5th January

Welcome back to our diary. Hopefully we will do a lot of updates during the year. :-) Hope everyone has had a nice Christmas and New Year celebration. We've had it very quiet as usual. None of the dogs were scared on New Years, they slept most of the time. It's not a lot of fireworks out here, and since there is a lot of hunting in the woods, our dogs are used to hear shots. I was not sure how Didrik would react as he was a bit uneasy last year, but this time he didn't care and I am so happy about that. It's so sad to watch them when they are scared.

Not much new on the dogfront, all is just fine. We showed Nora for the first time between Christmas and New Year. I was excited to see how she would behave, as she's been full of "fun" at home when I've trained her. She jumped around or crawled on the ground - so fun! But I didn't have to worry, she behaved perfectly. :-) Don't understand the critique as it is written "doctor-style", but I don't show for the critique but for the experience. Having had dogues for a long time, I see what my dogs needs more or less of. :-) Nora got BOS and of course she got toys and pigears. She was very happy. And I think the show did it's trick, when I practised with her today she did so good! Just have to be patient (not my virtue).

This weekend, Nora and I are going to Gothenburg and I am so looking forward to it. I will stay at Elisabeth and Jussi, it is always so much fun. We are going to the show both days. I think Nora will do good with more training and it's so nice at that show with lots of people and lots of stands to buy stuff. ;-)

It will be a small update over the weekend. Below is a picture of Nora and the male.

Thank you Linda at Molosse Antique for the picture. :-)

17 December

Wow......it has been 3 months since our last update.......I think I have to do much better next year! I will try to improve, I promise. :-)

One of the reasons why it's not updated is that nothing much happens. We are doing fine, and so are the doggies. So we have to be happy with that. :-)

These days, Christmas in what is on my mind. I've decorated a little, and this weekend we're gonna buy the tree. The last presents were bought today, so now we just need a bit more food and snacks, and we are ready to celebrate. Of course the doggies join the celebrations as well - as always. They get lots of pork belly and pigears in the days to come. We are so lucky that our parents see our dogues as their "grandchildren" so they give them a whole lot of goodies as well. Why shouldn't they be spoiled for Christmas as the rest of us (well, actually, they are already spoilt rotten hahaha).

We've taken it slow in the showring the last weeks. Our last show were the Nordic Winner in Lillestrøm outside Oslo. We entered 6 of our dogues, mainly to show breeder- and progeny class. We entered Minx, Donatella and Modesty in Championclass. Minx won the class and got 2 best female with R-CACIB. Thank you to my dear sister Lone for showing her. :-) Donatella got 4 best female with CK, but Modesty didn't get more than Excellent. We got honorprize in both breeder- and progenyclass, and we are of course very proud of being the first Norwegian Kennel EVER to show progeny class. Effi (Doguehill's Entrapment) are now over 6 yeras old, and of course not at her best, but she sure loves the showring and were strutting her stuff! Hard to imagine it is almost 4 years since she was in a ring last time! She's had two litters, and both litters were presented in both breeder- and progeny class.

Our little Nora is now 7 months. It is amazing how fast time flies. She is a very charming young girl who loves attention. We are showing her the week after Christmas at a National show. She has a giant undershot and are very high behind, but it is good practice for her. She is very social, so it's just the ringraining she needs. I've practiced a little with her the last week, and she's jumping and playing, but with some more training it should be fine. In January we are going to Gothenburg with her. I am staying with my friends Elisabeth and Jussi, and just for fun I entered Nora. I am really looking forward to this trip and to meet all our friends again.

I don't think there will be more updates this year, so I take the opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Welcome back in 2011! :-)

PS.......a couple of new pics in mixgallery, and in Nora's gallery. :-)

16. September

I bet you got surprised when you entered our site and found it was actually updated for once. ;-) During the summer, everything is slow, and I haven't felt like updating. Then the last month, I've had trouble with my computer. The c: disk was injured, so it had to go to repair and change some parts. When I got it back it didn't work (of course!), so it had to go back in, and that took just as long time as the first time. ;-) Now I have it back, and have been busy installing everything I need on it. All the links are still not working, but I will work on those pages when I get back home from vacation.

I have been in Sweden with Modesty, we were after the last CACIB which we got. She is now International Champion. She became our firstbred National Champion, and she also got to be our firstbred Int. Ch. :-) I have also been at a show with Lucifer. The judge were breed specialist Peter Montfoort. One of the best in my opinion, so I had to enter Lucifer for him. It went very well, Lucifer beat the Champion male and got BOB. Nora was also there, only she was two weeks to young to enter, but it was good socialization. It was a long wait for the group as we were first breed in the ring, but I try to enter the finals if it's possible. We didn't get picked, but at least we got to show the breed.

The last couple of weeks we have been preparing for the big event of the year - the clubmatch in France. This year it's in St. Tropez, and Espen and I are like kids. :-) It's a long drive, but it's fantastic to be there. We have a huge car with good space for the dogues, aircondition and possibility to stretch out a little, so everyone will have a good trip. On Sunday, our doguesitter Camilla will join us from Sweden. Thank's to her, Espen and I get to go on vacation together. :-) We're counting the days!
Yesterday I gave all 11 douges a good scrub in the shower. Since Donatella, Lucifer and Hellga will be shown, they had to get a wash, and as the rest haven't had a bath in a while, I decided to take all at once. They had a nice, silky soft coat this morning. We'll see how long it lasts. Didrik was looking at me like "do you know how hard I've worked to smell like this - and then you give me a bath!" Well, we all have to do things we don't like every now and then. ;-)

It will be great to get some extended summer. It hasn't been great here we live. The temp in St. Tropez are high in the 20's. Love it! :-) Almost everyone we know will be staying at the same place as us - on the beach in bungalows with aircondition. Partytime!

That's it for now - I plan to make a little update when I get back home with pictures from the trip. Enjoy the fall - it's a beautiful time!

20. July

As you have already seen on our mainpage we have a new girl in our family. Bakervill's Fiddle Dee Dee aka Nora, came to us before the weekend and are settling in nicely. Already the first day she strolled around like she's always been here. She is a wonderful girl, happy and playful. But she's also good with relaxing and sleeping, which is also important for such a little one. The first couple of nights she woke up around 3 in the morning, and was veeeeeeery awake. Last night she slept through and woke up at 0530. I think it's because she was playing with Modesty before we went to bed. Modesty is super with her, lays on her back and let her play on her. Effi wants Nora to herself, so she will chase off the other dogs if she wants to play with her. The whole pack are guarding more than usual, but we know it's only for a while. They will settle down soon.
Thank you so much for the greetings in our guestbook, it is so nice when peopl share our joy. :-) Once again we want to express our gratitude to Michel and Sandra for giving us this oportunity. We look forward to many wonderful times with Nora.
She now has her own gallery, you can see the pics here.

13. July

I guess it was about time with a small update again. :-) It is after all summer, so it's not much news. The days goes by as usual, dogues are doing just fine. We don't walk them much now in this heat, they prefer to be inside in the livingroom where it's airconditioned. Last night we had terrible weather here, they measured up to 1000 lightnings in one hour! It struck twice in the forest near our house, but luckily no fire. It was raining very hard. We both got up and went downstairs to the dogues, in case it should strike the house. The youngest ones were a bit worried, but when we sat down and relaxed, they got calm and went back to sleep. I didn't sleep much the rest of the night, so I'll take a nap on the sofa later today. :-)

On July 3rd, Espen went to the Int. show in Trondheim with Lucifer and Hellga. The trip went fine, and Lucifer did very well with CAC, CACIB and BOB. Hellga didn't do well at all, she only got good. The judge said she don't have trapezoid head which is completely wrong, but of course he is entitled to his opinion. I'm just happy we've showed her for breed specialist Alcrudo, his saying counts much more. He found her worthy of the CAC and best female, so we are not too worried. But of course we are not happy about the "good" - who would be!
We'll take it easy the next coming weeks, no shows until August. It's nice with a break, it has been intense for a while. Both Hellga and Lucifer needs one more CAC to become Champions, but they have to turn 2 years first.

Wish you all more nice summerdays. I will try to take some new photos this week. As you can see, most of the links are still not working. I don't feel like doing it right now, very lazy ;-) so I'll get back to it later on.

29. June

Circus Laila.........! Talk about chaotic trip......... I went to the ferry on Friday afternoon. Met up with my sister and her friends and drove the rest of the way together. Or at least that was the plan. When we arrived Oslo, I got way ahead of my sister because of the traffic, so I decided to drive to the ferry and wait for them there. Only thing was that I drove to the wrong ferry......so I had to drive back again. Finally we were at the same place, and we got our tickets and waited to get on board. I picked up a small backpack and was going to take the doggies out of the car when I discovered I had lost my ticket........in that short time! So I had to go up to the information desk and get a new key. Then down again to get the dogues. When I arrived the cabin the keycard didn't work! Luckily the key to my sisters cabin worked, so I got in there with the dogues and she went down to information again to get a new card. This one worked and the dogues and I was finally in our own cabin and could relax a little. We had a nice dinner and then went to bed early. The next morning we got to place the dogues in the car 20 min before they opened cardeck. As soon as I got out of the ferry, I stopped at the closest gas station and rested the doggies there for a good while. My sister and her friends continued to the speciality show for their breed. I got in the car and looked for the gps so I could find my hotel easily. But guess what.......it wasn't there. I had used it in the Excursion last weekend when I was in Oppdal with Donatella. I was supposed to use it this time too, but it had to have something fixed and it wasn't ready by Friday. I forgot all about the gps of course........but the guy in the gas station gave me a good description and I found the hotel in Herning quite easy. Of course I arrived way to early, so I found a nice park and walked the doggies for over one hour. The park had some ducks and horses nearby, and Lucifer was sooo interested. He likes other animals and could stand and watch for hours if I let him. After walking the dogues, I then walked to the center of Herning and enjoyed seing all the people, hearing lots of music and then - in the middle of everything - an oasis for dogs. It had a sign saying: You and your dog are welcome to sit down for a drink of water and some treats for the dogs". There were two huge waterbuckets and a huge bucket with snacks. It was really cozy, and I've never seen it before. Wish it could be like that everywhere. After strolling around for a while, I went to a store to shop something for my mother and myself, and of course some grilled chicken for the doggies (and me). ;-) When I came back to the hotel, the room was ready for us, and the dogues and I enjoyed a little nap. In the afternoon my sister and friends came to the hotel, and we went out to a steak-restaurant for a nice dinner. I went to bed early as the show was the next day. I woke up before the alarm went off, and walked the doggies, got ready and then went for breakfast. It only took 8-9 minutes to drive from the hotel and we were there in good time. We met Linda and Tero who already had all their stuff and doggies in the hall. Eukanuba had an offer to all participants, get 12 kg adult for free, just bring the number of your dog. Linda and I went to pick up our bags but woooow what a queue! It would have taken over 1 hour before it was our turn, so we decided to skip it. Instead we walked around looking at all the things that were for sale, and came over some canvas cages for only 60 euro's each! It was the biggest size and it was three times cheaper than what I just paid for one here in Norway - and a size smaller! So I had to buy two. :-) Linda and I walked back to the ring, and waited for the show to start. The puppyclasses went first, and then came Champion males where I showed a dog for my friend Jørn. He got Excellent. Then I went in intermediate class with Lucifer who also got Excellent. :-) After the males, the judgement began on the Champion females where I had entered Minx. She was number 2 in Championclass with Excellent, so we are happy about that. Not bad for a dogue that evidently "was done and nothing for the rings"...... ;-) With TLC you get a long way. :-)
When the judgements were done, I had something to eat and shopped a little. I was so tired so I skipped the finals. It was so nice to be back in the hotel and relax. In the evening we had a lovely meal and went early to bed again, I had to get up at 0500 to walk the dogs and get the last of the stuff in the car so we could leave at 0600 to make the ferry home again. The weekend in Herning has been very nice, and I have really enjoyed meeting up with people I usually see only once or twice a year. And of course to meet my puppybuyers and friends was so nice. Martin and Laura who has Toa from my last litter, made the trip to say hello and see all the beautiful dogues. Linda was there with three of her dogues and they got Excellent. And our friend Tero from Finland who has Peppi from my M-litter showed his male Jethro and won the Intermediate classe. We are sooooo happy for you, big congrats again. :-) Thank you everyone for making it a special weekend, and of course to my sister and her friends for great company.

Next show is already this coming weekend, but now Espen will go. I need to rest. ;-)) Here are some pics from the show - thank you Martin and Laura for the pictures. :-)

21. June

Donatella have been to shows this weekend here in Norway. She got her last two cac's and are now Norwegian Champion. :-) She now has two titles - NUCH and SV-10. :-) We are awaiting confirmation from the Swedish Kennelclub if her Championship there is valid too. :-)

Our country has a spectacular nature. I drove in valleys between two huge mountains. Some places you get to drive very close to the mountain and you feel quite small. The houses that are at the bottom of the mountains looks like small doll houses. We have a beautiful country, and should really try to explore it more than we do!

Our next show will be the WW in Denmark this coming weekend. Can't believe it's time - it's been over 3 years since I booked the hotel. We'll have a cozy time on the ferry to DK, and then on Saturday I'm gonna take the doggies for a nice walk and just relax before it's time to show on Sunday. Also I'm looking soooooo much forward to seing some of my friends/puppybuyers again. :-)

Wish you all a nice week. It looks like we'll have some nice weather, so I'll try to be of use outside a little too. :-)

15 June:

It appears I've lost all previous text in the diary of this year, but hey - I can't fix everything. ;-)

We have some exciting news! Donatella begun her show-season well. She got BOB with CAC and CACIB at the Int. show in Drammen on June 5th. Really fun, and a great day around the ring. Unfortunately I couldn't stay for the groupfinals because we had a 40-year party to attend. It's not often the females gets the BOB so it would have been fun being there, but we hope she'll get another chance this year. :-) She now needs two cac's from National shows to become Norwegian Champion. I have high hopes she will get them this summer.
This weekend I took the long drive to Avesta in Sweden. They arranged the Swedish Winner show this year. It went super, and Donatella got her first title - Swedish Winner 2010! :-) A big thank you to everyone for a nice day at the show, and especially to our friend Kalle at Doguehill's for all the help! Also a big thank you to Anneli Åhlén at kennel Heart of Darkness who filmed most of the show. You can see it here:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xdnxxo_svensk-vinnar-2010-swedish-winner-2

I'm still trying to get everything back on the website, so if there's something missing, it will hopefully be up very soon. :-)