Folke 20 months - and some summer snapshots

... and some snapshots from the summer that was

The sea is da shit (especially waves):

Freestyle performance at Ronneby International show:

Österlen:

Boss - 6 years old:

Freestyle - LinköpingX4, July 25-26. Videos

Practising at our boarding house.

Folke and I have had a very intense weekend together with Victoria and her shapendoes Pommac and Payas. Linköping's dog club arranged 4 competitions in 2 days and I entered in all - competing in Class 1 twice on Saturday and twice on Sunday.

Freestyle competitions are not very frequent unfortunately and since I am a newbie when it comes to competing (which differs quite a lot from just watching) -I enter in everything within three hours driving distance. I need to practise, watch and learn. Since the regulations are so vague and confusing - learning by doing is pretty much the way to learn.

Waiting - in the shade - for our turn.

So what did I learn - well as mentioned before - A LOT. Apart from all the tricks I now want to learn I also found out that:

1) Folke's stamina and joy is impressive. We watched several dogs blacking out in the ring, focusing on everything but the handler or just sitting there doing nothing.

Folke never quit wagging his tail and lasted 3 competitions. Both Folke and I had a mental melt down in the last competition. I forgot to do one of the mandatory tricks which meant a huge point reduction - and Folke's brain was just very tired, but he was still a happy lad and wanted to co-operate and did his best.

It's just so much fun to have such a dog - he is still very young, there were bitches on heat around and dogs everywhere, loud music from early morning until late afternoon, no routine from before..and...he was the sweetest boy and did a great job!

Team Anatnaq - Sharing bed and food at the boarding house.

2) Where we sat we could hear handlers repeating commands several times and/or giving a command and the dog did something entirely different and they still managed to get high scores - while we got in our critics that we had double commands and some miscommunications.

Took us a little while but then we realised that the more experienced handlers did as many tricks as possible as far away from the judges as possible. So both Victoria and I followed their example and moved down in the ring, away from the judges. Part of the points is on how well you use the ring space - but you can do simple position work or tricks you know the dog will do without any problem covering the ring with those and then move down for the more critical ones.

This is one of the reasons why I cannot understand why the freestyle regulations do not state that the judges must sit on opposite sides.

We did not get any scratched over and altered points this time eventhough the judges sat next to eachother - and the points did differ so that was good.

Victoria slepping to Heel Work to Music.

3) Repetitions means reduction in points. This resulted in me taking one minute of my 2.20 minute long programme and re-thinking the entire choreograpy to fit everything in. We realised this 7.30 Sunday morning and I was first in the ring at 9.45. This also meant a whole new way of thinking as I thought it was okay to do tricks more than once to fit the music and to have a nice programme. I had totally missed the part in the written regulations saying that - and it seems again that the rules are too vague in order to guide the judges the right way as some repetitions - such as doing the same position work over and over again seemed to be okay but other repetitions not.

4) Freestyle regulation is very confusing. You need 70 points (39 in technical parts) out of 100 to qualify for Class 2, BUT in order to get your Class 1 title (FSD1) you need 80points X 3. If someone has the logical explanation to that please share - neither of us could figure it out. If you are good enough to qualify for a more advanced level one would think that you should also qualify for the title - obedience for instance work that way.

We realised this Sunday morning as we checked the rules and regulations again - a bit of a disappointment as I thought I was 2 down on the way to the title as everybody at the competition focused on qualifying for Class 2 and the speaker congratulated everyone who reached 70 points and more. Nobody put any extra attention to the ones getting over 80 points. Strange!

A very clever programme where the handler and dog illustrated a

comedy song with tricks and different items. Great entertainment.

5) That you can compete before lunch - and then judge a competition in the afternoon.

Okay - you compete against yourself really, the podium just gives it that extra touch and excitement, but still. I guess I am too much of a dog show person where people would be very upset if people responsible for the show competed or if a judge showed one day and judged the other.

6) That there is always a nice surprise and entertainment around the corner when watching freestyle. Like the 35+ handler who brought a feather boa and a golden mask in the ring (as that is what the music artist has on stage) and had an outfit showing half her belly - walking around showing herself off looking at the audience and judges through her mask but had very little contact with her dog and did a really bad programme, running around the ring having the dog chasing the flickering feather boa as some kind of a position work as the dog would never have followed her otherwise. After she finished people had to come in the ring and help her clean up all the feathers. She did this programme more than once so it was not a theory gone wrong in reality.

We quietly laughed at the programme and the costume as it was so over the top and that it was obvious that she would get bad scores using the boa to keep her dog's attention.

Well, we had to eat that laugh as she was the judge the same afternoon and of course got a good score. There were some costumes she didn't quite get - as she wrote in the critics - and thus did not give the highest score. He he he having watched freestyle pretty much from the beginning before it became an official sport I can say that she belongs to a dying freestyle generation dating back a decade or so.

Many of the real pro's did not have any outfit at all - which I quite like as I hate trying to figure out how little I can get away with but still get the highest score for costume.

7) That you can compete with a Great Dane and really capture the audience and adapt the music and movements to fit the rather slow breed and still get high scores. Truly impressive and just what the Freestyle sport needs among all the border collies and poodles. It was fun to see the diversity in breeds as well as handlers. Folke and the Great Danes were the largest breeds there with the nearest size about 25 kilos lighter than Folke, large breeds are still not very common in the freestyle ring unfortunately - but I think it is just a matter of time. Handlers ranged from young girls to ladies in their mid 50's.

The results:

Folke got 76 points both competitions the first day and 77,5 the first competition the second day - getting a qualifying score for Class 2, 3 times out of four. He was also 6 out of 29 competitors at the first competition Saturday morning and 10 out of 27 the second competition.

Video: The long programme - 76 points

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLZI-kbNDfE

Video: The shorter programme - 77,5 points

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_mu0uttnX0&NR=1

I was very happy about the results and our increase in points from our first try. I took off 1 minute of our programme the second day which gave us a slightly higher score. It was a bit frustrating to get that close to 80 points and I had to remind myself that we haven't practiced for very long and hardly competed at all - I have to rememeber to put things into perspective really.

Victoria - who competed with her shapendoes Pommac and Payas - shared the podium with herself at one of the competitions on Sunday winning gold and bronze. She scored over 80 points twice with Pommac and once with Payas (I have videos of her programmes as well but since she is a hard hitter I do not dare publishing them without her consent). Well done - the Schapendoes Mafia is on the move!

Victoria - a slightly more happy camper on the Sunday than on the Saturday

as she got to share the podium with herself.

I am already planning new tricks and I am eager to get started. Pity there are no competitions around for the rest of this year.

Video - Folke playing fetch

Played with Folke last night down at lake Trummen - he loves playing fetch. Nothing particular about it really, but I was very proud after the water work as Folke went left when I told him to. Left in our world is "go" as I find it a bit hard to separate left from right -or the other way around - fast enough, I'm a bit slow there and I blame it entirely on my genes as other family members suffer from the same disability. I threw the water dummy before the ones on land but sent Folke on the land dummies first. By the time we moved over to fetch the one in the water it had floated away quite a bit. I practised left-right, that is go-fetch, on a really basic level a while back, seems like some parts hit home. Yeeey!

Show results - Tvååker July 12, 2009

6 curlies entered in Tvååker, two dogs and the rest bitches - no puppies. Folke got his second yellow ribbon, judge was Rita Kadike Skadina, Lithuania. She disliked his entire being - a strong dislike that begun when she saw his somewhat open bite. She returned and looked at it about four-five times just for the cause I guess as she saw it the first time she opened his mouth.



I don't really understand why she had to go back and go through the front of his mouth that many times - but then again not much in her judging made sense to me anyways. In a way it was very kind of her - although I have a slight feeling she didn't mean it that way - as Folke got to practice and behaved very well.

The critics were quite "interesting" as well and compared to the other critics Folke has received this does not sound like the same dog being judged:
masculine head, bite not correct, strong body, angulation should be better, very short steps, narrow in front, too straight behind.

Folke´s somewhat open bite was worth nothing more than a third price, while the same judge rewarded individuals with no curls 1st price with a CK and BOB to a curly with huge and clearly visible bald patches - where is the sense in that? I don't know and I can only shake my head in amazement at the lack of common sense.

In a working breed like a curly I would say that most people would opt for the one that could work or go with you an entire day no matter temperature or weather.

An open bite is a physical error, so is bald patches and a bad over all coat - which would last the longest in the field? I do not think I need to further explain which one I believe is more severe in a curly.

But okay - give an open bite a third price BUT - please be consistent and give the same to other severe errors like bald patches and no coat. In my opinion, judging like Rita Kadike Skadina clearly indicates a lack of commitment, common sense and breed knowledge.

We still had a great day - it's not as if I am not used to being thrown out if the ring with Folke every now and then. Lena was placed 5th out of 10 in open class and Inez behaved really well.

Stretching before entering the ring.

We also brought with us an american cocker - Lena's father's - that was trimmed down. The American Cockers were in the same ring as the Welsh Springers and we put up our tent next to that ring and walking pass with crates and a tent and initially only with a trimmed down american cocker resulted in a few lifted eye brows. Pretty amusing!

Yes - there are three dogs in the photo.

Show results - Folke's 2nd challenge, Gränna June 14th - 09.

Folke won his 2nd challenge today under Jana Janekova, Slovakia. 3 curlies entered, one Curly Cottage puppy, one Aristocurls bitch in champion class and then Folke in intermediate. The bitch was BOB and Folke BOS - she thought he had tiny bit too much skin under his neck (??)


I was very pleased he got his 2nd challenge but it was not the greatest win so to speak. No competition and the judge - although very friendly and polite - was a bit tense and almost seemed scared of the dogs. Guess she might have been bitten. It was hard to say how much she knew about curlies but I´d say not very much.


Folke behaved well and was as happy as ever - as always - but it is much easier to get him to move now - he is just veeeeery eager.

Folke´s critics (my own translation):
18 months old, a little big, wonderful head, nice body, lovely developed body, correct angles, correct hindquarters, lovely movements.

I also got the privilege to handle my friend's flat coated Sanos as she was not able to go herself - a lovely boy with wonderful movements who showed his butt off. Folke was very happy to have a friend at the show grounds and Sanos got the taste of being worshipped by a curly - I'd say Ulrika won't have to clean Sanos ears within the nearest future.

Stage fright and performance anxiety?

Naaah not at all...tomorrow is D-day but the aim is realistic - that Folke stays in the ring and that we won't get disqualified!

It's going to be great fun to see what happens in a competition situation and what we need to practice on.

Preparing for the stage part 1. - Rolling Around

Folke and I are getting closer to beginners class in reestyle, or Heelwork to Music as it is also called.

We haven't quite started to do the tricks to music yet but Folke is a keen pupil and learns amazingly fast so I think we'll actually have something to put together to a programme. His newest trick is to roll around which he understood after about 3 times of being told to lay down and then getting slightly pushed on his shoulder.

Next plan is to have him roll around several times in a row without getting up imbetween - haven't introduced that yet but I'm working on my body language as I think it would look pretty nice if I bend down and kind of flow with him as he rolls, which will also help him continue rolling - teaching him to get up when I stand up straight again.

Show results - SSRK Moheda, March 1, 2009

Mitt i flytten bar det iväg till Moheda för att ställa Folke i juniorklass. Denna gången hade vi marginalerna på vår sida och Folke var 1dag från unghundsklass. 5 curlies var anmälda, 4 hanar och 1 tik.
Tiken - Aristocurls Havanna som gick i unghundsklass - blev BIR.
BIM blev Ringlets Nattfrost - en hane ur unghundsklass.
Folke blev 2a bästa hane med CK och slog två öppenklasshanar, Magriss Get It Right (1CK) och Oneiros (1).
Ringlets Nattfrost och Folke hade olika förtjänster, framförallt var den andra hanen mer mogen i sina rörelser och vann på det. Det hela kändes klart relevant, rättvist och bra dömt.

Swedish spaniel and retreiver show in Moheda, 5 entries, 4 dogs and 1 bitch:
BOB: Aristocurls Havanna (intermediate bitch)
BOS: Ringlets Nattfrost (intermediate dog)
Folke was second best dog and won over two Open dogs; Magriss Get it Right (1CK) and Oneiros (1). Ringlets Nattfrost and Folke had different strengths, the other dog was older and more mature in his movements which was why he won. The judging felt relevant and fair.

Folke var väldigt ivrig i ringen och har uppfört sig bättre, helt okay fram och tillbaka men när vi skulle springa runt var han smått övertänd och okoncentrerad, skuttade, galopperade, passade...ja smått bedrövlig..men glad, och jag anser fortfarande att allt som räknas fram till öppenklass är glädje i ringen - sedan kan man börja ställa lite mer krav successivt.
Folke was very eager in the ring and has behaved better, he was okay back and forth but running in a circle naah not so very well behaved....he jumped, went for the leash etc and was just the biggest clown...but happy as ever...and I am still of the opinion that everything before open class is all about having fun in the ring so I'm not all that bothered.

Domare var Ove Germundsson som var underbar i ringen - väldigt vänlig och helt super med hundarna. Första domaren jag har hört säga det han sa när Folke - som var först i rasen - gick in i ringen "Här kommer en curly och det är en ras så vacker så man kan gråta". Kul att höra!

The judge was Ove Germundsson who was just the lovliest person, he was friendly and easy-going and really good with the dogs. Folke was first in his breed and I have never before heard a judge say what Ove said as Folke entered the ring "Here comes a curly, a breed so beautiful you could cry".

Folkes kritik:

Typ och Helhetsintryck: Utmärkt

15mån hane av utmärkt modell. Underbart huvud och uttryck. Utmärkt hals och rygg. Runt kors. Kunde bära svansen bättre. Bra ben och tassar. En bra helhet, behöver utvecklas mer i rörelserna.

Folkes critics (my own translation):

Type and general impression: Excellent

15month old male of excellent type. Beautiful head and expression. Excellent neck and back. Round rump. Could carry his tail in a better way. Nice feet and bone. A nice overall impression but needs to develop in his movements.

"Snowmotion"

Fortfarande snö, och det passar mig såväl som hundarna. Rundorna är helt fantastiska och det enda negativa jag kan komma på är att i princip allt vatten är fryst så inget för Folke att simma i, och sedan är det lite frustrerande med hala vägar när en splirrans ny cykel och oinvigd springer bara väntar på att få användas - speciellt när det snart är utställningar och Folke envisas med att passgå.
We still have a bit of snow - which suits both me and the dogs perfect. The walks are wonderful and the only downside I can come up with is that every lake and waterhole is ice which gives Folke nothing to swim in, it's also a bit frustrating to have a new bicycle and a never used springer - especially since shows are coming up and I need to get Folke comfortable running the right way. Icy roads are icy roads and it will just have to wait.


The ground is full of free icecream (Folke and Ceasar)


One of Folke´s favourite streams, now almost completely frozen but still lots of fun.

Flytt på gång och då är det ju alltid bra att ha stillat sitt samvete med en långpromenad tidigt på dagen så subjektet för det dåliga samvetet är ordentligt slutkörd. Blev tillfrågad av Ulle på jobbet igår om vi ville hänga med på promenix runt Lövsjön idag - strålande timing. Efter 2,5h runda var Folke lagom mör och redo att lägga nosen i blöt i precis allt som ska rensas och packas - men det är ju trevligt att grabben känner sig delaktig och jag är säker på att han kommer att vara lika pigg på att packa upp. Dessvärre kommer inte fullt lika många saker finnas tillgängliga för Folke TLC när det ska packas upp.
Moving to a new apartment this week which means lots of time spent sorting and packing. Spent 2,5 hours outdoors with a bunch of other dog people walking around the lake Lövsjön, which meant that Folke was pretty tired by the time we got home and ready to put his nose in every little thing that was sorted and packed - I guess it's nice he feels he is a part of it and I'm sure he will be equally enthusiastic when the time comes to unpack everything. Unfortunately not all that many things will be handed over to him to wreck as when sorting and packing.

Folke and Faye - best mates. Hm...what about some crossbreds...

6000-7000 per puppy...anybody interested??? I think the coat would be lovely!

After quite a few bum-shots, there she is...Folke has got good taste I must say.

Fick idag veta att två av Folkes bröder är röntgade och båda har A-höfter. Lättnad som alltid i HD-sammanhang och ett stort grattis till bröder med familj!

Found out today that two of Folke´s brothers have been x-rayed and both are A´s. A great relief and congrats to brothers with families.

Julfirande / X-mas celebrations

Folkes första jul som en Backman, och Kellies 12e.

Julen föregicks av en hel del julstök - Folke medverkade som provsmakare av varenda smet, deg (inte jästdegarna av uppenbara skäl), knäck- och fudgesmet och höll mig även troget sällskap under diskning och undanplockning. Kellie var inte fullt lika engagerad utan sussade sött i biabädden i vardagsrummet - troligtvis för att hon, efter 12 år, är väl medveten om den strikt tillämpade rättviseprincipen som råder. Folke gjorde grovjobbet i köket och Kellie fick utdelning utan att behöva lyfta en klo. Smart gammal dam!

Folke´s first X-mas as a Backman, and Kellie´s 12th.

X-mas was preceded by a great deal of x-mas preparations - Folke participated as a sampler of every batter, dough (not yeast ones for obvious reasons) and fudge goo and he also kept me company when cleaning up. Kellie was not all that involved and snored away on her bed in the livingroom - probably because she is well aware of the strictly applied "fairness down to the last detail" which meant that Folke did the heavy job in the kitchen and she could harvest without any effort.

Fudge is yummi!

Julen firades på Julafton hos mina föräldrar på landet - med 4 kryllisar blev det mycket, mycket bus. På Juldagen firade vi jul hos Pärs familj i stan. Så grymt skönt med ledighet och att få så mycket dagsljus - att kunna gå med hundarna lösa i skog och mark även en vardag - lyx!

X-mas Eve was celebrated on the countryside at my parent´s place . X-mas day was spent with Pär's family in the city where we celebrated X-mas once more. Luxury to get two X-mases.
It's nice to have some time off and to get so much daylight - being able to spend time with the dogs in the forest on a weekday, having them running loose.

Hundarna fick paket i vanlig ordning, Folke fick en megalatexgris som grymtar och Kellie fick ett pipmjukisdjur - båda fick även levergodis.
The dogs got x-mas parcels as usual. Folke got a mega latex pig that grunts and Kellie got a squeeky soft toy - and both got plenty of dog treats.

In front of the X-mas tree


Waiting for X-mas gifts

Folke opening one of his X-mas gifts.

Kellie with one of her gifts.

Jag fick massor av kläder, skor m.m, de julklappar som var mer åt det hundiga hållet var dock en avbitartång att ha i bilen (så jag kan klippa upp hundburen om vi råkar ut för en olycka - en tanke som bekymrat mig en tid) och boken "Retrievern som apportör". Fick även en alldeles egen cykel! En snygg monark damcykel, med tillhörande springer att montera på. Längtar efter att få ge mig ut på den första cykelturen med Folke.

I got plenty of clothes, shoes etc, the gifts that were more "doggy" though were a pair of cutting pliers to have in my car (the thought of not getting the dogs out in case of an accident has haunted me lately so this was a perfect gift) and a book about retrieving. I also got my very own bicycle! A black posh Monark. I also got a "springer" and I am really looking forward to taking Folke out for a run next to the bicycle.

Var ute och tränade Folke idag, körde enbart markeringar. Fortfarande dryg tonåring men det funkar ändå hyfsat och det var riktigt roligt. Kellie har fått nya smärtstillande och var ung på nytt och skuttade runt i skogen. Folke slarvade på en markering och vips kom Kellie skuttande och rofade åt sig dummyn - Folke tyckte det var för jäkligt. Jag vet inte om det var ren inbillning men jag tyckte han skärpte till sig efter det.

Margareta och jag har satt upp ett mål - hon ska lära Pintje en konst i veckan och jag ska lära Folke en. En konst i veckan kan ev. vara hybris men försöka går ju. Har försökt lära Folke att vinka några gånger, Kellie började vifta med tassen efter ca. 10 sekunder....Folke är väldigt mycket mer tålmodigt än så och hitedags har jag inte lyckats få honom frustrerad nog att ta till tassen.

Folke going crazy trying to get rid of his x-mas ribbon.

Folke 1 år / Folke 1 year

Den första soliga dagen på evigheter - räserfart ut till Margareta för att få 1årskort på Folke. Inte hundra nöjd med ställandekortet eftersom han står lite ur i fronten - men det duger.

The first sunny day in ages - raced out to Margareta to get some headshots and stackingphotos of Folke at 1 year of age. Not 100 percent happy with the stacking photo as he leans a little bit backwards which affects the appearance of his front - but it will do.

Hos Daghusse / At daycare

En presentation av daghusse Timothy, en universitetsstudent som stillar mitt samvete genom att roa Folke och Kellie när jag jobbar på dagarna (och ibland även på kvällarna när jag jobbar över) .
A presentation of my babysitter Timothy, a university student who silences my guilty conscience by entertaining Folke and Kellie while I am at work.

"Eeeeh jag hör inte vad du säger men du ser grymt rolig ut",

det krävs talang och fantasi för att roa en döv 12+:are.

"Eeeeeh...I don't hear a word of what you´re saying but you

look hilarious", it takes talent and a great deal of fantasy to

entertain a deaf +12 year-old.

Killerinstinct

Goooooos /Cuuuddles

Folke 10,5 mån/ Folke 10,5 months

SOS Tonåring

På TV just nu går ett program som heter SOS Familj där familjer får hjälp med ungdomar som behandlar sina föräldrar som paria och som har attitydproblem eller bara är allmänt disträ.
OM Folke nu varit min människoson och inte min fyrbenta son hade vi som familj utan tvekan kvalat in till det programmet de senaste dagarna.
Jag tror rätt så bestämt att det var i torsdags han fick en extra hormon i kombination med massiv tillväxt i hjärnan som gjort att nervbanorna inte hunnit med så de enda som fungerar är de till och från nosen och snoppen, och det mina vänner är ingen bra kombination.
Var ute och tränade ett bra tag igår – linjetag över hinder och markeringar.
Folke har varit lätt att träna innan och fattat väldigt snabbt när vi jobbat på eventuella problem ihop…nu var det 300 steg bakåt….
Vi behöver träna avlämningar så därför så körde jag en trippelmarkering där enda fokus var att få in dummiesen och koncentrera träningen på avlämningarna. Detta innebar att jag slängde ut dem på kort avstånd, en klart åt höger vid ett träd, en klart i mitten mot ett träd och en klart åt vänster på mot ett träd….Folke fick själv välja då det problem vi främst haft tidigare är att han gärna väljer turordningen själv…jodå … första gick bra och sedan när jag skickar igen fattar han inte mycket…koncentrationsspann på 1 minut! Since when??? Så det var bara att flytta tillbaka träningsnivån till basic basic, samma med linjetag…där har vi tidigare i veckan tränat långa linjetag och över hinder (mur, staket, dike etc), stött på vissa problem men haft en bra dialog och koncentrationsnivå och det har varit riktigt roligt att lösa dem tillsammans.

Inte alls som det tonåringsdisträ som infunnits sig de senaste dagarna och som kulminerade på jaktträningen idag. Man ska sluta på topp heter det – Folke kör raka motsatsen, man ska sluta på rock bottom så kan det bara bli bättre.

Vilken dag det har varit – för det första vaknade jag kl.7.30 av Kellies ljuvliga andedräkt 1cm från näsan ”jag behöver bajsa jag behöver bajsa jag beh….” … jag mumlar yrvaken att hon kunde väl tänkt på det när jag var ute med henne kl.2. men det var bara att pälsa på sig och gå ut.

På väg till jaktträningen mellanlandade jag hos Margareta för dagens höjdpunkt utan konkurrens – korttagning!
Vi var ute i skog och mark i nästan 1,5h och tog kort på både Kellie och Folke. Jag tränade Folke en hel del på markeringar och det var nästan så gamla goa Folke var tillbaka, passade på att skryta lite och kallade in med visselpipan i skogen för att testa men givetvis för att impa – lika bra att erkänna. Folke är suverän på visselpipeinkallning – han formligen vänder i luften och kommer galopperande och jag spricker av stolthet. Avlämningarna satt med ett par undantag – ja det bådade gott för jaktträningen helt enkelt.

Men nej, säg den lycka som varar – Folke satt iofs när två hundar stack under sitt-kommando i grupp medan vi la ut dummies, jag var riktigt stolt med tanke på att det var två brudar som stuckit, dessutom på varsin sida om honom.
Folke är ju dock inte dum utan såg att jagtittade på honom och väntade därför ut min ryggtavla och brudarna när de blivit platsade igen - då slog han till... smög sig över och vips var det "juck på liten jaktlabbetik" som var sporten för dagen.
När vi gick på linje knallade han ett par gånger – och han var inte intresserad av att gå fot - nej jag håller mig en meter ifrån dig matte och jag tänker inte lyssna på eventuella invändningar…totalt disträ hela träningen och bara fokus på brudarna, förutom när vi gick på linje med apportpistol och han ägde världen och sket i mig.

Just nu känner jag mig som en enda stor pungklåda i Folkes liv och jag kommer i princip helt lägga ner träning i en vecka och sedan testa så smått.
Blir jag arg när han springer ut oh misslyckas – nej, snarare frustrerad men då vet jag vad jag ska träna på och får nyttig feedback från resten av gruppen. Blir jag arg när han smygbryter ett sittkommando för att jucka på en labbetik, knallar och skiter fullkomligt i mig – ja lätt vansinnig, har räknat till 10 många gånger under dagen.

Som tur var så var det fler hundar som var till salu, Folke var därmed inte den enda med ett Blocket-annonshot hängande över sig. Eftersom vi hade en flatte, en curly och en labbe till salu sa vi att vi skulle kunna samköra annonseringen ”3st retrievrar till priset av 1”.

Eftersom Folke i sin ofokuserade passivitetsträning lyckades få i sig en hel del gyttja och koskit avslutade han kvällen med att spy ner sig själv, Kellie och alla filtar bak i bilen.
Vips så skulle kvällen inte avslutas med horisontellt läge framför TVn utan istället bad av två stinkbomber.

Visst är det roligt med hund!

Show results - Sofiero 20080914

An entry of 14 curlies and Folke´s first time in junior class.

I was there early as I wanted to walk around and have dog-people go through him - experience has taught me that this makes the dogs happier and more confident in the ring - I usually do this with puppies and juniors. Since dog shows are full of people who knows what it is about and how to act I find it better to do it on location than for example outside the supermarket.

Folke behaved perfectly in the ring, the judge, Svend Lövenkjaer, was very thorough and went through Folke´s entire body - which was good practice and Folke wagged is tail all the way down to the rear paws. The judge was really nice and I agreed with his overall judging.

Folke was first out in the ring as the bitch puppy was absent he was the only one in junior and got 1 with Hp. I was really pleased with Folke and we got what we came for - a fun time in the ring and a judge that was good practice. I must admit that I was a bit disappointed at first over the fact that he didn't get a CK but I soon realised that I should be greatful for the red ribbon and HP as lots of curlies left the ring with a blue ribbon (a further illustration - out of 26 flatcoat dogs only 6 got a CK) . I could also see his point - Folke is far from ready and the critics we got were just:

(my own translation)
Nice size and over all impression. nice body proportions, good gender characteristics, nice proportions between head and fore face, nice expression, beautiful neck and back, good tail setting, could have a bit better forefront and be wider in the front, straight fore legs, stands a little bit outwards with his front paws, muscular thighs, moderate knee angles but still a bit unstable in the hook both when stacked and on the run. Correct coat, moves freely but a bit narrow.

Waterloo´s Vision of Love -a norwegian bred bitch - won BOB and Magriss Give Me Five was Runner Up BOB.

As always when going on shows on my own I make new friends and meet interesting people, this time I met some Lagotto people who lived in New York for several years - really nice people who also did me the favour of taking some photos. Also met up with some dog people I haven't met in ages - great fun!

Curly till salu / Curly for sale

Bilden talar för sig själv / The photo speaks for itself

8 månader och hans första parningsförfrågan - helgalet! / 8 months and his first stud enquiry - crazy!

Tillbringat nära en vecka på landet och sedan 3 dagar på Österlen. Har lite bilder och lite jag ska skriva om det men jag kan inte hålla mig till den kronologiska ordningen då jag inte kan hålla mig utan måste berätta om Folkes första parningsförfrågan bums.

I måndags var jag, Margareta, Pär och Folke i Simrishamn, strosade längs gatorna, kikade i affärer och avslutade det hela med en glass i hamnen. När vi var klara gick jag till en soptunna med Folke i ena handen och glasskräpet i den andra, när jag vänder mig om för att gå mot bilen har en fin dam i 50-årsåldern med en collieblandning dykt upp precis bakom och frågar:
”Får de hälsa?”
Jag är inte superförtjust i påflugna människor som prompt tycker att alla hundar bara måste hälsa på varandra för att leva ett rikt och lyckligt liv - men eftersom hon släppt fram sin hund och Folke tyckte det var superkul kom jag mig inte för att säga nej utan sa:
”eeeeh…ja???….han e valp och inte så fin i kanten än men det går väl bra”
”Vad fin han är, vad är det för något?”
”Det är en Curly Coated Retriever”
Överförtjust ”Jaaahaaaaa….så det är inte en nerrakad pudel? Haha”
”Nej…”
Vid det här laget tyckte jag att Folke var lite väl burdus och vad jag tolkade som valpig – helt galen – så jag började dra honom mot mig med en lätt ursäktande min.
”Ja hon höglöper förstår du så jag letar efter en lämplig kavaljer – är det mycket jakt i honom?”
Meeen va faaaaaa….hann jag tänka….Folke valpig – yeah right!….han hade just lärt sig allt om blommor och bin alldeles på egen hand…jag har aldrig hört talas om ngt liknande…lite utav en chock att hon ville att min 8 månaders valp skulle sätta på hennes collieblandning i hamnen enbart med hans utseende som referens (och på samma gång lära en drös med glassätande, semestrande småbarn hur bebisar blir till - på första parkett!) Hon blarrade på några ord till och tittade beundrande på Folke när jag bara snoppade av med:
”Jag sysslar bara med renrasigt” vände på klacken och gick….inte fullt så graciöst och stolt som jag tänkt mig utan snarare med stor möda och väldigt mycket böjd framåt då Folke inte alls var pigg på att lämna sin första förälskelse.

Margareta – som tyckte det var pinsamt och lämnat scenen redan när hon frågade om de fick hälsa - och jag ältade det hela i bilen och skrattade och förundrades och sa ”ja herregud” säkert vartannat ord. Pär tyckte också det hela var rätt roligt …men sög på den bästa karamellen i säkert en kvart innan han sa:
”Ja hon gick förbi och vände sig sedan om och kollade på Folke länge när jag satt utanför den där affären ni var inne i och hon hade en man med sig då”-
”VA??? Vad säger du??? Och den har du suttit och hållit på?!!!!!”
”Ja fast då hade hon ju ingen hund med sig…”
Margareta och jag kreverade av skratt, kärringen (utbyt från dam till kärring då Folke var helt olidlig när han såg andra tikar resten av Österlenvistelsen) hade alltså spanat in Folke, valt ut honom som ”kavaljer” (som hon så fint kallade det), sprungit hem och hämtat sin tik och sedan letat rätt på oss. Sanslöst!!!!!

Så här i efterhand ångrar jag ju lite att jag inte spelade med och frågade mer om tiken "Vad är det hos din tik som gör att du anser att hon ska gå i avel?", "Vad har hon för HD/AD statistik, är hon ögonlyst?" eller ”Javisst, 3000 i språngavgift och sedan 2000kr per valp – fin hund det här vettu - eller så kan vi säga 15.000 här och nu”.
Sedan väntar man sig inte - fördomsfull som man är - att en välklädd överklassdam i medelåldern ska ragga "kavaljerer" till sin tik på det sättet, föda upp blandraser och inte vilja veta något om hanhunden (för valparna blir nog söta ändå eller vad???). Kan ärligt säga att jag har svårt att ens se henne framför mig plockandes upp hundbajs eller städa efter valpar.


I’ve spent almost a week on the countryside and then 3 days in eastern Scania. I have some photos and some stories to tell but I just have to write about a very peculiar incident that took place a couple of days ago.

Margareta, Pär, Folke and I spent the afternoon in Simrishamn, strolling along the streets, having a look in a few shops and then ending the visit with an icecream in the harbour.
As we left I walked up to a bin with Folke in one hand and the trash in the other, after I had thrown away the trash I turned around and this middle aged woman with a collie cross had appeared from nowhere and asked:
“Can they say hallo?”
I’m not overly fond of people who think that dogs always have to sniff eachother to live a good life and stay happy but since she had let her dog up to Folke and he seemed to think it was super I just went along with it and said:
“Eeeeh…..well yes???…he is still a puppy and is not yet all that gentle but sure it’s okay”
“He looks really nice, what kind is it?”
“It’s a Curly Coated Retriever”
Delighted “Ooooohhhh, so it’s not a shaved poodle? Haha!”
”No
At this point Folke had become a little to eager and rough – which I thought was just puppy play gone wild - so I began pulling him away with a slightly forgiving expression in my face.
“Oh yes she is in season ready to be mated and I am looking for a suitable male partner – is there a lot of hunting in him?”
Buuut what the craaaap…..Folke being puppy-playful, yeah right!…he had just learnt all about birds and bees all on his own.
I’ve never heard about anything like this….I was in slight shock realising that she wanted my 8 month old puppy to mate her collie mix right there – no questions asked only his looks as reference (giving a whole bunch of holidaying kids eating icecream a lesson on how babies are made, front row!). She went on blabbering and admiring Folke for half a minute or so before my mind was back in reality and I cut her off with
“I’m only involved with pure breds” turned my back and walked away….not as dignified as I had hoped – rather with a great effort and very much leaning forward as Folke was not at all co-operative when it came to leaving his newly found first love.

Margareta – who thought it was awkward and left the stage when she heard the lady asking if the dogs could say hallo – and I dwelled on the whole thing in the car, laughing and giggeling, and I think every second word was “my gosh!”. Pär also found it amusing and after about 15 minutes or so he added a whole new twist to the story:
“Yes, she went past Folke and I when we sat outside that store you went in to, she turned around and looked at him for a while, she had a man with her then”
“WHAT????? What are you saying?? And you’ve held that information from us for this long?!!!”
“Yes…but she didn’t have her dog with her then…”
Margareta and I killed ourselves laughing, she had got her eyes on Folke, chosen him as a “male partner” (as she so nicely put it), gone home to get her bitch and then gone looking for us. Unbelievable!

Looking back I should have played along for a while asking:
“ What does your bitch have that makes her suitable for breeding”
“What is her HD/AD ratings, what is her eye-status?”
or perhaps:
“Yeah sure – 3000SEK as an initial stud-fee and then 2000SEK for each puppy – this is a nice dog you know – or we can just say 15 000 here and now” Just to see her reaction.

You don’t expect – prejudiced as I am – that a well-dressed middleaged upper-class lady goes around chasing “male partners” to her bitch like that, nor do you expect her to breed crossbreds and not being interested in much more than the looks. Honestly – I cannot even picture her poo-poo scooping or cleaning up after puppies.

Show Result – Tvååker 12/7 2008/ Also in English

Boss (Cornerstones Perfect Lover) på väg mot championat /Boss running for his title

Idag var vi på en väääldigt speciell utställning på många vis. Boss matte fick en elektrisk stöt igårkväll som var så kraftig så huvudsäkringen i huset gick och tillbringade därför några timmar på observation på akuten. Istället följde min sambo med - vilket var trevligt - och avslutade dagen med att stiga i en hundbajs och fick bajs på skor och även byxor, med tanke på att han inte är en hundmänniska behöver jag kanske inte vidareutveckla reaktionen. Just nu är det relativt höga odds på att han överhudvudtaget sätter sin fot på en utställning igen- om nu nån vill betta pengar på det.

I alla fall - Boss tog sitt sista cert och blev CHAMPION!!!!!! Weeeeeh!!! Passade inte nämnvärt i ringen så klart godkänt.
Folke blev BIR-valp, blev även förhandsgranskad i uppsamlingsringen (vilket långt ifrån alla blev) men inte utplockad i stora ringen.
Så till vår kära fossila amerikanska domare Jane Kay – bedömningen var allt annat än logisk, och definitivt inte acceptabel, man kan väl säga som så att av de en gång röda äpplena i trädet återstod bara fallfrukt, jag har sett klarare demenspatienter på det äldreboende jag sommarjobbade på som tonåring.
Jag gick in med Folke, sprang i en cirkel och fram och tillbaka, hon gick igenom honom som hastigast, jag ställde upp framför bordet i 5sek. sedan var det klart. Spontan tanke var att ”ojdå det var mig en snabb domare”. Tikvalpen gick på två röda och då den inte fick något HP var Folke vips BIR-valp.
Flås bort och hämta Boss från Pär och lämna över Folke, tillbaka in i öppenklass. Ett varv ihop med den andra hanen, ställde upp och domaren kollar bett och päls, springa fram och tillbaka.

Sedan ställde vi upp hundarna efter varandra igen varpå domaren säger ”One moment”…går in i tältet och rotar i sin väska länge och väl….plockar lite….gräver lite mer…jag tror hon målade på lite läppstift…jag och Marita står som två frågetecken och undrar vad sjutton hon pysslar med – jag trodde hon skulle komma ut med en mätsticka…men näedå ….efter ett tag traskar hon ut till oss, kikar på hundarna i förbigående och in i tältet igen… hör hur det diskuteras länge om storlek…
Seriös diskussion gällande huruvida domaren glömt oss
Seriously considering whether the judge has forgotten about us.


Marita och jag står fortfarande kvar och undrar när den individuella kvalitetsbedömningen ska börja när ringsekreteraren kommer ut med ett blått band till Marita – domaren tyckte han var för stor….jag står kvar med Boss….diskussion i tältet där ringsekreteraren förklarar och frågar vad hon ska ge och vad det innebär…ska han få certet? ”He is not that old is he” ”This is open class”…varpå jag inflikar ”He is 4.5 years old”…domaren rycker på axlarna ”Ah why not!” – verkligen för en sådan domare man vill få ett championat på hunden.
Nästa fina överraskning var när vi fick kritikerna, inte en curlyägare som var glad kan jag säga. Eftersom vi var sist i ringen kunde jag fråga ringsekreteraren om hon gjort likadant med mopsarna och de tibetanska spaniels hon dömt tidigare under dagen eller om det bara var curlyna hon inte tyckt om. Ringsekreteraren sa med en suck att vi skulle vara glada att vi fick kritiker överhuvudtaget, dagen innan hade hon vägrat skriva kritiker och det hade varit rabalder då med – ringsekreteraren hade inte varit med om dess like under sina år som ringsekreterare. En hund som blev champion hade fått följande två ord på sin kritik ”bad feet” – det var allt! (obs obekräftad källa men med tanke på våra kritiker inget orimligt).
Kritiken ser ni nedan – troligtvis skriven domarens hotellrum kvällen innan och utdelad på måfå:

Boss:
Decent size, decent coat, decent moving

Folke:
Promising puppy, good coat, decent moving

*sniffsniff* det är nåt speciellt med att komma hem från hundutställningar ändå - DOFTEN AV MAMMA SCAN FISAR!!!!!! gaaaah.....vidrigt!!!

Folke (Anatnaq Dark Hawk) i stora ringen / Folke in the finals

Today was a very special show in many ways. Boss´ owner got an electric shock last night which made the power go off in the entire house and therefore spent a few hours at the emergency ward for observation. Instead I got my boyfriend to come with me which was nice – he ended the day by trotting in dog poo and got it on his shoes and somehow also on his pants, considering the fact that he is not a very doggy person I don’t think I need to illustrate his reaction any further. At the moment the odds of him ever setting his foot at a showground ever again is quite high – incase someone should be interested in betting some money on that.
Anyways - Boss won the challenge and got his show champion title!!! Weeeeh!!!!
Folke became BOB-puppy, he was also looked at in pre-judging but wasn’t pulled out in the finals.
So, now to our fossile, American judge Jane Kay – the judging didn’t make much sense and was definitely not acceptable. I guess I can put it like this – all that remained of the once so red apples in the tree were just windfalls.

I went in with Folke in puppy class, ran in a circle and then back and forth, she went through him quickly, Istacked him in front of the table for 5sec. and then it was over. My spontaneous thought then was “wow, that was a quick judge”. The bitch puppy judging passed by in 3 sec. And as she didn’t get a HP Folke was BOB-puppy all of a sudden.
Went in with Boss, ran in a circle together with the other open class dog, we stacked them and the judge checked bite and coat, ran back and forth once each after which the judge said “one moment please”…she then went in to the judging tent and began digging in her handbag, digging and digging and digging….took quite some time…I think she put on some lipstick but couldn’t quite see….Marita and I stood there like two question marks with our dogs stacked wondering what the bloody cow she was doing…I thought she might come out with a measuring stick as the size between our two dogs differed quite a deal…but no….eventually she came out took a glance at our dogs and then went back in to the tent…I heard bits and pieces of a discussion about the size…Marita and I still standing wondering when the individual judging will begin…then the steward walk up with a blue ribbon and gives it to Marita – the judge thought he was too big….I remain in the ring with Boss stacked…further discussions in the tent where the steward explains what she can give him and what it means (curly was her final breed after two days of judging) …”Do you want to give him the challenge?” … ”He is not all that old is he?” “This is open class.” …I then say to the judge ”He is 4,5 years old”…the judge shrug her shoulders and said “Yeah why not” – really the kind of judge you want to win your title under.
BIR och BIM / BOB and BOS

The next surprise was the written critics, not a happy curly owner in sight I can tell you. Since we were the last breed in the ring I was able to talk to the steward and ask if the judge had been the same with the other breeds she had judged or if it was just the curlies she didn’t like. The steward let out a sigh and told me that I should consider myself lucky to get written critics at all as the judge had refused to give such at the show the day before. She had got lots of complaints and the steward had never come across anything like it during her years of stewarding. One dog that became champion had got a two word written critic “bad feet”…that’s it! (unconfirmed source but considering the written critics we got it doesn’t sound impossible)

The critics we got (probably pre-made at her hotel room the night before and handed out randomly):

Boss:
Decent size, decent coat, decent moving

Folke:
Promising puppy, good coat, decent moving