We attempted a straight 5 days of dog showing over the Queens Birthday weekend. Given i'm recovering from whooping cough it wasn't the smartest idea i've had, but i held up ok. It was the week after that i really suffered.
It started easily enough with a Thursday West Gippsland KC show with Judge Mr Francisco Rodriguez (Spain) where Winter earned her first points with Bitch Challenge and Runner Up Best of Breed.
The Friday show she was Reserve Bitch. Saturday and Sunday i'd entered a few more dogs. Saturday was the Working Dog show double where we lost every class and we were able to relax for the afternoon.
Sunday I was rather expecting more of the same, and i was really starting to hurt, but being a glutton for punishment we were there bright and early to do it all again.

At our FLCV Open Show under Judge Ms Kathy Smith we had a great day.
Zeke (Caleebra Fearless Hero (AI)) was Best Minor Dog and Opposite Minor in Show
Vegas was Best Junior Dog, Best Dog and eventually awarded BEST IN SHOW!!
Aslak was Best Open Dog and Opposite Open in Show
Winter was 2nd (last) in Minor Bitch
Mischa was Best Neuter Bitch and Opposite Neuter in Show

Zeke and Winter teamed up for the Brace competition. Turns out we were the only ones brave enough but they did so well strutting around the ring together and were awarded 'Best Brace'
Mish was awarded Best Coated Neuter.
Summer wasn't entered as she's still recovering coat from her litter, though we let her have a run in the ring afterwards so she felt she was part of the action. The judge was even kind enough to play along. Sums had been beside herself and driving us all nuts all day and she promptly fell asleep after she'd had her turn. Poor darling. She's missing the show ring.

On the Monday i'd only entered Winter and we lost to the Minor puppy dog so again we were done and dusted quickly. It was a long and tiring weekend, with some fantastic wins scattered through. I'm so grateful to the puppy owners who made it possible.

Photos: Top Row - BEST IN SHOW: Vegas, Opposite Minor in Show: Zeke, Opposite Neuter in Show: Mischa and Best Brace (Zeke and Winter)
Row2: Zeke x2, Vegas x2
Row3: Aslak x2, Winter x2
Row4: Mischa x2, Our winning certificates, Brace Winners, Zeke and Winter

To tell this story properly we have to go back more than 3 years. Shell contacted me about friends of her brother who were really interested in a Finnish Lapphund after meeting Squiggle and to cut that story short they took home little Alleria. She was the mini-Dolce of the Armani Litter born in November 2013. In April 2014 we drove to Sydney for the FLCNSW's inaugural Specialty Lappie Show. We were reunited with Alleria and Leah got to talking to us about showing Alleria. We thought maybe they were a 'gunna' home. You know, the ones who are 'going to do' or 'gunna' do all the things but just end up having a well loved pet. Well Leah proved me wrong. Time and again. And i'm once again grateful to Shell for introducing us and for the gut instinct that told me to go for it.
Alleria has the temperament quirks of her pedigree and whilst she looks an angel in photos she can be a right shit when she wants to be. She was a little girl with so much attitude and was a real challenge for Leah as she tried walking all over her. But Leah persevered. It took some doing, but Leah and Wookie achieved Wookies show title and continued plugging away on the Obedience front.
Leah wanted to do Flyball with Wookie (Alleria's nickname) and in order to get there she needed a reliable dog who could work off lead and under enormous pressure and distraction.
In April of this year Leah and Alleria were Flyball demonstration dogs at the Sydney Royal Show. If you've never been, its chaos and mayhem. Huge crowds, rides, lights and sirens everywhere. And Alleria didn't put a foot wrong. I was fit to burst with pride. What an accomplishment.
Fast forward a couple of weeks and I was lucky enough to witness Leah and Alleria competing at the Flyball Nationals. This was their very first competition and i got to see her very first race in the beginners singles comp. Cool as a cucumber (at least on the outside) they blitzed it. I was so proud of Wookie. So focused. So much determination. And the execution was almost flawless. I couldn't have been more thrilled when Wookie finished her final race and they realised she'd won in her group. She later had to battle it out against the other winners and ended up FIRST place in her Beginners Division. What a coup
Fast forward yet a few more weeks and Wookie was now running in a Flyball team in her very first comp.
She's already considered one of the 'reliable' dogs and it makes my heart swell to see just how far they've come.
It took a few weeks for the points to be allocated but imagine our overwhelming delight when we discovered that during Alleria's very first competition, her oustanding performance gained her her first TWO Flyball titles. No small accomplishment and testament to a lot of practice and proofing.

It's hard to describe the emotion to encompass the last 3 years but i'll forever be grateful to Leah for all the hard work, dedication and devotion she has for Alleria and this is just the beginning. I wish them the very best of luck and can hardly wait to see what comes next.

In just her first few shows Winter has already made friends of dozens of dogs, won over plenty of judges and taken 2 Baby Puppy in Group awards.

She's starting to grow some legs now so that might be the last of the classes in group for a little while now. But she enjoys the outings so we'll keep them on her social calendar along with all the other adventures. Her dance card is pretty full and its a struggle to keep all her appointments. She's a darling and we just love her.

We've also had the absolute dream run in the show ring with wonderful, kind and friendly judges to help introduce Winter to the show world. And the many canine and human friends she's met outside the ring have made it one of her favourite places to visit already. She's worked out most people carry food in their pocket and willingly offer up free cuddles and kisses to her wagging tail and happy smile.

TRIALS AND TITLES
 

Alleria and Lexie enjoyed an evening trialing at Rally in Canberra in March
A.C.T Companion Dog Club
Rally O Trial 1 Judge: Ms M Fazekas (NSW)
Lexie - Ch. Caleebra Armani Acqua RN JC - 81/100 PASS & 3rd Place 
Alleria - Ch. Caleebra Armani Diamond RN - 80/100 PASS 

A.C.T Companion Dog Club
Rally O Trial 2 Judge: Mr S Schuck (ACT)
Lexie - Ch. Caleebra Armani Acqua RN JC - NQ 
Alleria - Ch. Caleebra Armani Diamond RN - 87/100 PASS, 3rd Place and RALLY ADVANCE TITLE! 

DV Royal Canin Summer Spectacular
Show 3: Sunday 4 December 2016
Working Dog Judge: Mrs Z Salijevic (Sweden)
General Specials Judge: Mr H Pybus (Canada)

Due to new puppies we only made it to the last day of the Summer Spectacular show and we finished in style with Mischa being awarded Best Neuter in Group under the judge from Sweden and then being awarded Runner Up Neuter in Show under the Canadian judge who admitted it was a tough call because he loved both his winner and runner up. It was a seriously warm day and i was so proud of Mischa who showed like a rock star for Robyn. 
The judge loved that Indy wanted to be in the photo and put her front and centre next to Mischa.
Thank you to Ffiona Erskine for capturing this lovely photo. Indy and Robyn love Mischa as much as i do, and she adores them both in return.

Yarra Valley Kennel Club
Sat 17 Dec 2016
Judge - Mr T Horchner

Just 2 weeks later and we were at an evening show. The judge liked the Lappies and after awarding both the Baby and the Minor classes in Group to the Finnish Lapphunds i wasn't sure he'd go for 3, so we were pleased when Mischa was awarded Runner Up Neuter in Group. No time for a photo with the judge as he was also judging General Specials. It was a late one and i was grateful to Glen for babysitting the puppies at home and allowing me to get to the show.