As the years beginning to wind up, we're planning an interstate move shortly, and my dogs are dropping their coats like they want to live in a nudist colony (in preparation for the hot summer months), i felt i may as well draft the wrap up for the year.

Our dogs have been on fire this year, competing across Conformation Showing, Rally, Agility and Sled Sports. Between them they've accrued a number of titles this year and i'm both proud and humbled by the training time and dedication of their owners
and their commitment to do more with their dogs.  

On the show front, our Lappies have also had an incredible year. From youngsters taking surprise wins, to our show stars being recognised and awarded top honours. Many thanks again to the dedication and hard work of their owners.
There are often many km's travelled and a lot of behind the scenes training for those few minutes in the trialling or show ring.
We haven't kept track of all our wins this year, but there are always notable Best of Breeds against both large and medium entries, and multiple classes in group from our youngsters in particular that just thrill me.

We gathered at Harden for an impromptu reunion and a couple of shows.

Knowing Winter was only 6 points away from her Australian Champion title, I had entered with the sole purpose of catching up with friends.
It'd been a while since we'd seen each other, and Winter was the second youngest girl in the field.

So I was completely surprised to have Winter awarded one of the two Bitch Challenges over the weekend and earn those final points for her title..
It seems to happen when i least expect it. 
I'm so thrilled with Winter. She is my first home bred and handled Champion. The puppy who wouldn't leave.
I think i'll keep her around a while longer yet. She's a keeper :)

Late in September we entered another weekend of shows. The ACT Spring Carnival and Working Dog Specialty shows with 4 shows held over 3 days.
We were surprised to discover 16 Finnish Lapphund entries on the first day. The largest entry we've seen here in a while and it made for a bit of a spectacle for the locals and a great opportunity for people wanting to meet the breed and learn more about them.

Summer is finally finished with her phantom pregnancy. She's really affected by these quite strongly. But she's my bouncy, happy girl again and i knew she'd be 'on' on the weekend. Finally.
However, to my complete surprise and delight, Summer was awarded Best of Breed for the first 3 shows. Even more surprising was to have Winter take Reserve Bitch behind her mum at all 3 shows and convert 2 of them to Runner up Best of Breed.

Then Winter did one better on the last day. She took Best of Breed, and her mum, Summer took the Reserve Bitch and Runner up Best of Breed.

To add to my amazing weekend, Summer pulled off not 1 but 2 Best Exhibit in Show. One was under Mrs Ros Barden (NSW) who is studying Group 5. She was lovely and so excited to have such beautiful Lapphunds to judge. She thanked us several times over and had a lot to say about the quality of her entry

The second was under Dr. William Crozier. It wasn't until we saw him that i suddenly recalled he'd judged the very first Finnish Lapphund Specialty show in NSW in 2014. The last time he'd seen Summer she was post whelp naked.
I was delighted to show under him again and he was so impressed with Summer that he awarded her Best in Show. He also awarded Winter Reserve Bitch Challenge behind her mum.

It didn't stop there though. We had a few of our Caleebra girls at the show and they all did quite well.
Jaina, Aura and Vader all won their class in the Open Show under Mrs Ros Barden (NSW).
The lineup for best bitch headed by Summer, was all Caleebra bred girls. As the judge deliberated she thanked us for a line up of Beautiful Lapphunds and i took my eyes off Summer to look down the line and thats when it struck me.
Those 'Beautiful Lapphunds' were all mine. Summer - Vader - Winter - Aura and Jaina. It was a wonderful and surreal moment and a real rainbow of colours. 

In the sports Arena, Eva (Caleebra Burberrys Brit (AI)) has been quietly powering through trials.

She entered her first Rally Trial in May and by the end of September had earned her Rally Novice, Advance and Excellent titles.
She's also competing in the Obedience arena with passes towards her first level Obedience Title (CCD) and has also earned her first passes in Agility Jumping.

Wendy and Eva have always had a strong bond, so it's no surprise at all to see them competing so well together. I wish them all the best of luck.

Zeke awarded Best Dog at the FLCV Specialty Show. What a day. While i was enjoying the sunshine standing around a paddock watching dogs chase plastic bags (Lure Coursing) i received the exciting news that Zeke (Caleebra Fearless Hero (AI)) had been awarded Best Dog at the FLCV Specialty Open Show. Not in my wildest dreams had i expected that. I still think of him as such a baby, like his sister, Winter.
It was bittersweet for me, as I couldn't be there in person. I can't believe I actually suggested to Zeke's owners that they didn't really need to go as I couldn't be there to help them.
Robyn Sharp (Janoby Kennels) handled him to that win and i'm so incredibly grateful.
For Best in Show Zeke was beaten by a bitch with multiple international titles, and runner up went to an Australian Grand Champion. Not bad company at all.

Winter earned her Junior Courser Title the same day Zeke was strutting around the show ring. She's such a little trooper and so easy going. She's worked out the Lure Coursing game now though and enjoys herself immensely.
She's also had some success in the show ring, beating her mother quite a few times (helped that Summer is out of coat) and is now so close to her title. Of course she picked that moment to come into season, missing 11 local shows, and now nothing locally for a few months. Oh well, she'll get there when she gets there.

A few weeks later and an in-season Winter i felt was sure to ruin my chances at the double Rally trial in Canberra. But surprisingly Dolce still had plenty of focus, and pulled off 2 very nice Rally Excellent passes with 4th place in both trials. Just one to go now for his title.
Summer found the 6hr wait between runs a little too much and lost her focus for the last trial, but scraped through with 2 passes including a 5th place in the first trial, to earn her Rally Novice Title.

Lexie also lost her brain on her 2nd trial but gained a beautiful pass in the morning trial towards her Rally Advanced titles

Vader completes another leg of her Working Pack Dog Title. Unfortunately an accident has Vader on crate rest for 6 weeks and she'll miss completing the last leg for the title this year. 

Eva was the surprise though. Wendy has been super keen to get back into dog things with Eva and finally it all came together. She pulled out some beautiful passes to earn her Rally Novice Title. So proud of this fantastic pair. 

Once again a busy month for us.

Vegas flew up to Bundaberg with Kira and his sister Vader to attend an Easter Cluster of shows in Bundaberg.
Vegas took Best of Breed each day and was shortlisted for Best in Group twice.

At the same weekend, little Kova from our Character Litter made his show debut, awarded Best Baby in Group at his very first show. It wasn't for his behaviour as he barely kept 2 feet on the ground, let alone 4
But the judge seemed to love him all the same. 

Down in Victoria, Skipper made his show debut and was also awarded a Baby Puppy in Group win. In a surprise twist, he was a very well behaved puppy for his first show.

In Agility News, Tawnee had an amazing week, earning not 1 but THREE Agility titles in one week: Agility Dog, Jumping Dog and Strategic Pairs. The culmination of a lot of hard work and training. What a star.

Well we had quite a busy second half of the year and i fell well behind with updates so i'll recap briefly.

We welcomed our Guardians of the Galaxy Litter in early September. 6 gorgeous puppies from Lexie and Tiltti: 4 girls and 2 boys. They ventured off to new homes at the end of October, except for Nebula who stayed with us an extra couple of weeks before her flight to New Zealand. You can find more about the litter on their own page

The FLCV specialty show was the first week of November. Nothing significant for us to report there. Summer decided to do a massive coat drop just before and looked like she'd just whelped a litter.
Winter had just come into season for the first time and was really not feeling it either. Poor little poppet was so flat. It was awful timing after so many years waiting for this show.
Zeke (F), Vegas (D), Fenix (A) and an in-season Winter (F) were all present but weren't to the judges flavour.
However they all had a great day and enjoyed the cuddles, treats and socialising immensely. We had Nebula with us for her final days before she flew to New Zealand so it was a great day out for her as well 

We moved house. Not a small undertaking on ones own. We moved states and it took several days for our furniture to arrive. We're still unpacking.

We also managed to attend 2 shows, the first for little Aura from our Guardians litter. She was awarded 2 Baby Puppy in Groups in her first 2 weekends showing. She's gorgeous and we're so happy to be able to spend time with her. Winter and Summer also shared the Best Bitch win over 2 shows.

Because we weren't busy enough moving, we welcomed our Character litter just before NYE from Alleria and Kassu. 6 puppies: 4 boys and 2 girls. As this is only the 2nd litter in Australia to produce Sable puppies, overnight, we doubled the population of Sable Finnish Lapphunds in Australia. From this litter, 2 surprise keepers who will have their own pages just as soon as i can get myself organised.

We sent the puppies home just in time for the Canberra Royal, where in absolutely torrential conditions, Summer pulled off a 25 Point Best of Breed. We were thoroughly soaked and flooded. We sent all the other dogs home, and most of the exhibitors didn't stay either, but we waited the 6 hours with a dozen towels, a borrowed dryer and a change of clothes, to represent the Lappies in the Best in Group lineup. Unsurprisingly, Summer was completely over it by then but she did her best and went home with a packet of Chicken Nuggets to share and had a great sleep after getting another dry off.

Mish had to have surgery on a small lump in her mouth. It's nothing serious but will continue to grow and become uncomfortable for her. Hopefully we got enough of it this time to stop it coming back.
But unfortunately thats pretty much ended her show career, so she eases into retirement.

Photos: Top row: Lexie and Rockette, Guardians of the Galaxy Litter: Girls, Boys
Row 2: Guardians puppies: Mantis, StarLord and Drax, Nebula in the garden, Aslak winning Best Open in Show
Row 3: Mother - Daughter team win Best Bitch at first shows in Canberra. Aura with her first Baby Puppy in Group ribbon, The Character litter.
Row 4: Character Litter at 3 and 4 weeks old, Summer awarded BEST of BREED at Canberra Royal 2018