--> Getting to know our new family member.

Nana which means in Dutch brave is as her name a extremely brave little Stabyhoun. First day after she settled home she already started to pull Siru from her tail, ears and neck. On her second night she managed to sneak into Sirus’ bed. Siru has been, since Lili passed away, very depressed and we have been really enjoying to see the change in her when Nana arrived. Siru is again the happy smiley Stabij.

On Nanas first week at her new home we had decided to go and spend a weekend at the Hazebad Kennel. There had been some changes too as they had got a small kitten called Grappa. We knew that Siru would go absolutely crazy about the cat, and this was what exactly happened. Siru run straight after Grappa and then all the other dogs followed Siru. Siru only wanted to sniff Grappa properly to know is he a cat ot a dog or what is he really!

On Sunday morning Siru and most of the other dogs started off to the show nearby. The men stayed and looked after the rest of the dogs. Nana was playing the whole day with Grappa the cat. Siru got once again Excellent mark from the show and Sirus’ brother Baako was BOB and BIG4. Congratulations to Kaisa and Baako once again!

Today Sami tryed with Nana what does she think about a wing of a pheasant. As soon as the wing was taken out and showed to nana she got really excited and tryed to take pieces of it. When it was thrown further away Nana more than happily fetched it and was carrying it very proudly. She was not happy when we took it away from her. There must be living a real pointing dog within our Stabyhoun.

Vuf!

--> 15.8.2010 Nanas’ home trip

It was around 11a.m. on Sunday 15th August when Minna and Kaisa arrived to Berthas’ house. Jack picked us up from our hotel in Amsterdam and drove us there. I was very anxious to meet our new family member Nana. When we came inside I bended down on the floor and Nana walked straight to me, licked me on a nose and off she went to play again. Oh how lovely she looked. Sweet puppy, wondering how will she be and what character will she have. Those things we just have to wait and see, they will reveal themselves when she grows.

Nana the name has been chosen with help from Bertha. Nana means brave in Dutch. Brave she must be travelling by an airplane all the way to Finland!

The day went so fast. It was nice to meet Aschwin and his family. They  joined us all for lunch. Soon it was time to start the trip towards one of the biggest airports in Europe, Schiphol. We arrived there after 4 p.m. It is very long walk from the parking space to the check-in desks. Finally we reached them. Nana was weight with her bag on a scale. I am afraid I totally forgot to see how much did she weight. She is such a sweetheart. She liked her travelling bag so that she nearly started to sleep in it when we were sorting all other things out.

Nana in her bag being weight at the check-in

After check-in it was time to say good bye for now to Bertha and Karin. Nana, Kaisa and myself went through the security control. Again she was so brave. Nana took everything calm and cool. Everyone adored her! We relaxed in a cafe and nan eat a bit and slept a lot. She was very thirsty and when the employers of the cafe saw Nana they all wanted to bring her water and all goodies to eat. Finally we reached the gate where everyone were looking at Nana, children giving hugs otherones just admiring her. We weren’t the only ones in an airplane, there was another puppie travelling to Finland too, not a Stabyhoun though.

The stewardess’s were asking if they can do something for us. Nana was just happy to be in her bag, get all the attention, hugs and kisses and water and food. She travelled calmly and was a brave young puppie!

Nana eating her goodie

After we got our luggage we met Sami and Siru who were waiting for us at the airport. Siru had had a bad day but as soon as Siru saw us and realised that Nana is coming with us she was sooooooo happy!! At home they were sniffing all around but at the end they started to play together and in the night they even slept next to each other. That is so great to see.

Vuf Siru and Nana!

--> 21.7.2010 Nana

Now it is for real, Dimka Fenske Fan De Moaie Hôvingen, her nickname is Nana, is moving to our home on the 15thAugust 2010.

Nana 16.7.2010. Picture: Stabijkennel fan de Moaie Hôvingen

Thank you Stabijkennel fan de Moaie Hôvingen and especially Bertha who made this all possible! We are so happy that after all tragic moments Siru will have a new dogfriend. We are sure that Siru will be over the moon, as well as the rest of the family. Ada is talking a lot of Nana moving home, and she is very worried that Nana hasn’t got her own cup next to Sirus’.

--> 18.7.2010 Mäntsälä Dog Show

What a brilliant day at Mäntsälä Dog Show. The day was ever so long but what a great day it become! There were two Stabyhouns, Siru and her half-sister Luna. Luna got a very good marking. Siru was calm and moved well and the judge liked her very much. Siru received EXC1, BOB, CAC and was BIG3!!!!

Evaluation: “Beautiful head, upstanding bitch who has a straight back. Rounded chest. Well balanced angulations in the front and back. Beautiful fur and tail. Good pulling movements. A bit stiff in back. Balanced character” Open Class EXC1, BOB, CAC and BIG3.

Photograph: Iina Viitanen

--> 26.6.2010 The trip to the World Winner 2010

The trip started on Wednesday 23rd June. Sami and Siru started driving towards Turku harbour with Kaisa and Baako. The ferry to Stockholm started late in the evening and arrived early in the morning. The ferry trip went really good, considering it was a first one for Siru. On Thursday it was an early start and a long drive all the way to Grindsted, Denmark. We had rented cottages at the Grindsted Aktiv camping & cottages, the cottages especially the smaller ones were a huge dissapointment, and the customer service well you could say what is that?! The group of 3 cars ended up in Velje where they picked Minna and Ada and Iina and Niia up and continued to Grindsted. We arrived there around 7p.m.

On Friday it was only relaxing and resting. That was needed as traveling had taken all the energy . Friday was a beautiful hot and sunny so we relaxed ourselves outside. Friday evening Minna and Siru as well as Anne and Beila went to meet Bertha. Bertha is our Angel Lilis’ breeder. We had a great evening together laughing and crying and sharing moment between friends. Sirus earhairs were taken of nice and gently and we all had a great laugh when Bertha talked to Siru in Dutch and Siru nearly fell asleep as she really enjoyed this treatment  We had to start of early even the evening could have gone on and on, but the next morning was the Dog Show. We all wanted a good nights rest so we could be there nice and fresh.

Saturday morning was sunny and the weather would have been warm but the terrible wind made the weather pretty cold. The show was amazing. As we arrived there the were so many Stabyhouns. At the show there were participating over 60 Stabyhouns. This was a record for one show!  When it was Sirus’ and Minnas’ turn there were 20 Stabyhouns in the open class. Amazing! Siru moved nice as allways and she got Very Good.  Siru also participated in the best progeny group with Baako and they received placing number 1. Our Sirus’ breeder Anne Leppänen received the Best Breeder’s Group which is a HUGE WINN!!

On Sunday our home trip started. Sami, Siru, Kaisa and Baako started driving at 5a.m. towards Stockholm were the ferry to Turku started off at 8p.m. Minna, Ada, Iina and Niia went by cars to Hamburg and were home the same evening thanks to the aircrafts. The rest travelled to Travemunde and came home on Tuesday morning.

The trip was great, too short though but I am already looking forward for the trips to come

--> 15.6.2010 Sweet dreams Lili

Today as Lili is exactly 11months old, she died tragically when the car run over her.

Lili doing her favourite thing in Kärkölä on 13th June 2010.

We were just getting ready to start of  home from Minnas’ parents summer cottage. Sami was putting Adas’ car seat ready when Minnas’ father shouted that there is a car passing by. When Sami reacted Siru had already gone after the car and was nowhere to be seen, and the only thing that could be seen was Lilis’ backside.

Sami started to run after the dogs and he had a feeling that this time something bad might have happened. Lili was lieing down in the middle of the road, motionless. Sami was shouting and swearing as he run towards Lili. Thats’ when Lili started to moan and she tried to get up. As Sami reached Lili he took her in his arms and soon after Lili fell asleep.

At this point Sami didn’t see Siru anywere and he started to get afraid that something might have happened to Siru too. Luckily after a while Siru came to see what had happened, and started to sniff Lili all around. Sami carried Lili into the car and run to tell all of the other family members too what had happened.

When this tragic accident happened our daughter Ada was luckily having her nap.

Lili wasn’t showing any signs that she was breathing. Sami tryed to give artificial respiration but it didn’t seem to help. We started to drive towards the nearest veterinary which was in Lohja. Few times on the way there we had to phone the veterinary for driving instructions on how to reach them. When we finally reached the vet there was nothing that the vet could do.

This was a tragic end for a little, sweet, adorable and very promising dog in many ways. Our heart is aching as Lili is not with us anymore. We loved her so much.

We want to thank Kennel Hazebad who gave the last resting place for Lili, and also for all the support that we have got from them on this extremely hard time.

We want to thank also everybody who have been morning with us on the loss of our Lili.

Sami, Minna, Ada and Vuf! Siru!

--> 12-13.6.2010 Sami and Lili at hunting practise camp

--> 5.6.2010 Dog Show in Jämsä

Siru and Lili participated in a dog show in Jämsä. The weather was quite cold and very windy. The ring was outside on a sandfield and the sand was therefore flying everywhere, especially on our dogs. The dogs started to look more grey than black and white…

Lili was great in the ring. She walked smoothly and was really great. Her behaviour was super. Here is her evaluation:

Judge: Raija Tammelin.

” Good proportion. Beautiful head and expression. Good neck and back, sharp hip. Chest is still very narrow and low. Adequate bones. Good back angulations. Smooth side movements. Is still narrow from front and back. Good quality fur. Trusting behaviour.“

Junior Class/Very Good.

Minna ja Siru went into the ring right after Lili. There was no time to get ready but just quickly to change the leads and of we went. I think the hassle was one of the reasons that Siru went on her back feet and started to snargle at the other Stabyhoun bitch. Minna knew straight away that this wouldn’t be a good thing thinking of the final evaluation. When we were in the ring Siru was great, she moved well and her behaviour was very good.  What a pitty she had to murmur in the beginning. Even the judge was unhappy this happened as she said this was the reasons she couldn’t give a better mark, I agree. Here is Sirus’ evaluation:

” Feminine good proportions. Very good headline. Good neck. A bit of softness in the back. Chest could curl better. Good bones. Good back angulations. Moves with a great step.  Good fur. Should behave more like a breed is expected to behave.”

Open class / Good.

--> 23.5.2010 Aptus Show

Vuf!

We spent the afternoon in Helsinki Ice Arena where was an International Dog Show. Our ring was luckily outside and we were lucky with the weather.  There were 15 Stabyhouns participating the show. Lili was in Junior class and got a marking Good. She was once again calm and performed great. Siru was in Open Class and got a marking Excellent. Siru has really started to enjoy being in the ring. She was third best from the Open class bitches. The day was great and the company was the Best!

Lilis’ evaluation:

Over elegant bitch with a feminine head. Carries ears little high and open. Good front angulation. Too narrow in her chest. Very round croup. Movement behind is too far under her body.

Sirus’ evaluation:

Excellent type. Very feminine in head. Good eyes, ear and bite. Good neck. Good topline and tailset. Good spring of ribs. Good coat. Very flat in feet. Moves well.

--> 17.5.2010 Stabyhoun Club day and cottage life

Last Thursday we spent the whole day in Suvisaaristo, Espoo. The day was beautiful and we met a lot of old and new faces. The club had organised all different spots were everyone could try different hobbies f.e. from hunting things to dog dancing, and that was just great. Minna and Siru participated in the Nice Dog citizen test. The test includes 10 different obedience parts f.e. how does the dog react when we meet on the street another dog etc. The test included things that you need in everyday life. Minna was a bit nervous how everything will go but as Sami has been training a lot of obedience with Siru there was no problem at all. Siru got the Nice Dog Citizen Diploma. Well done Siru! Minna and Lili went to see how will Lili react when she will see a real bird. The reaction was quite funny as as soon as Lili saw the bird she started to cover it with leaves and everything there was around.

On Saturday, as it was so hot in the town, we decided to go for few days to Minnas parents summer cottage. Siru and Lili had just recovered from running around at the club day and it started all over again. The First day at the cottage Siru and Lili were all the time going where they shouldn’t, but at the end of the stay they finally started to know their boundry. For Lili this was the first time at the cottage so she was just learning. We went few times to the lake and both of the dogs just loved the water. Lili is learning to swimm very fast. Few times she swam keeping her head really high up and paws splashing on top of the water but all together she did really well.

The summer has arrived and so has the swimming season!