kennel Vilavallarens

UPDATES

2010-06-05T04:05:00.000-07:00

News : in 2010 Jonni has been shown twice, BM-3 and BOS-VET in Turku in January and BOB-VET, BOB in Lappeenranta in April. Bella has been competing in agility and been placed several times in top-3. Jonni has gotten few clear round results but is still missing one to qualify for this year's Finnish Championships. Jonni had his 10th birthday on the 22nd of April and Ruri became ONE YEAR on the 5th of May. He also was BOB in Lieksa on the 8th of May at the tender age on 12 months 3 days. He won his first CAC then also. We are now waiting for the summer to come. Below is a picture taken by Heta Ahtiainen and it is of Ruri. He is a handsome lad....

News

2009-09-21T03:58:00.000-07:00

Lots has happened this year. Bella has been upgraded to Class 2 in agility and has gotten ger first Finnish CAC from shows by being BOS, Jonni has competed in both Finnish Agility Championships and Finnish Youth Agility Championships and has been placed in BOTH: 38th in the "real deal" and 5th in the Youth one. Sirkku led him in both and also in our Regional Championships where they were 3rd and in the Junior Cup Finals where they were 2nd !!! WOW ! And the dog is almost 9,5 years old !!! Ruri "Jonni's son" has become a BIG lad, and handsome like his dad. Picture below is taken when he was about 4 months old. Now he is approaching 5 months of age and we have started Rally Obedience and Obedience and are waiting for a puppy course. Also his first puppy show is just around the corner..

New kid on the block !

2009-08-20T03:53:00.000-07:00

Long time no updates. Puppies were born on the 5th of May. There were 8 pups, but 3 were dead and one male died within a few days from the birth. 3 males and 1 bicth were lefth and among them one grey male. Who incidentally came to live with his dad !!! :-) So I have THREE VALLS now !!! His name is Ruri, Fennican Rurik Jonnisson, a VERY LIVELY and BOLD yong boy who is an absolutely leovely little thing !!! Everybody adores him and he is a quite a handful at times but I just love him to death !!! He is a stunner and has a lovely character. Who knows what will become of him when he grows up !!?
Below Ruri at about 3 months....

Mating

2009-03-13T05:48:00.000-07:00

News: Jonni has bred FIN CH Hurradonet Östina Östanvind, Vindi. She has HD A and clear eyes certificate (from -08). Vindi has already one litter of 4 pups and one of those has been in shows already and getting a very good critique from Swedish judge Kurt Nilsson. Vindi is reddish brown and about 33 cm high. Both parents have tails so we are expecting tailled pups, both grey and reddish, in week 19 in kennel Fennican. Vindi is Swedish import and this combination's inbreeding COE is 0,20% in 5 generations. Vindi has a nice outgoing character which she has passed on to her pups. She is also a tough dog sho she has the "kick" to be a performance dog in many things, such as agility. Hopefully the pups from this litter will be good companions and also competitive dogs for showing and agility and obedience.

NEW YEAR 2009 HAS BEGUN !

2009-01-04T03:21:00.000-08:00

Some wintery picture of my beloved dogs:

We had a busy year in 2008. Jonni got 14 clear rounds in agility, participated in the Finnish Agility Individual Championships and got to the Finals with a clear run in the qualifying jumping course and a little after that he got himself the S AgCH -title that only 2 Valls in the whole world has attained until this day. His leader was Niina Leinonen in these competitions. I led him in our breed championships and we finished 3rd in the championships and 8th overall with a fiver. Later in the fall in our Regional Championhips Jonni won with his new leader, a 14-year-old Sirkku Kouki, who led Jonni to a double clear and they won the title with 0.33 secs difference to the 2nd placed dog ! A CLOSE CALL !!! In dog shows Jonni was BOB once, BOS 3 times, BOB-vet 2 and BOS-vet 2 times. In the WW-show in Stockholm he was 3rd in the Veteran Class with an EXCELLENT.
Bella competed in agility a lot more than last year and with improving results. She got ONE CLEAR ROUND (a qualifyer to Class 2) and few clear rounds with time faults, one of those in Boden, Sweden !!! She was placed 5 times and the best placing was 2nd in our own competitions ot the 6th of December. In unofficial competitions she also made clear rounds and even WON once. In shows she got mostly VERY GOOD as her results, the best being in WW-show, where she was awarded a red ribbon as being VERY GOOD !!! :-) I was SOOOO pleased !! Late in the fall Bella was MH-tested with good a result and she - again - proved to be ignorant to shooting. Just before Christmas Bella got seriously ill. She had some sort of stomach trouble and it started to look like that she would not survive. But to my relief she pulled through and is back to her normal self. I am SOOOO happy to have her with me. I love her so much and if I had lost her it would have been a big blow to me. I lost my beloved horse just before Christmas a year before and loosing Bella now would have been too much to handle. But luckily she is till among us !!!

WE WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009 !!!

Updates

2008-07-26T12:33:00.000-07:00

Hi. Sorry I have not updated this blog. SOOOOOOO much has happened this year. We have been to Sweden 3 times this year. In spring Jonni and Niina went to Haparanda to compete in agility. The result was 2 clear rounds but no S AgCAC. The next trip to Sweden was WDS in Stockholm in early July. There Jonni was 3rd in Veteran Class males with an EXCELLENT. Bella got Open Class VERY GOOD, which was great ! Bella had been shown twice before (this year) with results: GOOD and VERY GOOD. Jonni had been shown 3 times before, results: BOS (Ch class), BM-2 and BOB-vet (vet class) and BOB & BOB-vet (also in veteran class). In agility, too, both dogs have had nice results. Jonni managed to get enough clear rounds to qualify to Finnish Championships(in June)where he managed to get to the final round where he was DQ. Bella has done one clear round and her first result towards Class II !!! And we have been to podium twice, both in the 3rd place !!! And then to the third trip to Sweden. A weekend after WDS (in July) we went to Boden, Northern Sweden and competed in agility there. Bella's best result was a clear round with 11.98 secs over the deal time, our 3rd best result ever. Jonni did 3 clear rounds placing 5th twice and was 3rd in the INT agility class. With that result he FINALLY was awarded the S AgCAC thus he became the second SV ever to get the S AgCH title !!! Jonni is over 8 years old so this is a GREAT achievement !!! I am so lucky to own Jonni and also Bella has shown so much promise so I am a very lucky indeed !
Above is a picture of Jonni with his leader Niina after their victorious trip to Boden.

Winter has arrived !!

2007-11-17T03:38:00.001-08:00

Winter has arrived !! We have over -10 Centigrades and the sun is shining ! The snow has covered the ground with a clean white blanket ! The nature shows it's best now !! It is beautiful outside !!! And the dogs are enjoying the snow !

Updates

2007-10-04T07:39:00.000-07:00

Lots has happened since the last update. During the summer the dogs have been herding tested (Jonni with VERY GOOD HERDING INSTINCT and Bella SHOWED NO HERDING INSTICT (This time!)), Jonni has participated in The Finnish Agility Championships and World Championships qualifiers, we have been in some dog shows (Jonni was BOB in his last Finnish show until his Veteran age) and have been training agility and also competed a bit.
We have big plans for next year: World Winner show is held in Stockholm and the judge is someone who likes Jonni very, very much, AND Jonni will be a Veteran then, so we shall participate in that. Also we have one trip to abroad planned for this year. Hopefully all goes well and we will achieve our goals for that trip. But more info about that later.
We were planning a litter for this fall but now it looks like we are not having puppies. :-( But good thing is that MAYBE - if all goes well - there will be a marker test for the eye illness J175 ready by the time Bella is in heat the next time, so then I will know for great certainty which is the eye status of my dogs and also the pups could then be tested before the sale. So, fingers crossed !

This picture is taken on October.

Pictures above and below: (C) Oili Helenius

FINNISH CHAMPIONSHIPS 16-17.6.

2007-06-21T01:59:00.000-07:00

Jonni pictured here in Sunday's competition. This time we had no success.

Miss B

2007-04-18T03:37:00.000-07:00

"Miss B" aka Bella has been the one of my dogs that has gotten the most of my attention lately. We had agility trainings in 2 days in a row (Su, Mo) and my friend took some picture of my Lady. Here are 2 of them and more you can find in Bella's own pages !

Happy Easter !!!

2007-04-05T07:42:00.000-07:00

This is my Finnish "Happy Easter" card. But I thougth I could put this in here too since the picture of my dogs is just marvellous !!!

THIS was the weather on Tuesday and it snowed even on yerterday (Wednesday). We still have snow on the ground so our Easter will be white. But Happy Easter to All of You !!!

Warmer !!!!

2007-03-03T04:35:00.000-08:00

The weather is getting warmer, it is close to zero degrees and the snow is very heavy and wet. Yesterday it snowed more snow and today the dogs had fun playing in the snow. I let them run loose in the forest because there were so much snow the dogs could not run off from me. I took some pictures of my lovely doggies.

Jonni is going to an agility training with Niina today. Former World Champion in agility Juha Orenius is training here during this weekend and Niina is attending his lessons with Jonni. IF my camera is working I will try to video something. But now I gotta go ! It is time to leave ! The training starts soon and I will have to take the dog there.

Tuusniemi Group show 24.2.

2007-02-24T08:29:00.000-08:00

I was ill (sinusitis, for the 2nd time THIS YEAR !!!) so I could not go to the Tuusniemi dog show. So, Bella couldn't go either. BUT, Niina was going there with her own dog, border collie male Luka, just about 9 months old, so I asked if SHE would take Jonni with her also. She said yes and - like they say - the rest is history. Jonni did what he always does, which is: was himself = Mr Macho and he charmed the judge and was Best Male and finally BOS. Nice start for this show season !!

Above are today's prizes. I just LOVE rosettes and trophies.... <3

Missy goes to work !!

2007-02-16T09:58:00.000-08:00

Miss B aka Bella is going to WORK tomorrow !!! She is attending her first REAL training session ! Our agility club's coach is coming from Imatra and I am taking a lesson with Bella !!!! It will be her first ever training session !!!!
I am excited and nervous of how she will cope in the new situation and how she is going to work with me. But tomorrow I'll be a lot wiser !
Tomorrow will determine also our time table for this spring: when and if we are starting our competitions together. But, like I said, tomorrow I'll be a lot wiser.

News and Happy Valentine's !

2007-02-14T06:15:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday (the 10th) Jonni competed in his first agility competitions this year. His season started in the best possible way !! He got 2 clear rounds, placed as 2nd and 3rd and has now gotten all the qualifiers for this year's Finnish Agility Championships !!! Hooray !!! That's my boy !!!

Also, I wish You all a Happy Valentine's Day !!!

Sunny weather --- but COLD !!

2007-02-01T07:37:00.000-08:00

We have enjoyed sunny weather these past few days. It has been beautiful but COLD !!! On Sunday I took the dogs out to the race track and let them run free a bit. The Sunday was nice, only -10 degrees. But since then it has been rather cold. Between -14 and -21 degrees Celsius. Brrrr !

I have entered both dogs into a dog show. It is held in Tuusniemi, not far from us, at the end part of this month. Jonni's first agility competition is on the 10th of this month. Also, this Saturday our agility club is having an unofficial competition and I am planning to enter both dogs. Niina could take Jonni while I could go with Bella. But it all depends on the weather. If is is colder than -15 the competitions are cancelled. But, we'll see. Only 2 days untill Saturday...

Some news for the beginning of the New Year...

2007-01-22T06:43:00.000-08:00

The new year has started on a good note. I have a new job and now (the 22nd of Jan.) the winter has finally come ! We got snow few days ago and now the cold front has reached our part of the world. We had -22 degrees Celsius this morning so quite freezing, don't you think ?

This is how our house looked like just few days ago. Looks like something from a fairytale, doesn't it ?

Jonni and Bella play a catch-me-if-you-can -game when I let them run loose on the near-by forest. Bella is the one who is running and Jonni does the catching !

Both Jonni and Bella visited a vet and they were eye examinated. Both had clear eyes. Also Bella's Mum Umbra (living in Sweden) was examinated and she, too, had clear eyes. Bella Grandmum Cajsa was BOB-veteran in an INT dog show in Göteborg, Sweden. So things have started out quite nicely, thank you ! Jonni has been entered into this year's first agility competition so soon our holliday season will be "officially" over. Hopefully this year will be as good as the past year was.

Peaceful Christmas

2006-12-17T04:21:00.000-08:00

What a year this has been !

2006-12-13T21:14:00.000-08:00

What a Year this has been ! Just amazing ! Jonni has had success both in the show ring and in the agility field. He has gotten great wins and placings at shows, such as the two great BOBs in Kuopio with great critiques, and the icing on the cake was the second male placing in Hund2006 among the top Swedish males !! And the greatest achievement is of course his FIN AgCH title !!! What a dog he is !!! I cannot describe what he means to me !!!
Also this year has been a break-through year for my little Bella. She has started her show career (not that she was supposed to be a star in the ring) and has gotten some nice critique and she got a respectful GOOD as a quality judging at Hund2006 so I am pleased what what we have gotten. She is a good specimen of the breed and has shown her abilities to me this year. I have plans to show her a bit next year, just to see if we could make a Champion out of her. Also she will be starting her agility career and hopefully she will have some results under her belly by the end of the summer when it is time to think about other things.
I am blessed with two nice dogs and wish to thank both of their breeders for these lovely friends that I have !!!
I wish You all a Very Merry Christmas !!!

Independence Day

2006-12-05T14:04:00.000-08:00

Happy Independence Day !

Finland 6.12. 1917 ->

Now it is official !

2006-11-13T05:44:00.000-08:00

That is: Jonni's FIN AgCH title has been confirmed by our Kennel Club !!!

Birthday girl poses

2006-10-25T23:47:00.000-07:00

Here is a modified picture of my birthday girl Bella. She had her 3rd bithday on the 24th !!! Congrats to my little lady !! By the way, doesn't she look nice ?

First snow !!

2006-10-22T03:23:00.000-07:00

The first snow has fallen ! When there is snow everything looks less dark ! Sadly the weather is so warm that this snow will melt away quite soon. :-(

Jonni's agility video

2006-10-15T08:40:00.000-07:00

I added a new link to the right column. There is a link to Jonni's agility video from yesterday's competition in Kajaani. Jonni and Niina placed third in one of their 3 classes. They got a clear round which was the 5th clear round qualifier for next year's Finnish Agility Championships ! Jonni and Niina have gotten 3 out of those 5 !

FIN AgCH !!!

2006-10-07T11:05:00.000-07:00

Jonni is a new FIN AgCH !!! He and Niina Leinonen WON two classes today in Joensuu !!

Both of the wins came with a clean marginal to the next and also they were clear rounds !

The first victory was THE ONE needed fro Jonni to finnish his new title: FIN AgCH.

Hooray !!!!!!

I want to that Niina for the great leading of Jonni in these few competitions. Their co-operation has been short but strong !

4 classes and 3 wins and one second place and 3 clear rounds ! What more could you ask ???

So now I can call my little big man Jonni as
FIN AgCH & INT NORD FIN S N EST CH NordicW-01 Fennican Jonathan Jovial !!!

Bella's agility debut !

2006-10-01T23:02:00.000-07:00

Bella started her agility career yesterday on the 1st of October by competing in an unofficial competition here in Joensuu. Our result was disqualified but we got a valuable experience fot the future. It is a whole new ball game when we are in a competitive situation instead of the normal training one ! Now that we have done it once the next time will be a whole lot easier. And for the both of us this experience was a pleasant one. And that is what counts !

Still to come...

2006-09-28T02:33:00.000-07:00

We ARE - even though I had decided that the shows were over for this year - still going to a show this year. I entered both dogs to the Swedish Winner -show, Hund2006. It is held on the 9th of December in Stockholm and we are staying in Sweden for 2 nigths. The hotel is booked and the trip by boat reserved.

I have no hopes what comes to the results. It is just fun to be able to go abroad and see other Valls. I have been to Finnish Winner -shows and this show will be as big as or bigger than those what comes to the number of entered Valls. I would like to compete in agility, too, since they have a competition for Class III dogs. But so far I have not found any place where I could enter the competitions...! But, it is still a long time before the show, but at least I'll have something to look forward to at the end of the year !

We are the winners !!!

2006-09-23T23:37:00.000-07:00

Jonni and Niina Leinonen started their agility career in Varkaus on the 23rd of September with a smashing clear round victory !! They won a class of 20 dogs with the second fastest time ! The course was such a difficult one that even though there were many experienced dogs entered only 4 of them managed to go through the course without any faults ! This was Jonni's second clear round win and he needs "only" ONE MORE to became a Finnish Agility Champion !!
Jonni and Niina were the fastest to go through the jumping class but they dropped a pole on the first jump ! Only 3 dogs out of 19 got a result from the course so even though they got that 5 penalties it was a great run !!! Next time the pair will compete here in Joensuu.

My old boy

2006-09-21T01:50:00.000-07:00

This is my old boy, Stana. He is a standardbred-russian trotter cross and is born 29.6. 1983. Since the weather is so warm he is still kept out in the paddock where he can eat grass as much as he wants ! I don't ride him anymore. He retired 6 years ago since he suffered an tendon injury. He is a happy camper and he LOVES to eat ! He is perfectly happy even though he is not actually DOING anything. He is put out to pasture / paddock in the morning and taken in for the night. I have owned him 20 years (I bought him in 1986) and have promised to keep him 'till the end. I love horses and Stana was THE horse for me. He is the love of my life in the horse world.

Agility result

2006-09-17T23:51:00.000-07:00

Yesterday (Sunday the 19th) we competed in agility in Iisalmi. Jonni got our first clear round for this competition season by running the course 8.36 seconds UNDER the ideal time ! We were placed as 4th among 14 top dogs. We were the last ones to get a clear round ! Next weekend we are competing in Varkaus and after that....? I have two choices: Joensuu and Mikkeli. I will just have to think which one would be better for us.

Pictures of Jonni and Bella as a pup...

2006-09-13T04:09:00.000-07:00

Above are pictures of Jonni and Bella as a puppy. They sure look CUTE !! Jonni has the same expression on his face that he still has: a calm look on his face. Bella is also easily identified for her tail ! I could spot that tail anywhere !

News from US and Sweden !

2006-09-05T23:42:00.000-07:00

(picture (c) Oili Helenius)

Jonni's dam INT CH Fennican Yvonne Ystävä, born March 1996 (!), was BOB and BOB-Veteran in SKV's Special in Mälarö, Sweden on the 2nd of September. The judge was Maija Mäkinen from Finland and there were about 35 dogs entered. "Vonne" has recently moved to live in Sweden. Jonni congratulates his Mum for a great show result !!!

And next: great news from the States: Jonni's half-brother Finn (F. Yahoo Finnboy, owner Marion Erp) got great results from agility and can soon boast to be THE FIRST EVER Vall in AKC history to have a RE -title !!!!! WAY TO GO Finn and Marion !!!!!!

Puppy news and Amos BIS-4 veteran !!!

2006-09-02T22:22:00.000-07:00

Lejondalens Amos-Pärson was BIS-4 veteran in Öland dog show on the 2nd of September. The judge was a Finnish Leni Nousiainen. Congrats to Amos for yet another great result in the veteran ring !!!

Heds Umbra De Lux and Tridents Ozzie got a litter together and now the pups are THIS big ! All have found themselves a good home. This was Umbra's second litter to kennel prefix Rätt O Slätt. Umbra has got two litters to kennel Heds. Bella was Umbra's first pup and litter. :-)

Vuokatti Dog Fest 12.8. Group show

2006-08-13T08:27:00.000-07:00

The last show for this season is over. We were at a Group show in Sotkamo, Vuokatti Dog Fest. The judge was Anders Cederström from Sweden. He is a nice elderly gentleman and he like both of my dogs. Bella got VERY GOOD in Open Class, and could have gotten an EXCELLENT if her body would have been a bit stronger. Jonni, despite the warm weather of the day and the hard week before (Kuopio shows last weekend and the hot weather after that) , showed himself well in the ring and took the BOB rosette and the trophy. He was a bit tired so I did not stay for the Group competitions. Jonni will have a week off and the we have our own dog club's agility championships. And after THAT Jonni is going to have a nice holliday !!

Hot weather takes it's toll....

2006-08-11T04:25:00.000-07:00

The dogs have been lazy because of the warm, warm weather that doesn't seem to cool down. I cannot remember a time when we had this warm a summer for this long ! I cannot even remeber when irained the last time this summer !!! And THAT is rare !!! So, my doggies sleep in my bed since that is the softest place. And that leaves wondering where to squeeze myself because, even though Valls ARE small dogs, they seem to need a lot of space....! But as long as they are happy ? Maybe I should get yet ANOTHER bed for me/us ?

Itching, itching....

2006-08-10T02:15:00.000-07:00

Bella has had some itchiness because I put a tick collar on her. She sometimes scratches her neck and then gets this icth-attack (as I call it) where she spins around, rolls over and/or walks by the wall scratching her back to the wall paper (which WAS white but has a brownish strip on it, at the heigth of Bella'c back...). She hates the collar but it helps ! So I cannot take it off ! Sorry ! :-(

Amos 11 years !!

2006-08-09T02:21:00.000-07:00

Bella's great granddad Amos (Lejondalens Amos-Pärson) has his 11th birthday today, the 9th of August! Congratulations to Amos and his owner/breeder Annethe Andersson !!!

Superman !

2006-08-05T22:56:00.000-07:00

Jonni in Sawo Show 5.8. 2006

Handled by Iida Villman

Thank You Iida for excellent handling !!

Puppy news from Sweden !!!

2006-08-01T22:45:00.000-07:00

Umbra with her newborn puppies !
2 males still looking for loving homes !
If interested contact kennel Rätt & Slätt !
(Link found in my pages) !

During the night between the 31st of July and the 1st of August Bella's dam Umbra gave birth to 7 new Vallhund puppies ! The proud dad is Rätt O Slätt Ozzie (owned by kennel Viking) and this is his first litter. There were 5 males (1 bob, 4 with tail) and 2 females (both with a bob) in the litter. This was Umbra's 4th litter and her 2nd to the kennel Rätt & Slätt prefix. Bella has got now 7 new half-siblings !!!
Bella congratulates both parents and especially her Mum Umbra for the birth of these new babies !

Coming up...

2006-07-29T10:40:00.000-07:00

. . . in the next few weeks : we are going to be rather busy ! Next weekend (on the 4th and 5th of August) and the Saturday after that (the 12th) we are attending dog shows. The first two are in Kuopio and the 3rd is in Sotkamo. On the 19th Jonni competes in agility since our dog club is having it's local championchips competition then. And on the 26th of August we are going to yet another dog show, this time in Ristiina. So not much rest for weekends, eh ? And MAYBE, just maybe we ARE going to take a trip to abroad later in the year . . . . but to where, that remains to be seen. ;-)

Nigths are getting darker...

2006-07-25T05:36:00.000-07:00

Nights are getting darker ! That means the autumn is not too far off ! The days get shorter quite quickly. It seems that only yesterday the nigth was a bright as the day, but now you can see the first stars !! It is sad that our short summer is about to be over, but still, I quite like the winter too.

How many ?

2006-07-23T17:48:00.000-07:00

Bella's dam Umbra is expecting a litter which is due in August. Last time she produced a litter of 8 (!) pups and it looks like she is having a big litter this time, too ! Or what do YOU think about by looking at this picture ? She is HUGE !!! The proud dad-to-be is Rätt O Slätt Ozzie from kennel Viking.

Pictures from Maaninka

2006-07-19T00:10:00.000-07:00

Jonni and his prizes !!!

The hero himself after the competition.

We had 3 Valls with us. Erja had her Eevi and I had Jonni and Bella.
Erja took care of the dogs: gave them water and took them to walks while I had other duties, like getting to know the course and things like that. We had a loads of fun !!!

Somewhere over the rainbow...

2006-07-17T14:45:00.000-07:00

This is what I whitnessed this evening. There were actually TWO rainbows, one above the other, but I couldn't capture it into the same picture. This picture doesn't do justice to the colours of the sky. They were breath taking !

Two placings in agility !

2006-07-16T10:55:00.000-07:00

Today I was competing in agility in Maaninka. The weather was quite nice, sunny but not too hot. Jonni did two nice courses and we did not get any faults. We DID however get a little overtime. Only the winner in both MINI classes went under the ideal time. But the best thing was that I got two placings: we were 2nd in the first class and 3rd on the second.
I was happy that we did get any penalties on the course. I have not practised contacts since....since the last time I was competing in Maaninka ? A long time ago anyway ! And still Jonni went very well !!! We just lacked the speed but that is no wonder since it has been so hot in here lately that we haven't been able to excersice a lot in these past few weeks ! So all and all a very nice day !!! I got two trophys which I will have to fit somewhere. I am lacking the space where to put them !!! Jonni has gathered so many prizes that I will need a bigger room to get them all in !!!

More show news...

2006-07-09T06:36:00.000-07:00

First news from Finland. In Salo 8.7. (judge Tapio Eerola) BOB and BOB-vet was Jonni's dam Fennican Yvonne Ystävä, "Vonne" !!! The next day (9.7.) in a show that was held in Karjaa (judge was Seamus Oates from Ireland) Fennican Yvonne Ystävä was BB-4. BOB in Karjaa was Fennican Ron Ronaldo ("Rolle") who got his last CAC and became a new FIN CH. Ron Ronaldo is Jonni's half-brother. They both have the same dam. Congratulations to both Vonne and Rolle for the great performances during the weekend !!!

During the same weekend (on the 8th of July) a national dog show was held in Tvååker, Sweden. 32 Valls were shown there. The judge was K. Nilsson from Sweden. BD-3 and BOB-VET was Lejondalens Amos-Pärson, who at the end of the day ended up as being a BIS-VET !!! So great news from there as well !!

Both Jonni's and Bella's relatives had a great show weekend !!!

May I present...

2006-07-08T02:49:00.000-07:00

....Bella's half-sister (they have the same Dam) Rätt O Slätt Quirina. She lives in Switzerland ! Thanks Virginie for this lovely picture !!!

Show news from Switzerland and from Sweden

2006-07-07T00:42:00.000-07:00

National dog show in Bulle (Switzerland) was held on the 2nd of July. The judge was M. Barenne from France. 8 Valls were entered.
In the Intermediate class females competed Bella's half-sister Rätt O Slätts QUIRINA (Lejondalens Dexter x Heds Umbra de Lux), owner : Mme Schenk de Stoutz. Her result was: 1ère exc. CAC Jeune & Meilleur jeune (1st exc. CAC young & BOB young). So Bella's relatives are doing great !

In Sweden there was a national dog show in Borås on the 1st of July. There were 28 Valls in the show and the judge was Louise Gäfvert-Asplund from Sweden. In Borås Bella's great grandfather Lejondalens Amos-Pärson (owner Lejondalens kennel) was BD-5 and BOB-veteran at the age of 11 years !!!
In the same show Bella's "cousin" (or more: the dam of Freja is Kaja, whose sire is Lejondalens Boris (Bella's dad) and dam Heds Cajsa De Lux (Bella's grandmother) ) Heds Freja De Lux ( owner Maud Hedberg ) was BOB-pup and finally BIS-2-pup !!! A fine achievement !!!

Hot hot hot !

2006-07-04T04:23:00.000-07:00

It is HOT in here ! We have +25 degrees Celsius in the shade ! I am melting and the dogs are just plain LAZY (no wonder, since Jonni still has his winter coat on ! He has just recently started shedding ! And it is JULY now !! What has he been thinking ?)
Well, maybe I should be glad that it is not -25 ?

Anyway, we are forced to ease our training a lot so now we are just having a summer break from all the competitions and such. I am HOPING the weather will cool down a bit soon.
Have a nice summer and if you have a holliday now.... ENJOY it !!!! WE ARE !!!!

Agility picture

2006-06-30T01:53:00.000-07:00

This picture is from Agility Championchips and is taken by Teemu Keränen. This shows Jonni's good jumping technique. He jumps like an excellent jumping horse. He hardly ever knocks a pole. He is made for agility !!!!

Agility video ?

2006-06-28T11:27:00.000-07:00

IF I succeeded in loading the video in the Picture Gallery 2 there should be a video clip taken by Milla Saari at the Finnish Agility Championchips. It contains the jumping course where Jonni and I were disqualified. Hope you can view it ? Special thanks to Milla for a) taking the video and b) sending it to me !
Outi

New pictures...

2006-06-23T08:31:00.000-07:00

There are some new pictures in the Picture Gallery 3. I have a new folder: "Juhannus ~Midsommaren 2006" where there are few pictures of my dogs relaxing. It has been warm in the past week and the dogs are just resting and trying to find the coollest place in the house.
Juhannus in a festivity that is celebrated in the Nordic coutries in the mid of the summer. The festivities in Finland contains going to a sauna, burning a big bonfire (if the weather permits), grilling food outside and just having fun with family and friends. The festivities are held at the Eve of the Midsummer Day (just like we celebrate Christmas at the Christmas Eve unlike the people in the UK, US and other Commonwealth coutries). Our summer is special because the sun doesn't set during the mid of the summer. It is light all nigth, so sleeping can be a bit difficult.
I hope you all a very happy weekend ! WE are here celebrating the Midsummer's Eve !!!

Some pics from Agility Championchips 2006

2006-06-21T14:44:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures taken by Katja Ojansivu. This shows the way Jonni executes the weavepoles. He has a good way of negotiating this obstacle.

Jonni USED to hate this obstacle, because it prevented him from running fast, but with the help of a ball (or any other toy) I got more speed into him ! Now he is quite good at this.

The "birthday girl"

2006-06-21T00:28:00.000-07:00

Miss B, Bella, Bee,..., there are lots of nicknames for our little girly from Sweden! But today, the 21st of June, was the day when my Mum and I went to Sweden and to Ulricehamn (in southern Sweden) to fetch my little girl home. I have been more than pleased with her. She has become a part of my family and she is very much loved by us all. Today we are celebrating the end of Bella's first year with us. And let there be many, many more !!!!

Summer is here ?

2006-06-10T00:42:00.000-07:00

It is June now.......! And it SHOULD be warm, sunny,....! Rigth ? Well, NO !!! We have had something like +10 degrees Celsius, sometimes even lower temperatures. It has been shining at times but the wind is COLD !!!! So we are waiting for the summer to arrive !
One GOOD thing about this cold weather is: agility training and competing is much nicer, both for me and the for the dog. And on next Sunday (the 18th) we have the Finnish Agility Championchips !!!! To which we are going !!!!!!
Greetings and Happy and WARM Summer to you all !
Happy and Proud "Mum" of Jonni, the supadog, and Miss B, Bella Bellissima !!!

Bella's first show "success" !

2006-05-29T03:44:00.000-07:00

On Sunday 28.5. Bella and I were in Suvi-Karelia dog show in Liperi/Joensuu. The judge was a dane Gert Christensen and he liked my little lady so much that Bella got her best result so far: Open Class VERY GOOD ! She was placed as second in Open Competition Class. The winner of Open Class bitches was Cimillan Electric Lady who got CAC and became a new FIN CH and finished as BB-1 and BOS ! I was thrilled at my baby's success !!! We are on the way up now !!! Pictures will follow later !!!
HUGE SMILE !!!!!!!

News from abroad

2006-05-11T04:37:00.000-07:00

USA : Jonni's half-brother Finn (F. Yahoo Finnboy) has got a new agility title. Novice Jumpers (NJC) was replaced with Open Jumpers !

CONGRATS TO MARION AND FINN !!!! Way to go !!!!

First of May is just around the corner.....

2006-04-29T11:31:00.000-07:00

First of May is approaching! The snow is almost gone now! Dogs had a field day smelling all the great fresh scents that were coming from the soft ground! And the first spring flowers are in bloom....

Difference in characters....

2006-04-26T14:07:00.000-07:00

Here trots my two Valls. Bella is showing her "fast-fast-fast" -temperament
and Jonni is being his calm "cannot-be-bothered-about-anything" self.

Happy Birthday my dearest Jonni !!!

2006-04-21T12:26:00.000-07:00

My Lovely Boy Jonni has his 6th
Birthday on April the 22nd !!!!

Happy Birthday my Lovely !!

Wishes Outi & Bella

A new picture gallery...

2006-04-18T15:45:00.000-07:00

I added a new picture gallery (number 3) which contains pictures of the first Vall meeting in Joensuu, held on Monday the 17th. This gallery is under the name "Kuvagalleria 3 : Gööttitapaaminen 17.4. 2006". You don't need words to understand the pictures... ;-)

WE DID IT !!!!!

2006-04-15T00:49:00.000-07:00

We FINALLY did it !!!
We have now all 7 clear round results needed in order for us to enter Finnish Agility Championships this year !!

I am happy but tired. I have been sick and am not yet feeling a 100% well so I have to rest a bit after yesterday's competition. Now we can start preparing for the main event !!!!

Here is a picture of last year's competition in Kuopio where we got our 6th clear round results fro the 2005 Championships. Last year we did not make it to the Championships but THIS YEAR we did !!!
I am gratefull that I have such a wonderfull dog in Jonni !!!! He is the BEST !!!!

Happy Easter !!!!

2006-04-13T08:23:00.000-07:00

New picture gallery....

2006-04-08T00:02:00.000-07:00

I have created a new picture gallery. Link on the right....

A lovely April day....

2006-04-07T08:57:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of my dogs, taken on this lovely, lovely sunny April day........!
This was the day when the sun was shining and it felt like spring for the first time !!!

You can see by the looks on their faces that the dogs were thoroughly enjoying the warmth!

Jonni had to be the tough guy since he heard the neighbour's dogs barking! He, after all, has a girl to defend !!!

Polvijärvi Group show

2006-04-01T15:38:00.000-08:00

This spring's last Group show (for us) is behind now ! We were in Polvijärvi on Saturday the 1st of April. The judge was Soile Bister. There were 4 Valls there, Jonni. Bella, Jonni's first "girlfriend" Cilla (Fennican Priscilla, who is owned by my friend Tuula) and Juuli (a Cimillan bitch, owned by Sari Pitkänen). Our ring was supposed to be out, but it was raining so they changed the ring to be held inside. The surface was some sort of paper-type thing and that made havoc to some of the dogs' movements, including mine ! Jonni could not trot properly (he had "lazy" movements) and Bella was like she was trying to move on slippery ice !

The BOB was Cilla, who got her last CAC and thus became a new FIN CH !!! I was so happy for her success !!! Could not have gone to a better place !!! Tuula is one of my best friends and she was the one that got me into Valls in the first place !!! And Cilla is such a nice girl !!! Such a lovely character !!! So a happy moment for all of us !!! Jonni was BOS being too strongly built for this judge. Bella was more bold at the show than what she had been in Eno. She has made a lot of progress lately so I have a lot of confidence that it won't take long until she can be relaxed in unfamiliar places. She was a lot calmer but still shied away from the judge, and that made the judge lower her grading. The judge did not like Bella's front also, so she got Open Class Sufficient. But she would have gotten Good if she had not been shy. She showed improvement in the way she handled herself at the venue so I was pleased for her performance. Every judge has their vision of the ideal and this judge ruled this way. Next time we'll have a new judge and she/he will have another opinion. That is the name of this game.

We have not made any new plans, so....until the next time...?

Bella's "Grand" Grandmum.....

2006-03-30T12:02:00.000-08:00

Bella's Grandmum INT CH Heds Cajsa De Lux (on the left, with her owner/breeder Maud Hedberg) was selected as the Kennel Club of Södra Älvsborg's The Veteran of The Year. This was done in the GULDHUND 2006-show. Cajsa was the Best Veteran for the second time in a row !!!

This bitch has also been BIS at the Breed Specialty TWO TIMES in a row, in 2004 and 2005 !!! So there is a Very Special Bitch !!!

Bella is proud of her "Grand" Grandmum !!!

This event, GULDHUND 2006, was held in January this year. Now it is only about 2 months to this year's Breed Specialty which is held in Simmatorp, in Southern Sweden. This year is also the 30th Jubileum of SKV so there is going to be great festivities at the show !!!! Gee,...it would be GREAT to go there !!!

Malmö INT dog show...

2006-03-25T05:07:00.000-08:00

Bella's mum, Umbra, and her half-brother Rätt o Slätt Qasper, were in the Malmö INT dog show, that was held at the 18th of March. There were 37 adults and one pup. ONLY 3 bitches and 4 males got CK (= CAC quality). Bella's brother was BOB-pup and her mum Umbra got Open Class 1 (= very good) and Open Competition Class 3. Below is Umbra's critique:

Knappt medelstor tik. Könspräglat huvud, Kraftig hals. Utmärkt rygg o bröstkorg. Tillfredsställande vinklar och benstomme. Korrekta rörelser. Typ storlek och helhetsintryck: Mycket bra.

and the same in English:

Almost medium sized bitch. Feminine head. Strong neck. Excellent back and ribbcage. Adequate angulation and bone structure. Correct movements. Type, size and general impression: very good.

The judge was Anders Cederström and he dealt out several 2s (= good)and even a 3rd (= satisfactory) in that show. So Umbra's "Very Good" was a great result !!!! BM-4 and BOB-vet was NUCH SUCH Lejondalens Amos-Pärson, who is Bella's great granddad (he is the sire of Umbra's dad)so Bella's relatives had a GREAT show weekend !!!

Bella bellissima !

2006-03-22T12:13:00.000-08:00

My lovely lady Bella has been with us for 9 months now ! It was 9 months ago on Tuesday when I picked her up from Sweden and yesterday was that 9-month-marker !
I am hoping she will be with us for many more years to come !!!! She is a giver by nature and now I have a chance to give something back to her. I wish her a long life and lots of happiness !!!

One picture tells more than 1000 words...

2006-03-18T00:20:00.000-08:00

Yesterday my dogs had a outing and they were allowed to run free...

They had a blast !!!

Two of a kind...

2006-03-07T05:46:00.000-08:00

On the left is Bella and on the right is her dam Umbra. Both look amazingly similar...if one doesn't count the tail. :-)

Herding...

2006-03-06T11:34:00.000-08:00

On Sunday the 5th of March Jonni and I went to Kitee, about 70kms from us. There lives Minna Eronen, who trains border collies for herding. She has sheep and also beef cattle. Her breeding cows were having an outing when Jonni and I arrived. Jonni tried herding with sheep but these sheep were not used to a barking herder so they fled several times, which caused Jonni to chase them and that made the sheep scatter all over the place. Minna had a border collie near by so he went and collected the sheep if Jonni made them escape.

We had a go at the cows and that seemed to suit Jonni better. He is such a "pushy" dog and he puts too much pressure on the things he herds so he might be better suited to herd cows...

We had a nice day out and we are definitely going there again !!! And next time Bella is coming with us !

Bella in Eno...

2006-02-22T07:48:00.000-08:00

This picture is taken by Sari Pitkänen.
It is quite a nice photo of my Bella, taken from Eno dog show. Bella has matured quite nicely but she has still some growing to do. She needs a bit more mass in the body but that will come with age. And also, I have been told that a bitch will mature after she has gotten her first litter so... Waiting eagerly what she will look like later this year. But so far so good !!

The picture of winners in Eno

2006-02-21T08:43:00.000-08:00

This is a picture I got from Emilia Toivonen.

I am on the left with Jonni, who was BOS in Eno Group show at the 19th of February. In the middle is our judge, Saija Juutilainen, and on the right is the BOB, the one and only: Multi Ch MultiW Fennican Geeba Gerbera with her owner/handler Kirsi Hotanen.
Geeba was a double winner on that weekend. She won the show held on Saturday in Tuusjärvi and there she was also placed as a Group-3 !!!
Geeba was a member in the Fennican breeding group in Eno and they were placed as BIS-3 !!!
Kennel Fennican had yet another success in Eno: BIS-Veteran was a 10 year old INT Ch bitch Fennican Xanga De Lux. So all and all we had a good day !!!

Pictures of the tired travellers...

2006-02-19T07:28:00.000-08:00

Show weekend Part 2

2006-02-19T04:40:00.000-08:00

Today was the last show of this weekend. Luckily this one was held in Eno, about 30 kms from us. BUT our ring was the first and started at 9 AM so we had to wake up early. Bella was still a bit upset from yesterday and was more nervous than normal, BUT she collected herself and behaved nicely in the ring (a tough little one she is !!) although the surface was NOT good for the dogs to run and she did not get good remarks on her movements. (But neither did Jonni !) Bella got the same result than yesterday: Open Class GOOD, but she had -yet again- a very promising critique.
Jonni behaved more boldly than yesterday and became BOS, losing only to Geeba. This time we managed to get a Fennican Breeding Group which got an honourary prize. Jonni was not among the group, because he had a tail and "we" had 4 bitches with bobs so they made the group. They stayed for the big ring. We came home and are all very tired. Now we can rest since neither of dogs have been entered anywhere. We DID have a quite good weekend, after all.

Show weekend Part 1

2006-02-18T07:41:00.000-08:00

Today was the first dog show of this weekend. Jonni got an EXCELLENT but lost to a dog competing in Junior Class so Jonni's placement was BD-2. So a bit of a dissappointment there. Bella however managed to get herself a promising critique from a very tough judge (there were 6 bitches and only one, Multi Ch Geeba Gerbera, got an EXC !!! She was BOB.) and got GOOD from the quality judging. It was Bella's first appearance in Open Class and she did great, despite the fact that the show was held in a narrow greenhouse (empty at the moment !) and Bella was bit nervous about the noices and the lack of free space. But in the ring she was more relaxed and I was happy about her performance. She has come far from those early days of last year! Tomorrow is a new day and after that show I will update my pages. So untill then...

Happy Valentine's Day !!!

2006-02-13T23:31:00.000-08:00

Tuesday 14.2. 9.30 AM

Happy Valentine's Day to you all !!!

Agility updates

2006-02-12T03:04:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since the last entry. So let's update !!!
We have been to two agility competitions now: 4.2. in Varkaus and yesterday, 11.2., here in Joensuu. From Varkaus Jonni got a DISQ and a clear round (our 5th qualifiyng result) and in Joensuu the results were: DISQ, clear round (0.40 overtime but up to 0.99 overtime is still a clear round !) (our 6th qualifier!!) and a clear round with 1.69 sec timefaults, so the end results was that 1.69 !!! So NOT BAD !!! We were placed second on the second course yesterday so we even got a prize !!!
Our third competition is sceduled on the 4th of March.

Next weekend both Jonni AND Bella are going to dog shows. On Satuday there is a Group show in Tuusniemi and on Sunday there is a Group show in Eno. Both are close to us, Tuusniemi is about 70 kms and Eno about 30 kms from us.

Updates....

2006-01-31T04:39:00.000-08:00

Well, a lot has happened since I last wrote to this diary. On Wednesday I got sick; I got a stomach flu :-( and was out of action for 4 days. On Sunday we had the last round of our presidential elections and our sitting president Tarja Halonen was elected for another 6 year term !!! Jippee !!! Also on Sunday: I had to go to train agility because Jonni has a competition on next Saturday and he has not trained in weeks !!! So I took both dogs with me and did something "small". Both of them did fine, which was nice. Bella is improving with big leaps and I am so happy about that !! :-) She and Jonni are having a "battle of wills", who is the top dog in our house. Jonni is being a gentleman and lets Bella get away with a lot of things. But occationally he gets pissed about her and lets her have it. But very rarely !! Bella is trying to climb up the hiearchy but I am trying to keep her feet on the ground. She has developed into a quite confident young LADY and she is a very loving companion !!! A real gem !!! I am soo happy to own her !!!

Warmer again !

2006-01-23T10:39:00.000-08:00

The weather changed rapidly today. From the brisk -26 in the morning to barely -7 in the evening !!! The wind is hard now and it snows a lot !

Bella is happy because she HATED the cold !!! On the right you can what she thought about the weather we were having this past week or so !

Hopefully this "warm" weather lasts 'till weekend. It would be nice to be able to train agility again....

COLD !!!

2006-01-20T23:10:00.000-08:00

Today we hit this winter's record low temperature (lowest here in Joensuu) !!! Our thermometer showed -29 degrees Celsius !!! This is the coldest day this winter (so far !) in here, although Joensuu is NOT the coldest place in Finland: they had measured just below -42 degrees Celsius in Lappland just the other day........!!!!!!
Jonni thrives in the cold: he rolls on the ice/snow and is very lively. Bella, on the other hand, is NOT at all happy about the coldness !!!! She lifts her feet up one at a time and makes these funny bunny-hops when she trots forward. She was VERY glad to come inside from the cold just now, when we returned from our brisk morning outing. I HOPE this cold, cold weather won't last too long ! There is NO way we can train agility in this weather and we SHOULD be having our first competition in just little over 2 weeks...! :-(

Agility training...

2006-01-17T04:00:00.000-08:00

Me and Jonni have now two training sessions in agility behind us. All has gone more than well. Jonni has been very excited and he is much faster now in the course. AND he allowes more sideway distance between me and him while he is jumping. He used to be a "velcro"-dog but NOT ANYMORE !!! :-) Maybe the training course of Janita Leinonen helped us. She made us work towards more independent work from the dog during the course.
I have entered Jonni to two agility competitions already. My aim is to get those 3 "missing" clear rounds as soon as possible. When we get them we have no pressure to compete much. I CAN but I don't have to !!! I can do other things and/or concentrate on training. I have also entered both dogs to a Group 5 show in Tuusniemi, about 70 kms from us. I am doing these smaller shows so I can let Bella get used to indoor shows before she has to go to a bigger one. She has only done one indoor show here in Finland. If she had any in Sweden I am not sure. She has grown somewhat during these past few months and she looks good now ! I am hoping she has gained enough confidence to be able to show herself to her best in shows. I am not expecting her to be a show star but I AM aiming for the CH title... One day perhaps !?

New year has started...

2006-01-02T09:21:00.000-08:00

New year has started with a good note. Bella has proven to be totally unaffected by shooting and fireworks. When our neighbours were firing fireworks and there were loud noises everywhere BOTH my dogs were snoring in the sofa and/or in my bed !!! So I need not have worried about how Bella might react !!! :-D

Today was my first day at work. I am a bit tired but it was nice to go back. Today was also a bit stressful for Bella, since she had gotten used for me being home all the time. Now when I was gone most of the day she was feeling a bit down, but when I got home she gave me a heck of a welcome ! There was one VERY extremely happy little Vall !!!

Soon our competition and show season will start. Our first competition is scheduled on February the 4th. We have an agility competition in Varkaus and I have planned to enter Jonni there. And on the 18th and 19th of February we have two group shows where both dogs are to be entered. So soon our "lazy days" are over !!! Now it time for training and waiting and preparing for things to come...

New Year is coming !

2005-12-30T01:12:00.000-08:00

30.12. Tomorrow is the New Year's Eve !!! How the time flies when you are having fun ! I have had a good year. First I got my degree from the University of Joensuu, then there was Jonni's successes in the agility competitions with many clear rounds and other good results. Then there was Bella. Her coming to my life was something that I had waited for a long, long time !!! Now I have this wonderful little lady who is bringing such joy to all our lives. And hopefully, in the future, she will be the brood bitch I searcher for a long time. And what else ? I got a nice job which still continues on the new year, how long, remains to be seen. So all and all, everything is the way they should be! My brother had a serious illness but is recovering after an operation. So all is well in that front, too. So, what more is ther to say but

Happy New Year 2006 everybody !!!

2005-12-25T04:58:00.000-08:00

25.12. Bella's first Christmas in Finland is now behind her. We had a lovely time yesterday. We all thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere that is present at Christmas time. All our closest people gathered together, enjoying the good food and having a great time. The dogs got their share of the food and even got presents !
Bella has found her place in our family. She is a lovely young lady and I have high hopes for her in the future ! She will be a wondefull mother when the time comes for her to get her first litter.