18.12.09 

It seems to be really hard to get some updates here at the moment, but I will try to write something now. 

Our trip to Ylämaa did never happen because of time problems. At the same day that we had planned our trip we got visitors from Sweden. Beautiful Snocrib Deepcreek Desna came with Marie here to be mated with Minto. You can find more information about her here! I added a link to Kennel Snocrib to the links side and also Desnas own pages are now linked there. Now we are waiting for news about the puppies. 

Last weekend we went to Helsinki with Minto to participate in Finnish Winner -09 and Nordic Winner -09 shows. On Saturday he competed in Champion Class and on Sunday in Working Class. On Saturday he got an EXC but did not get any placement in the best male ring. On Sunday he won the Working Class and became Best Male 4. I am very pleased with his results for the weekend. It was a tough competition and there were many beautiful dogs at the show. 

This week we finally got winter here, at least it has been so cold even though we don't have much snow yet, but I am hoping for more, so we can start sledding with the dogs.  

Today we got the results of the DNA tests back. We took a coat length test of our dogs and the results were Minto N/N clear and Manu is N/F, carrier. Minto also had his eyes checked today and he have healthy eyes.

Our training with the dogs have been really occasionally this autumn. First I was sick for 1 1/2 weeks, and then when we finally had some snow here for a few days we could train a few times. Then it started raining and all the roads became really icy, so we had to take a break again. Now it seems like we could finally start again. Even so we have to go out running in the rain and dirt again. 

Manu was at his first puppy show in Lahti. He was placed fourth there, the judge thought that he too little volume on his body. He behaved very well and he was a really happy boy and seemed to enjoy himself. 

Next weekend it is time for our annual meeting in Ylämaa, I'm really looking forward to it. 

A lot has happened since the last update. We have been racing in Pekola in a unofficial bike race with the bigger dogs in one dog class and then we were away to the ALMA autumn meeting at Partaharju. Last weekend I participated in Jämi Pawtrekker race in the two dog class with Ira and Minto. I am very pleased with the dogs. They both worked well and we had a nice race. Ira has become much better since last year. Manu went with us to be our mascot. You can find pictures of our trip in the gallery. 

Today I was out on a three kilometer run with three dogs. Manu ran in lead with Minto and all dogs worked really well. 

It has been a while since the last update again. The weather has bacome cooler so we have started our training with the dogs. They are very energic now when it is cooler. 

Awa and Minto had only one puppy, a little boy. We had expected more but these things doesn't always go as planned. We are planning to go to a couple of cart races this autumn and Manu is also entered in his first puppy show. More information about these events later. 

A couple of weeks ago we went to Pekola to visit and at the same time we drove the dogs a little. Minto ran with Sirpas Tiki and they ran quite good together. Tiki doesn't have very much experience yet so she was a little shy time to time, but I think that will pass when she gets some more experience. Ipe drove Ira and then we took the puppies Onni and Manu out on little tour together. The puppies were really excited and did a very good job. Manu really seems to love running, I hope that promises well for the future. 

Yesterday I went to Ylämaa to visit Marja-Liisa and at the same time we took a tour with the dogs. We trained bypasses and the dogs really worked very good. 

Now we are waiting for the ALMA autumn meeting which is in two weeks. Until then  we can train the dogs and enjoy the great autumn weather.  

Last weekend was a show weekend. Ira was entered for both Kouvola and Heinola dog shows. It has been almost a year since her last show so I thought I would take her to have some fun. In Kouvola she did very well.She got her first CAC and was the second best bitch. We were really surprised, we didn´t expect any success for her though she is not quite a show dog. In Heinola she got a very good. The judge in Heinola was quite tough, she only gave two excellent s, and there were 17 dogs entered. 

In the evening I took Manu and groomed him a bit. At the same time we weighed him, he weighs now about 20 kg:s and his height is about 52-54 cm. There is some new pictures of Manu and Ira in their own gallerys.

It has been a while since the last update. In the summertime doesn't happen very much with the dogs. They are on summer holiday during the warmest period and they are enjoying it. We got good news from Sari Kinnunen at Utamuutin Kennel. Awa is going to have puppies. 

Minto got some rash on his cheek which didn´t seem to get better so I took him to the vet and got him some antibiotics just to bee on the safe side. It has been so warm lately so I didn´t want to take the chance that the rash would get even worse infected. 

Manu had his second vaccinations last week. He weighs about 17 kg:s now and he looks quite leggy at the moment. He´s puppy coat and teeth are changing and he is growing very fast. He is quite a funny looking boy at the moment. He is a very energic boy. Always on the move and he is always ready for some action. It is a good quality for a future sled dog, at least I hope so. The pack is still getting along very well. Ira is the queen in the pack and she puts the boys back on their place if necessary. 

Manu went on his first Match Show last week and first he got a blue ribbon and then he became second best puppy of all the blue puppies. I will probably have to work with him a lot to get him to behave well in a show ring, but we have all the time in the world to practice. 

Today it was a little cooler so I took the both big dogs for a tour with the bike. They really enjoyed when they got out running. Manu also tried the harness on for the first time and pulled a little rag for about 100 meters. He seemed to have fun, at least he ran as fast as he could pulling the rag after him. It didn´t bother him at at all that something was coming after him.  

Manu has adjusted well into the pack. He is now spending the nights outside with the other dogs. It has been so warm here, that it is cooler for him outside. He is quite a personality. He seems to be a quite lively boy with a lot of temperament. He defends his own with fury if necessary. This week he will get his first vaccination, and then we can go and explore a lot more of the world with him. 

Minto left to visit Sari Kinnunen at Utamuutin Kennel last week. Awa is in heat and if everything goes well, there may be puppies in a couple of months. He have been behaving very good at his visit. He is like at home there, and I don t think that he is homesick at all. But that's the way he is, probably the easiest dog in the world.even so, I miss him very much here at home.