NEWS 2009

27.12.2009 Tiitus 6 years!

Happy birthday to Tiitus who turns six years today! A fellow who has grown bit but will never grow up :D I guees this picks helps to prove that. Congrats to his siblings as well!

20.12.2009 NEWS AND BIRTHDAYS

A year ago we were waiting for something else than Santa! The cristmas preasent then were those two lovely little girls Myrkky and Ready who today turn one year! Congratulations!

Last week we reasieved god news fron kennel club as Pihka's x-ray results arrived. Hips B/B and elbows 0:0. That means the whole litter is free. Thanks and congrats for all the puppy buers!

Both of our liitle ladies were shown at Winner and Nordic Winner -09. Well, no success, only experience. Naatti got Good both days and Myrkky's catch was Very Good. Otto was there as well on sunday but the judge didtn't like him either :(

5.12. 2009 NEWS FROM SWEDEN AND CANADA

Nice news from Sweden! Ready has passer the game tracking aptitude test and can now start in game tracking tests next spring. Congrats!

Last tree of Kössi & Toppa pups have their x-ray results: Gnista, Fina and Impa all have A hips and clear elbows. Congratulations!

Josh has earned another tittle! He become Champion few weeks ago. He might be the first imported dog with as many tittles as he has now. He is: HIT CH Redadict Road Runner SH WCX CD, US WCI. I'm so proud of him :D

1.12.2009 AGILITY AND SHOWS

Bitti participated her first agility competition ever. The other track ended up with an elimination but was a nice round otherwise as was the second one as well. Tiitus started in class 2 and barked his way though the course. He hears nothing and only sees the contacts so no wonder we ended up with something else than a clear round ;) But who counts...

Bitti and Rasa showed themselves in Turku on Sunday. Both got excellent and places third in their class. Ilo was there as well and she got VG with really nice critique!

26.11.2009 X-ray and PRA-results

Ville has been x-rayed and the official results are: A-hips and clear elbows. Congratulations!

Kössi-Toppa sons Spex and Toppen have their PRA-gene test results. Both are B.

22.11.2009 UPDATES

Congratulations to Kirsi and Tinka who took a first prize in their first competition in obedience open class!

Then some health stuff... Kössi daughters Rasa and Emma were x-rayed a while ago. Both have clear hips, elbows and knees. Emma has one tear canal missing, Rasa has one distichiasis lash, otherwise eyes OK! This means I can start looking for a suitable stud male for Rasa...

Then some other health news, not so nice though... Speedy has been much slower and been limping now and then this autumn. So I took him to the vets and took some x-rays of his elbows and shoulders. Couple years ago arthrosis had started to develop into his shoulder. Now it looked a lot worse and even slight chances could be found in the elbows as well. The plan is to keep him on pain killers for few weeks and give series of cartrophen injections. After the we just take it day by day and see how it goes.

Last Sunday Tiitus and I competed in agility class 2 for the first time. No success I'm afraid. On both tracks we were eliminated because the irresistible call of the contact fences ;) That was not the next fence on judges design... But at least my guy had some fun, he is starting to enjoy this sport!

3.11.2009 results and other news

Fantastic results for Redadict's again: First prize in Obedience for Otto, brother Nitro has competed agility with good results as has also Löwe who got an agility CAC and competes now in class 2. Congrats all!

The best results come from Germany, though! It has turned out that Kimi is absolutely fine now! There was nothing wrong with his pituitary and the diagnoses of secondary Addison's has been reversed. Terrific! I'm so glad he is fine!

We are back from three days of active training with toller guru Anita Norrblom! It was the usual Nordic toller group (Maria & Crille, Johanna & Jing, Johanna & Toppen, Marja-Liisa & Rasa, Elisabeth & Emil, Chatrin & Humla) which gathered at Crille's Place near Sundsvall. What could be better than nice company, excellent food, toller talk and great training! Thanks for everybody!

3.11.2009 x-ray results for un-pups

Official results for Ilo, Tinka and Caro are: Hips A/A and elbows 0:0! Fastastic :)

17.10 photo master pieces

It's not allways easy to take dog photos - not even if they stand totally still...

not to mention if they move..
 

14.10 training weekend

Again this year Redadict & Siipiveikon gangs had a joint training weekend in Västankvarn in Inkoo. Friday morning Ilo, Tinka and Caro from un-litter plus Rasa had their elbows and hips x-rayed and eyes checked. X-rays looked good and all had clear eyes accept for Rasa who had few distichiasis hairs. Daisy's eyes were checked as well and everything is OK. In the afternoon some of us trained agility with Rasa's handler Marja-Liisa.

On Sunday and Saturday it was time for hunting training! We had Kati and Petri Tuominen as trainers so there were two groups to do blinds, lines, markings and search. Then youngest dogs also got to try blood tracking and their persons got to know the basic skills needed to do the tracks with Anna's and Ville's guidance. I hope everyone found the training useful and got some new exercises and thoughts for home training. some picks can be found in the gallery.

On Saturday we celebrated our new champions Jing and Otto from our R & R litter and Muusa the Siipiveikko. Congratulations once more!

Thanks for joining the weekend and even bigger thank you for our wonderful trainers!

7.10 Training and results

It has been mostly training and training. The little girls show lots of talent in blood tracking and especially Naatti is genuinely interested in seeing where the track leads. I love her way to do this and hope there wont be snow any time soon so we can continue tracking for a while. Both participated retriever organizations show in Hyvinkää last weekend. The judge was Jan Roger Sauge from Norway. Naatti become BOS puppy. Myrkky got a very good and become second in her class. She is still very loose and needs more bone and substance but those will come, those will come!

Redadict's have been busy elsewhere as well. Ilo got first prize in obedience lass 1, Otto took second first prize in open class game tracking plus third prize in hunting test beginners class. He was also shown in Hyvinkää. This time his placement was third best champion male. Also Löwe has taken a third prize in beginners. congrats!

Kössi offspring Spex and Toppen have been x-rayed. Both have A hips and clear elbows! Excellent!

7.10 kimi's health

It has turned out that Kimi's Addison's decease is secondary type. The problem is not in the adrenal gland (=Addison's decease, primary Addison's) but somewhere else which causes the gland to malfunction. It may be the pituitary that is the source of the problem... Very relieving to know that we are not talking about the autoimmune type here. Yet the treatment and the symptoms are the same.

13.9. RESULTS

Laura and Daisy competed in obedience class 2 for the third time and got their third first prize and the title TK2! Congratulations!

Brothers Otto and Kairo did some game tracking today but unfortunately got zeros. Better luck next time!

9.9.2009 NEWS AGAIN

This time I have to start with some sad news. Kimi from R&R litter has been diagnosed with Addison's decease after having multiple symptoms during the summer. Now he is on medication and getting better which is the most important thing in this situation. We are very sorry for his illness and hope he will be the normal Kimi again after finding the right dosage for his medication.

Another health related news is that Speedy has been castrated. Finally, since we now have three girls in the house. There is no medical reason for his castration, just that life will be much more convenient for all of us when the girls get into season.

Daisy and Bitti started in Working Test a while back. Daisy did a nice job, on Saturday it was a second price (my mistake, should have supported her but I didn't...) and a first prize on Sunday! Bitti instead took a round zero on both days. The water work turned out to be something she did not want to do and the dummies were not retrieved. On other tasks she did nicely and at least we now know her skills are on the level needed in open class.

The R&R's have gained some awesome results lately: Nitro passed the retrieve test, Otto took a first prize in game tracking with club championship, Jing become BOS with CAC plus tracked her self to the next level in human tracking, Josh has earned his CD (obedience-title) and is only one point away from his championship! Congratulations!!

Rasa took another first prize in game tracking and thereby will stat in elite next summer. She also got 190 points out of 200 in beginners class obedience. Congratulations!

25.8 Trophies and triumph

This years toller clubs championship hunting test and toller show were held last weekend. We did not leave home empty handed :)

The results for Daisy are: 1st prize in hunting test, best dog in class and hunting test newcomer, Excellent in show and placed third in hunting class, Junior toller master 2009!
Bitti then: 1st prize in hunting test, Excellent in champion class but no placement (Thank you Riikka for showing her!)
Naatti: best female baby pup, run in "best movement" competition
Myrkky: BOB puppy, run in "best movement" competition

I'm so proud of my girls! It such a privilege to have these beautiful, versatile toller ladies :)

Otto was the other dog representing Redadict. And he did his share very nicely by finishing third best champion male and best male no 8, unofficially of course.

Other results from the weekend: Rasa took another first prize in open class game tracking and will start in winners class next time. Congratulations! Jing took a hunting test in Sweden. This time the result was a zero. Better luck next time...

24.8 Speedy turns eight!

Congratulations to our dear Speedy and his siblings on their eighth birthday! They are seniors now, but I'm not sure they are all behaving like that...

16.8. RESULTS

Awesome results to share again: Jing started in Norwegian game tracking championships and finished seventh! Tiitus' brother Remus was fourth, Congratulations! Wonderful work from both of them! Jing's brother Nitro has passed so called VAHI-test, which is a test simulating an actual situation where a moose or deer has been wounded in a car accident for example. This takes skills from both dog and handler because they have to find the beginning of the track themselves etc. So congrats to both wonderful siblings!

Some Kössi-offspring results then: Ready was BOB-puppy in Norrköping, congratulations! Rasa got a first prize in game tracking with 48 points out of 50 possible and was also chosen best dog in open class, congratulations! Roope, son of Kössi and Itu passed BH-test. Congrats!

Tinka participated hunting test but did not pass this time. Better luck next time :)

13.8 TRIP TO SWEDEN

A wonderful week in Sweden is now behind us. Of course we participated the Specialen where we arrived on Thursday. On Friday Bitti and I participated working test in open class. Apparently she will be in season soon so her thought were somewhere else than on her job but we managed to finish fifth. The winner was Finnish couple Sanna and Narri while Minna and Viljo were second. Congratulations! On Friday Johanna and Jing started in beginners class hunting test where they did an awesome job and got a first prize and placed third. Congratulations!

On Saturday it was Daisy's turn to work. She started in junior class hunting test. The beginning was a bit hard but when she got her engine going the result was very good. She got a first prize and become the winner of her class! What a good girl she is :)

Daisy bringing in an seagull

On Sunday it was time fir the show. Our girls should have had their own class for summer coated girls... so both of them were not placed in their class. Naked Daisy was not even very charming when the placements in show part for the junior title were given so our final placement in competition for the title was fourth. The title sort of come towards this house when Kössi's son Spex was announced the junior toller master! Congratulations to Spex and Liselott! Jing got placed as fifth best female in hunting class, congrats!

Spex

After the Speciality we spent a very nice day visiting Myrkky's sister Ready and her owners Marie & Håkan. Thanks for a nice day. On Tuesday and Wednesday we trained with the usual set of people with Anita Norrblom. Lots of stuff to chew and think about, again... ;) So thanks for everybody for a nice time and company. Some picks can be found in the gallery (oh yes, I have surprised even myself by being so quick!)

While we were in Sweden some Redadicts have been busy back home. A very naked Tinka got a good at show. She needs to mature and get her coat back in condition. Nitro tracked for the first time in winners class and got first prize. Awesome, congratulations!

4.8. MORE SUCCESS

While we have been home training dogs this weekend others have been busy competing. Laura and Daisy took their second first prize in open class obedience in their second start. It was Harri Laisi judging and he gave 182 points out of 200. Congratulations to Laura and Daisy!

Pihka from UN-litter took the retrieve test and passed! Congratulations! This was the first time competing for both Pihka and handler Teresa. Nitro did what we hoped for in game tracking competition in Orimattila. He took full 50 points and moved onto the next class. Congratulations!

27.7 What a weekend!

Two Redadict dogs started in toller club's own retrieve test in Eurajoki. Both dogs, Ilo (R. Unbelievable) and Otto (R. Rodeo Rider), passed! Congratulations to their home teams and handlers. We are so very proud of you happy to have people like you as puppy buyers! Thank you and congratulations :)

Daisy and Myrkky participated Helsinki summer show and were judged by Eeva Rautala. She gave Daisy Very Good and welcomed her again in couple of years with her coat on ;) Also Myrkky needs more size and substance. She was placed second but got a Honour Prize. Jing was the one to get all the nice results that day. She finished third best female and as also BIS working merited dog in Sarpsborg, Norway! Congrats!

On Sunday it was time for the big Jackpot! Otto was Judged by Kirsi Nieminen in Mikkeli INT show. He become BOS, got a CAC and CACIB. Now that he has turned two, has a passed retrieve test and got this CAC he become a FI CH! Congratulations! Also a second Redadict-champion was "made" on the very same day when Jing got her show result needed for her Norwegian and Swedish game tracking championship! We are so very proud of you and thankful as well! We also welcome Johanna to come and pick her (reward)pup from one of our future litters ;)

Josh, Brother of Jing and Otto, also has a new title: SH = Senior Hunter and can be called HIT Redadict Road Runner JH SH WCX US WCI. Congratulations to Sue and Pierre!

On top of all that Daisy made me more than proud. She took a first prize in novice class hunting test and become the youngest toller ever to get that prize in Finland. She truly is a natural talent!

Maybe now it's time for a glass of champagne for me as well?

20.7.2009 Finnish championships in obedience and hunting tests

The champions for 2009 in obedience have been chosen in a two day competition in Kangasala. On Saturday it was team competition and qualification for the personal final in elite class. Our team Kirkkonummen kennelklub/tuunaajat finished twelfth out of around 70 teams. In the qualifications Speedy finished tenth. So on Sunday we participated in individual competition. The stress was again a bit too much for speedy even though I try to be as cool as possible. I guess I'm not convincing enough and there were lots of small errors and mistakes and the points for each moment usually 7 or 8. With one zero as well our final placement was 19th. Well, a bad competition is always a disappointment but what the hell we are still 19th best obedience pair!

On Sunday Bitti and Daisy started in hunting test. The judge was Tobina Nyman. Daisy was first to go. She did a really nice job considering her age (17 months) but I had to command her to pick up a crow plus her search was not efficient enough to get a higher prize. Her result was a third prize. Bitti did a marvellous search, needed a bit help with one of the markings though but despite this got a first prize and is now qualified to start in open class. Good girl!

9.7. Finnish retriever organizations obedience competition and game tracking

On Tuesday evening we headed towards Loviisa and retriever organizations championship obedience competition. Speedy and I finished third in competition of personal chanpionship with first prize. Toller team took gold! Our team consisted of Kirsi and Tinka, Laura and Daisy, Laura and her older dog Donna, Kati and Eve and me with Speedy. Tinka competed for the first time and got together enough points for a first prize and placed second in beginners class, Congratulations! Daisy did really nice as well and finished with first prize and class winner :) Congratulations!

Johanna and Jing have been tracking again. This time in very difficult conditions so their placement as second best out of 28 sure brings a smile on my face :) Rasa tracked last week as well but she was not experienced enough to manage the corners in heavy wind and lost the track twice.

1.7.2009 Little updates

Lets repeat the latest results: Second prize for Jing in hunt test and best dog in the test. Congrats! Brother Nitro tracked himself a third prize in game tracking. They have also started their agility career in AgiRotu competition which is open for teams with dogs of the same breed. Their team finished ninth out of 64 teams! Congratulations! Ready has been to her first show and finished BOS-puppy, congrats!

Marja-Liisa and Rasa have been to Sweden and done the MH. Rasa's protocol looks really nice as well does her siblings who were tested at the same time: Spex, Fino and Amigo. Fino also passed the retrieve test on the same weekend.

Speedy and I competed in Obedience last week. Well, what can I say. Now we know what sucks all the juice from that dog and makes him stop working. heat! The evening was really hot and he welt so hot he had to lay down between the moments. So no concentration at all and quite many loss of points for that. Plus I made some mistakes which sure did not help him do his job. But we resulted with a good second prize anyway.

15.6.2009 RESULTS

Lets start with Jing! During past few weeks she has been to Sweden twice and succeeded both times, First BOS and CAC then first prize in game tracking! In addition to this she did a good MH! Johanna and Jing have also started in their first hunting test and got a third prize. Congratulations!

Daisy passed the retrieve test on Friday! She worked like a pro and I'm really pleased with her performance. Bitti started in novice class hunting test on Saturday. The first task was really hard for her and I really needed to work to get her make the retrieve. Rest of the test went perfect so we ended up with a second prize. Otto has been to the retrieve test this weekend as well but unfortunately did not pass.

8.6.2009 NITRO'S X-RAY

Nitro's X-ray results are here: Hips A/A, elbows 0:0. Now all pups in this litter have been x-rayed clear!

8.6.2009 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BREEDERS ACADEMY ETC

Better late than never... So a big congratulation to all the pups from our UN-litter on for their birthday on May 28th. I'm very sorry for congratulations via HP so late but I have some really good excuses! For starters the planning for this years toller camp took a bit more preparations this year because Heidi Vuoria and I were responsible for instructing the hunting test oriented group. A lot of fun that was! While I was occupied with that Jani and Myrkky attended human tracking group. Daisy and Laura were in the same group with them and the young girls had done a good job. It was also again a nice chance to see Redadict pups with their owners. Thanks for coming! But even busier I have been finalizing my work portfolio for the "breeder academy" of SuKoKa. Sukoka is shortening for Finnish Dog Breeders club. This academy started almost an year ago and has included lectures and self studying. Very educating and has really made me thing wider and especially taught me so much about breeding and other breeds.

Some results then. Kössi-son Eetu from the Jadored's litter has done a really nice mental test. Congrats for that! Hulda from Hulivilin litter tried the retrieve test but did not pass due to some problems in the water work. Sister Rilla got second prize in beginners class hunt test few weeks ago :) Agrosofen's Fina, Gnista and Toppen have done their MH in Sweden. Sibling Rasa started in her first game tracking competition and finished with second prize. Congratulations!

8.6.2009 OBEDIENCE TITLE FOR DAISY

Laura and Daisy competed in beginners class obedience and got together 199 points out of 200, won their class and got the title TK1. What can I say? I'm happy and impressed! Congratulations Laura and Daisy!

26.5.2009 lots of news

A lot has happened and there are some news to tell, even some big ones. Let's start with the latest and keep it really short! (Sorry!) On Friday we come back from our trip to the US and Canada where we were together with Daisy's people Laura and Tomi. In nine days we got to see Washington, Toller Specialty in Kitchener for three days, Lion Safari near Toronto (the guys even saw Toronto, I just passed it) Foxgorove headquarters ;), Mount Washington, Boston and the shoppers heaven Jersey Garden. The trip was very much fun and I loved to meet the Foxgorve family again and also watch Josh get some new awards. He is not the easiest dog but Sue and Pierre have done wonderful job with him. To prove that he won the Fair Dinkum award for most versatile toller at the Speciality and in Obedience finished high trial dog. Congratulations!

(Pierre and Josh doing agility)

On Saturday Bitti and Daisy started in an unofficial hunting test organized by the toller club. Tasks are more difficult than in retrieve test but easier than in beginners class. My girls did very nicely, Bitti won with 114 points out of 120 and Daisy become second with 95,5 out of 110 possible. She did the double marking as two singles and got ten points less to start with. On Sunday it was time for a sow in Rasa where Canadian Letitia Bett was judging. Bitti got EXC and won champions, Rasa won juniors with EXC and Daisy second in juniors with EXC. she also finished third best female. Otto was there as well but moved weird according to the judge and got VG ;)

Some other results: Essi has become FI CH, congrats! Her brother Luigi got 1st p in obedience, brother Eppu third p in beginners, sister Hulda got her first p in game tracking, congrats to all! Jani and Tiitus competed in game tracking before our trip and got a third prize because of lack of concentration in the turns.

And then more "humanly" news. Jani and I have been married since eight of May. The ceremony was nice and short just with our two good friends Nina and Marianne + my mum as witnesses. We got ourselves a nice wedding present + combined souvenir from Canada and here she is: Naatti!

2.5.2009 Kössi in memoriam

NORDWART DAIDALOS 18.2.1999 - 1.5.2009

(The Picture above is taken April 7th in Meiko, the place he loved)

In the evening of first of May he started to breath very superficial, heart beat was very fast. He simply could not get enough oxygen into his longue. We called the emergency clinic at the university and they encouraged to take him there. And so Jani took him. We were lucky because Kössi was assigned to a student we know from earlier. Kössi was examined thoroughly and what they found out was his heart had expanded  severely. There was also some fluid in his longue and some other spotting which might be damaged parts of longue. We could have put him on massive dosage of three different medication but they would have their side affects. And yet we could have made his life only weeks or months longer not months or years longer. The only right decision would be to let him go and so we did. I know this day would come sooner or later but I was hoping to have him with us for many more years! But now he is somewhere on the other side waiting for us to join him some day. I just wonder what it's like in heaven?

How can a person miss her dog so much? Him leaving has left a void. No one to tell us it's supper time, no one to lick my face before I get out of bed, no one to bark beside the gate when a dog passes, no one to keep order around here! I feel privileged being his own person on this planet. He sure was a Personality.

I want to thank all of you who have sent their condolences way or another. It means a lot to us!

30.4.2009 Eye check panel and show in Vaasa

I had my hopes up on Saturday. Our eye vet had managed to enter Bitti into an eye check panel held in Helsinki. We were having doubts if the opacity in Bitti's eyes could something else than heritable cataract. She was checked by three vets and they all agreed the chance is cataract. Of course this is a big disappointment for me and so it must be hr the breeder and sibling owners as well since this has an influence on their plans as well. The good news is that the opacity is very small and she will probably never loose her sight.

From Helsinki we headed to Lahti where we picked up our "neighbour" Marianne and her fox terrier Moodi and headed towards Seinäjoki where we stayed over night before driving to Vaasa int show. The show was a success! Bitti was BOS and got CACIB, Rasa finished third best bitch and got CAC. Also Daisy got excellent and finished third best junior in her class. Many thanks to Marianne and Ninni Uusitalo's mum for helping me show the girls! The trip was long and tiring but well worth it :)

In the meanwhile Jani and Speedy had their share of fun (part of the fun being him able to do this all by himself without me?) in the retrieve challenge for retrievers. That is a team competition where almost a full chaos rules ;) A team is supoased to use it's dog to take lines, markings and search in different areas at the same. Team getting most dummies up, winns.

21.4.2009 Obedience and other results

First, congrats to Caro and Pihka who have debuted in show ring last weekend. The judge was Jaana Hartus and she gave both girls VG plus a critique looking very much like them. This is an excellent start :)

Hulda, daughter of Kössi and Eve has gotten her third and last CAC, congrats!

Speedy (elite) and Tiitus (level three) competed in Obedience last Saturday. Speedy was very relaxed, pretty calm and confident. Very nice performance over all despite boiling the cattle a bit too much in the identification search and taking a zero there. The result was second first prize and we places second right after Nordwart Upa & Tiia Hämäläinen. Congrats to Tiia and Rasmus! Tiitus then. Humiliating! Well, he is a show man and show man he will remain. He had lots of fun, lots of noise, very little concentration. He was not totally hopeless and half the time co-operated with me and listened - something ;) I also think he has mixed up things, obedience is not the sport where you are supposed to get a zero! that is what we ended up with. I swore last year never to start him again and I swear that now again ;) Laura and Daisy started in beginners class the same day and got a first prize despite taking one zero! Congratulations!

13.4.2009 AGILITY EASTER

On Saturday and today Tiitus and I competed in Agility in Purina Arena, Helsinki. We did altogether four rounds, two jump rounds and two agility rounds. All were clear and we earned our ticket to second class :) Tiitus did very nice work and I'm really happy with his performance. Now we need to add up some speed and then we can start looking for some more competitions.

6.4.2009 training and tests

Last Saturday it was again time for the Finnish toller hunting group to meet. This time we trained with Veijo Miihkinen who has trained few labs to the champion level. We did lots of markings and some directions. It was surprisingly hard for the dogs to mark in the hilly surroundings so we must try to find a place like that to train in!

On Sunday we drove to Ylöjärvi. I had managed to get a reserve place for Bitti in a mental test. The test went as I had expected. Relatively strong reactions but she come out of her fear just about as quickly. Her total points we 144 and you can see the critique on her utility-page.

After that we hurried to Pälkäne where an unofficial team competition for young retrievers called Pirkan Damit took place. It was Daisy who got her chance to show what she can. And she can! I'm so proud of this little young girl! She did un absolutely perfect search good direction and very nice double marking.

3.4.2009 agility and someone is growing like weeds

Tiitus has started his new career: that's agility. We did two rounds last weekend and got five faults from both of them. Surprisingly they were both my faults ;) It's so easy to plan everything right when planning the course but actually doing it is not that easy. Timing is everything! there is really no point in stopping the dog after the contact area, right? How to get that into my mind...

Myrkky is getting bigger and stronger. According to our records she looks to be growing the same pace as Bitti did. That means she will become a big girl. She still seems to be everything I wanted. She's got speed but also can relax, she's wild but has brains. Like an ape: flexible and powerful and always imitating the old ones ;) She sure has rapped Jani around her finger (paw?) so we'll see if she becomes more his dog than mine. She has had a chance to do some retrieving with dummies and game, both she delivers without hesitation. I'm so happy about that :)

She did not mind doing a little summersault after tripping on the wing ;)

23.4.2009 hunting tests and obedience

On Saturday we woke up at four o'clock and travelled to Vilppula in Middle Finland in order to watch and cheer team Redadict in winter hunting test. That is an unofficial hunting test for teams of three dogs. tasks are done individually in two different places. Redadict's Kairo, Otto and Nitro did a good enthusiastic job to their level. Otto did see some ghosts, though, but managed to solve the tasks. It was also very nice to see few members of the toller clubs team.

on Sunday it was time for Obedience! Speedy started in elite and managed to keep himself together just enough for a first prize. He was still too tense and did some faults he doesn't do in training but also managed to do a very training-like identification fetching! Bitti started in class three for the first time. She did a good steady job but missed some points because she was pretty lame. Felt like I was carrying a suit case after trying to keep a rocket from exploding ;) She pulled together nice 288 points out of 320 and got a Honor Prize as well. Both Bitti and Speedy won their class so I'm extremely satisfied!

18.3.2009 show news and other stuff

Long time since the latest update, again. The problem has been the computer being out of order for a while and of course everything was in it. Thank god for webmail, I was not totally isolated ;)

First things first: Congratulations to all the pups in Happy litter who turned adults, that is 2 years, February 28th! Happy's have also been active and gotten nice results, Sanna and Rilla can add the title TK1 in front of Rilla's name after getting the third first prize in Obedience class 1. Hulda was shown in Tampere and got a Very Good. Jadored's Teppo and Tiltu were shown to Rainer Vuorinen, a judge using the whole scale and knowing what he wants. He sure did not like these naked tollers since Teppo got a fair and Tiltu a good.

Some health news also: Tiitus' ANA-test results are back from Helen Hamlin. The result was negative. So the kidney problems he's been having are something else than autoimmune related. We also finally have Daisy's x-ray results: Hips A/A and elbows 0:0! Also Josh has some new health clearances and hips, elbows, hearth and eyes are OK.

We have been to few shows. in Valkeala (Saija Juutilainen judging) Kössi was 2nd BM, Bitti best champion female with EXC, Rasa Best Junior bitch and 3rd best female. in Tampere int (Peter Beyersdorf judging) Bitti was 4th best champion female but Otto was the one to hit the jackpot by winning BOB and getting CAC and CACIB. Congratulations!

27.2.2008 Health news

Daisy has been x-rayed and we are waiting for the official results from Finnish kennel club. Knees were healthy. Her eyes were OK accept for one extra lash which gave the diagnoses: distichiasis. Bitti's eyes were also checked so we could keep track how her cataract develops. We were pretty amazed to notice the grey area had gotten thinner and smaller. Very untypical for cataract!

Tiitus and Daisy have done their part fir science by giving some blood. Sample of Tiitus' blood will be sent to Helen Hamlin in Sweden because she found it interesting that a meningitis dog suffers from kidney failure. Meningitis and kidney problems "are not supposed to go together". Well, who knows if Tiitus' failure is caused by anything even close to autoimmune problems... Daisy gave her sample for Hannes Lohi's group (doing research in order to find genes related to certain health issues) because she might be a good control sample for some Canadian samples. My thumps are even higher up for Lohi to find something we can use to evaluate the autoimmune illness risk for tollers because of some really sad news. Impa who is Dauhter of Kössi, sister of my co-owned bitch Rasa, has become ill of meningitis. We wish her a speedy recovery!

Hulda, daughter of Kössi and Eve has her official x-ray results: Hips A/A, elbows 0:0. Congratulations!

25.2.2009 REDADICTS IN LAIHIA SHOW

Ilo, Otto and Kairo were judged by Saija Juutilainen in Laihia. Ilo become BOB-puppy, congratulations! Otto was best male, got his second CAC and finished BOB, congratulations! Otto's brother Kairo was there as well but got a good because of to round eyes and bad movement. Better luck next time!

25.2.2009 IN SWEDEN

Last Friday we headed to Sweden again. On Saturday morning little Ready was delivered to her now owners Marie and Håkan. (Good luck with her!) Training with Anita Norblom was scheduled for both Saturday and Sweden. Bitti performed really nicely and the weekend was a success in every other aspect as well. Thanks for that to our wonderful co-trainers and Rasa & Marja-Liisa who travelled together with us :)

16.2.2009 news and updates

There are also some other very nice results. Spex has been to his other show and brought home not only the CAC and BOB but a group-4 placement! Sanna and Rilla got together 185 points, a first prize + HP, in beginner class obedience. Congratulations! Ville has been to a show and was BOB-puppy, congratulations!

The pups are growing rapidly. We have tried to come up with some new things for them to get some new experiences. They have been to car rides, visited my parents house etc. Unfortunately we need to take it easy for a while because we have an uninvited friend in the neighborhood: kennel cough.

Kössi will turn 10 years on Wednesday. Would be fun to give him something really special for his birthday but I'm having trouble figuring out what that could be. If you ask Kössi he would probably want doggy sex but that's not possible right now, I'm afraid. Maybe a really juicy bone instead of the normal chicken wings? Maybe a cat to chance? We'll see ;) I guess I'm facing the question, what does a dog really want?

Tiitus had had his kidney control. Does not look too good, I'm afraid. Urea was down meaning the diet works. but Krea has gone up from 156 to 190. Next check will tell us if kidneys are dying fast or slow. Now we can only wait and see... Speedy has been to our osteopath because of occasional limp after the snow come. I guess his left foreleg which has had it's biceps joint cut and also had some signs of arthritis in his shoulder. We need to make these visits more regular now because the osteopath saw his back has come down and also his pelvis was a bit stiff.

6.2.2009 Kimi's x-ray results

Kimi's x-ray results are here! Hips A1/A1 and elbows 0:0. Couldn't not be any better. Congrats!

1.2.2009 puppy news

Hansu and Pirre are growing fast, running fast and being little terrorists. Hansu thinks she is old enough to boss others around while Pirre is a normal puppy with a normal ego ;) The back yard has become familiar place as well even though it has been minus degrees. But they don't mind the cold while exploring. We will need to find them new exciting things soon, maybe a car ride or something to keep the princesses' away from boredom ;)

Never say never! That's what I have learned now... It turned out Hansu is going to stay while Pirre moves to Sweden to live with Marie Eklöv & Håkan Gulliksen. Hansu will not be called Hansu but Myrkky. Myrkky is Finnish and means poison or toxic. You can guess where that name come from but I find it a bit ironical and humorous. And what I'm pretty sure of: There will not be a another dog with the same name.

In addition to feeding and playing with the pups we have had time to "walk" Jani's new "pet" Canon EOS 5D mark II as well and have managed to take some new picks of Daisy who we have had for few days.

31.1.2009 res-cac for nitro in raahe

Nitro has been judged by Saija Juutilainen in Raahe and finished second best male and got res-cac! Congratulations!

27.1.2009 agrosofen pups in strömsholm

Last weekend three of Kössi & Toppa pups were judged by Bjarne Sörensen in Strömsholm, Sweden. Impa and Toppen got first prizes and won their class. Spex hit the jackpot by taking home the CAC and BOS. Congratulations!

14.1.2009 pirre and hansu

Our little girls are doing just fine. Walking pretty well, even trying to run a bit. They have tiny, little teeth and they try to bite everything, especially toes. I think toes are every pups favourite. The devorming stuff was not tasty at all but minced meet is! They are starting to show some character. Hansu going like a headless chicken, ending up into strange places and when she cant figure how to get back she screams. She is also very aware of what she wants and doesn't hesitate to use her voice if no one is listening... Pirre approaches new areas more careful and when she thinks it's not safe anymore, will simply put on her reverse gear and come back. Clever girl. We'll see how things develop, stay tuned ;D

14.1.2009 news from sweden

We want to congratulate West Coast Tollers Mumin, who has become a Swedish game tracking champion! Well done! Red Barons sister has moved due to breeder-owners chance in family relations and lives now with Marie and Håkan. Good luck with Kaxi, Marie and Håkan!

Spex from Kössi's Agrosofen litter has done his début in show ring at My Dog in Göteborg, He was judged by ing-Marie Hagelin and placed second in junior males. unfortunately no CK this time but it will come!

3.1.2009 looking into the future

I want to thank all my friends and puppy buyers for the year 2008! We have had our ups and downs but with the help and co-operation of others have eventually had good and positive outcome. Si think you, thank you. I'm not even trying to mention anybody or anything by name because my memory just sucks ;) I wish all a very nice year 2009 and good luck for the future competitions etc!

Pirre and Hansu do not look like puppies, they look like whales! They have their eyes open and apparently also hear something. Just as long as they just manage to get their feet under their belly these two will burn their fat away and torture both mum and auntie Bitti ;)