Sydney Royal was coupled with the FLCNSW Specialty this year.
The timing was unfortunate as Summer was being a right hormonal mess, in a full blown phantom, but we made the trip anyway as we wanted to catch up with friends and see our puppies strutting their stuff.

The highlight for us was seeing the siblings: Leo and Tilly, Caleebra Elixir of Strength (AI) and Caleebra Elixir of Love (AI) as well as little Vader (Caleebra Diamond Empress) who was too young to enter but enjoyed the day out being cuddled and adored by almost everyone.

Show highlights came from Tilly - taking 1st in the Sydney Royal Baby Puppy Bitch Class and having the judge coo over how pretty she was. She strutted her stuff with her owner, Jeanette and had a fantastic day at the show. She was 2nd in the FLCNSW show but she was still behaving like a little star

Leo gave it his all, placing 2nd behind an older Baby at both shows.. Rather particular about toileting on the grass used by so many dogs, he waited til we were in the ring and in front of the entire crowd. Not once. But twice. He's the sweetest little boy and didn't care about peeing in front of the crowd. When you've gotta go, you've gotta go.

Summer managed a respectable 2nd in Open Bitch behind the RUBOB in the Royal but by the Specialty she was done and was unplaced.

Mischa gave it her all at the FLCNSW show only (Neuters don't compete at Royals) after waiting around all day for her turn, but she wasn't the judges cup of tea. Still, she won a couple of show prizes including a cute pink toy and a handmade lead, taking Opposite Neuter in Show

We had a very busy couple of months with not 1 but 2 litters being born in December.
It had always been our plan to mate Alleria first, but when her sister Lexie came into season before her, our plans for Lexie were brought forward. We had discussed though, that up until the day of insemination for Lexie, if Alleria came into season we would postpone Lexie's litter. So imagine my sudden conundrum when the day AFTER the artificial insemination for Lexie, Alleria came into season.

After plenty of discussion and my mentor talking me around, we decided to go for it. The girls would be due over the Christmas break, which worked out great for their owners, and honestly, it worked out well for everyone.

Lexie was due on the 12th. Her mum would be making the drive from Canberra as soon as school let out on the 11th. But do you think Lexie was going to wait? No. She whelped her litter during the day, finishing up about an hour before her mum arrived. It meant that she was all cleaned up, the whelping box was also cleaned up, all the puppies were dry, feeding, warm and content and Lexie was also settling into motherhood like a natural. When her mum arrived, she temporarily forgot anything but the joy of the reunion and immediately jumped out of the box, tail wagging crazily, then popping back into the box to show her mum what she'd been busy making.

Alleria decided that Christmas Day wasn't already a big enough day and decided to welcome her babies 2 days early on Christmas evening. Fortunately i'd already picked up Glen from celebrations and had just finished the worming, weighing and nail clipping for Lexie's 2 week old puppies when Alleria made a tiny sound to alert me that she'd decided to go into Labor. She'd given me none of the usual signs, but suddenly and without any fuss, she was whelping her first puppy.
Again, in truly spectacular form, her mum was due to arrive the following day, and we'd calculated that Alleria's earliest due date was the 27th so it was a bit of a surprise. Once again mum arrived to be greeted by a very happy girl, proud to show off her new friends she had made all for herself.

And so we found ourselves welcoming the New Year with 13 brand new puppies. The Elixir litter were named for Grey's Anatomy and the Diamonds were named after Star Wars characters.

12 weeks later all the puppies have left home on their own adventures.

We'd like to introduce The Elixir Litter from Hugo x Lexie (Fi Ch Shacal Tiku x Ch Caleebra Armani Acqua)

#1 Izzy now Tilly - Caleebra Elixir of Love (AI)
#2 Mc Dreamy now Leo - Caleebra Elixir of Strength (AI)
#3 Mc Steamy now Wookie - Caleebra Elixir of Courage (AI)
#4 Meredith now Akira - Caleebra Elixir of Joy (AI)
#5 Cristina now Josie - Caleebra Elixir of Life (AI)
#6 Callie now Storm - Caleebra Elixir of Charm (AI)

The Diamonds from Lumi x Alleria (Ch. Armahani Diamond Davvir CD RA JD AD x Ch. Caleebra Armani Diamond RN)

#1 Vader - Caleebra Diamond Empress
#2 Trooper is now Ollie - Caleebra Diamond Dog
#3 Rey is now Mimi - Caleebra Diamonds and Lace
#4 Leia is now Tawnee - Caleebra Diamonds are Forever
#5 Chewie is now Sheya - Caleebra Diamonds that Sparkle
#6 Luke is now Usva - Caleebra Diamonds in the Sky
#7 Kylos is Vegas - Caleebra Diamond in the Ruff

Where do i even begin to describe the FLCV Specialty show this year and the results?

Probably from the beginning. I'm on the show committee so i've been helping with the show preparations for months. It's been quite an intense, and occasionally stressful experience but it was finally coming together and the day was just around the corner.

I'd entered several of our puppies into the show and we had 5 shown on the day.
All received critiques which i'll include at the bottom. All 5 were graded Excellent. 
For me, the expected highlight of my day was to see our Junior Burberry boys, but it got so much better than that.

Koda (Caleebra Burberrys Knight (AI)) was 1st in the Junior Dog Class of 7 and eventually took Opposite Junior in Show after receiving a bit of a fright and deciding he'd had enough of the day in general. He spent the rest of the afternoon getting cuddles and belly rubs.
Ernest (Caleebra Burberrys Bravo (AI)) was also in the Junior Dog Class and in his first show ever, showed a lot of enthusiasm and really enjoyed himself.

Fenix (Caleebra Armani Junior) was up next in the Intermediate Class. He was putting on a bit of attitude and could not stand still for more than a few seconds at a time. Still, the boy has lovely movement, and i felt that the judge liked him, even if she couldn't bring herself to award him. She looked at him several times before deciding, which really just made me giggle. He's such a fidget, but he's also only had one show since he was a Baby puppy, and that was the week before. We're hoping to get him out a bit more.

Summer was next. She was in the Open class against tough competition. These girls generally take it in turns and i had no expectations. Summer was a rockstar, and the judge loved her. She took first in her class.
We then had to take her back in for the Challenge and after re-examining each of the girls, she selected Summer for the Bitch Challenge. The 2nd place girl from the Open class took the Reserve Challenge, so you just know it was a tight class.
Next thing Summer is up against the Dog Challenge winner, and it was only as the Steward announced 'and the Best in Show for the FLCV 2015 show goes to.....' that it really sunk in just what we were competing for, and then the judge handed me the beautiful rosette and i had to fight the desire to hug the judge and bounce up and down. 
Summer took BEST IN SHOW. I Love her Madly. I still can't believe it.

After such a rush, i still had to compete in the Neuter Class. Mischa was entered in a class of 5. The only Cream Lappie in the ring for the entire day. Mischa delighted me by being an absolute rockstar in the ring and was awarded 2nd place in the Neuter Bitch class, coming 2nd to her grandma. I couldn't help but be reminded of the first time we'd come 2nd to grandma Emmi (Gr Ch, Lumiturpa Emmi (Imp Fin)), at the Melbourne Royal under another breed enthusiast judge from Sweden, where Mish took the Reserve Bitch Challenge. I really can't be upset coming 2nd to Emmi, when she's the reason that we love the breed to begin with.

CALEEBRA BURBERRYS KNIGHT (AI) - 1st Place Junior Dog and Opposite Junior in Show
​"Masculine Head. Good Ear Carriage. Nice Eyes, Good Nose and Bite.
Good Topline, Carries tail correct when moving. Good Body, Tail could be longer
Correct angulation. Broad Thigh. Good Feet. Correct Coat. Very Good Movement"
Temperament: Typical of Breed
Graded: Excellent

CALEEBRA BURBERRYS BRAVO(AI)
"Good Proportions. Masculine Head. Good Ear Carriage. Good Eyes, Nose and Bite
Well developed body. Good Topline and Tail Carriage. Strong Bones. Good Feet. Good Coat. Moves Well"
Temperament: Typical of Breed
Graded: Excellent

CALEEBRA ARMANI JUNIOR
"Nice proportion. Lovely head, Good Ear Carriage. Nice Dark Eye Good Nose and Bite
Correct Angulation, Enough Body.Good Topline and Tail Carriage. Really Good Movement
Needs more ring training and socialisation"
Temperament: Typical of Breed
​Graded: Excellent 

CH. LECIBSIN SAMETTI (IMP UK) - 1st Open Bitch, Bitch Challenge, Best in Show and Best Open in Show
"Nice Bitch. Lovely head and Expression. Dark Eye with Correct Shape. Good Nose and Bite.
Lovely Topline and Tail. Very Good Forechest and Body.
​Good Bone, Angulation and Movement. Lovely Coat"
Temperament: Typical of Breed
Graded: Excellent 

CH. NEUT CH. ARMAHANI BLOODSTONE BILAIDIT RE - 2nd Place Neuter Bitch
"Very nice Bitch. Lovely head and expression. Nice Ears. Good Nose and Bite
Strong Body and Topline. Lovely Tail.
​Good Bone and Angulation. Good Thigh, Good Movement"
Temperament: Typical of Breed
​Graded: Excellent

We braved 37°C temperatures on Monday to attend the Kerang & District Ag show. My aunt has recently returned to Victoria and has been asking when I was going to visit. So i saw a couple of shows out her way and thought i'd make it a dual purpose visit.

Summer took the Bitch Challenge and Runner up Best of Breed in the AM Show and managed one better, taking Bitch Challenge and Best of Breed in the PM Show. The sun on her black coat had me worrying about heat stroke, but when we finally got home she spent the next hour running around the backyard with my aunts Cattle Dog, so was completely unfazed by the temperature. I should've known better.

Mischa was the only Neuter Finnish Lapphund entered, but both judges just adored her and were heaping praise on her and just how 'Stunning' she was and what a shame it was that she was Neutered. It was all a little overwhelming really, but Mish basked in the adoration and took Neuter in Group in both the AM show under Mrs Sandra Mashford (Vic) and the PM Show under Mr William Mooney (Vic).

By the time the PM show had come around the temperature was really climbing and so, whilst I was happy for the win, it did mean a few more hours enduring the suddenly high temperature and more trips to the taps to wet down the cool coats for the dogs, and a few more trips to the canteen to rehydrate. Thank goodness for the local Girl Guides keeping a very well stocked fridge.

Mr William Mooney was the General Specials judge for the PM show, and whilst i dared to think it, I didn't dare to hope we'd finally convert a Group win to a Show win.
But as we lined up with the rest of the Group winners, I saw his eyes fall on Mish and i knew she'd bewitched him right then and there.
He smiled as he said "I'll have the Lapphund" and I couldn't stop smiling myself as I gave Mish a hug, shook the Judges hand, hearing the warm Congratulations of the other exhibitors, as I accepted Mischa's first Best Neuter in Show ribbon.

27/2/2015 Royal Canberra Show

I decided to take Aslak and Summer for a trip to Canberra for the Royal Show. Entries were due in months ago and at the time i wasn't sure if Summer would have her coat back in time. Surprisingly she's almost back in full coat, and just growing past that fluffy, puffy looking stage.

I injured my ankle a few weeks ago so I'd already decided I couldn't show either of them myself, and it was a bit of a nailbiter, as Summers handler arrived as the Baby Puppy Dog was being judged but fortunately the judging was at a reasonable pace and there was plenty of time to get into the ring.

Royal Canberra Show Best of Breed went to Summer.
Runner up Best of Breed and Dog Challenge went to Aslak.
Linda handled Summer through to the Group and Jeanette handled Aslak. Both the dogs did their very best and I couldn't be happier with their results as they both did so well on the day. 

31/3/2015 FLCNSW Specialty Show 2015
Well it was a bit of a whirlwind weekend as we headed to Sydney early on Saturday, to show at the 2nd FLCNSW Specialty Show.
I borrowed Koda for the weekend and he was behaving just like a typical puppy and I wasn't sure what we'd see in the ring. But it turns out he was a little rock star. He was the only one in his class but even standing in the hot sun for the Challenge lineup, he was a little champion, standing when i asked, moving when we needed to, and being sheltered from the sun by me and getting tummy rubs when we could relax a little. I was so proud of Koda, he did so well this weekend.
Koda was eventually awarded Minor Puppy in Show, with his sister, Boo, taking Opposite Minor Puppy in Show.
Aslak, shown by Megan, was the perfect superstar he always is and won the Junior Dog Class and took Opposite Junior in Show.
Dolce was in fine form, annoyed at all the barking dogs, he'd had enough before we even entered the ring and made me work incredibly hard for a surprise 2nd place in the Aust Bred Dog class.
As I wasn't sure how my injured ankle would hold up I'd already made the decision to hand over the girls.
Summer was handled by Linda to win the Open Bitch Class and then take Reserve Bitch Challenge and Opposite Open in Show.
Mischa was handled by her breeder, Jacq, and took 2nd in the Neuter Bitch Class.
There were also a few property classes and collectively the Caleebra crew won:
Best Breeders Team - With Koda(B), Lexie(A), Alleria(A) and Boo(B).
Best Coated Bitch - Alleria
Best Headed Dog - Aslak

The following day was the Royal. I withdrew Dolce and showed Koda and Summer, both took 2nd place in their classes.