls are left with me. There is a couple of more days to enjoy them before they leave me on Friday, so I am planning on it being a time of lots of puppy cuddles before the tears start again.

The goodbye's have started already for the Crystal babies! It has very hard to believe that eight weeks has gone already. This has been such a fun litter to raise, and I am going to miss each and every one of them very much.

The first to leave us this morning was Kyla (previously known as Snowflake) our little surprise cream girl, registered as Armahani Crystal Cearpmat ("reindeer calf" in Sami). Kyla is such a special girl. Not only very beautiful, with the most gorgeous fluffy coat, and stand out breed type, but also the most special little soul. A lovely stable girl, she is fun-loving and playful, while having this incredible sweetness that draws in everyone who meets her. She is just heart meltingly delicious. So found Michelle when she met her for the first time. Michelle was sure she was after a black and tan boy to be her partner in doggie activities. It didn't take too long, however, for Kyla to convince her that she was the perfect dog she was after, and in turn she was very successful in convincing me that her and Keila were destined to be together.

Kyla is not gone completely, she stays in co-ownership with me, and we hope to be supporting Michelle around the Melbourne show rings with her. As well as showing, Kyla will have a strong foundation in obedience, perhaps some tracking in the future, and Michelle hopes to have her be a Delta dog as well.

Second to go was my heart girl Taija (previously known as Star), my "favourite but don't tell the others" girl, who is registered as Armahani Crystal Cuovgat ("to shine" in Sami). I haven't been able to resist this gorgeous pup since the very early days of them starting to interact with me, when I would get these gazes of intense adoration. Who can deny a pup who, when you lie outside with them all, just crawls onto your chest and gazes lovingly at you in the most intense way. Taija and I have spent many a time with her just cuddled close to me.

A confident and spunky girl, with just gorgeous confirmation, I was secretly just thrilled when my helpful assessors picked her out as the one I should keep. So, Taija makes her home with my friend Cherelle, and her Lappie boy Willoughby, to be much loved and cherished. She is co-owned with me, and I will be showing her here in Melbourne. I am really hopeful for lots of great things from my precious "Star".

Then this afternoon left the lovely Quito (previously known as Angel), the girl that caught everyone's attention with those huge big markings from birth, and who is registered as Armahani Crystal Cappat (pretty in Sami). Quito lives up to her name by being breathtakingly beautiful. One of the bigger girls, she has a lot of Louis in her face, but I suspect may end up being incredibly similar looking as Emmi as she grows. She is also a very funny, very playful, very confident, very cheeky, and rather naughty puppy. Mmmm, more and more like Emmi all the time.

Liz and Keith have been waiting a long time for their Emmi and Louis baby. I suspect they found it hard to look past little Angel all along, and were rather pleased when I was able to offer her to them. They arrived from Sydney yesterday to meet the pups and stay the night, and we had a lovely time last night eating, drinking, playing with pups and talking all things Lappie. It has been wonderful to meet some new friends. Nasty new friends, of course, who then steal one of my babies away from me! Quito flew back to Sydney with them this afternoon. Liz is hoping to get her into the show ring over there when she builds up the courage, and I hope they have a fun with this wicked little character.

So that leaves me with just four little darlings this evening, and the house seems very very quiet, and I'm sure will get quieter still over the next couple of days.

We wish our beautiful girls all the best in their new homes, and their families plenty of love and joy with their new babies.

Well I got some lovely, thrilling news today, with the final hip and elbow clearences from Tanssija (UKC Ch Armahani Amethyst Aatto) arriving from the USA. I am very pleased that she was graded an Excellent by the OFA and her elbows are all normal.

Waiting for health results is scary enough when the babies are here in Australia. Waiting on the ones from the lovely girl you have exported to be part of another county's breeding program is excrutiating! I am extrememly happy for Tanssija's owner Kit Brillinger of Calaban Kennels with these great results.

Tanssija will hopefully have her first litter later in the year, and we look forward to seeing beautiful baby photos.

Well it isn't that usual that a two year old dog is being congratulated for his first time in the show ring. But today the young Mitch (Armahani Amethyst Armo) hit the ring for the first time, gaining his first challenge points.

It has been a little while now since we decided to let Mitch have a go in the ring, but a new baby in his family has delayed his first attempt. While his parents are away in the USA for holidays, the mice have come out to play .... with temporary carer Nik Boyd aptly handling him for his show debut!

Congratulations to Mitch, parents Mary Frances and Mark, and handler Nik, who will continue to handle Mitch in the Syndey show ring for a little while until Mary Frances gains enough confidence to take over the lead! An event which I'm sure won't be too far away.