Meet Our Dogs

Smuu

Tuukka

Sisko

Peppi

Rainbow Bridge

Smuu

Carelle with Smuu

When Smuu was around 16 months of age, I started thinking about showing her, though I hadn’t a clue where to begin. Toni kindly pointed me in the direction of my local ringcraft classes and after a couple of months of learning the ropes, we started entering shows.

Smuu’s successes in the ring soon had me completely hooked. How I cursed not having thought about showing her when she was still a pup!

To read a humorous article about our first ever show, click here

A couple of our critiques from the dog press:

• ‘Mowatt’s Curdeleon Suvi Ruusu, Finnish Lapphund, good neck, proud head carriage, well ribbed body, fair topline, high tailset, dark almond shaped eye, set in well proportioned head, very alert, stylish free mover’'
  Pamela Cross Stern (Judge), Windsor Championship Show 1.7.00.

• ‘Mowatt’s Curdeleon Suvi Ruusu, Well balanced Finnish Lapphund, very feminine all through and extremely sound to go over, lovely head, eyes, ears and expression, firm front, good body and outline, sound behind, moving really well’
  Terry Thorn (Judge), East of England Championship Show 22.7.00.

We also started agility classes at around the same time. Because Smuu is quite a petite Lappie (16”) she jumps and competes at midi height (20”).
Smuu is as bright as a button and picked it up very quickly (though the weaves DID take some time!)

In 2001 Smuu was taken advantage of by Tuukka (!!) and a beautiful litter of five puppies was the result.

Four bitches and one dog, although sadly one of the bitches - Tassa, simply faded away (Fading Puppy Syndrome) and died three days later. To see details of her litter please click here

Smuu took to motherhood like an Ostrich to water - and the first week was somewhat stressful. Smuu, "I don't 'do' feeding in the night', had to be pinned down to make sure she jolly well did!

After that though she was fine and got more into it the older and more interesting the pups got (although she always loved clearing up after them!).

Smuu continued to be lightly shown and attend agility, along with Tuukka and then Kallis, the pup that we kept.

On December 5th 2002, we lost Kallis in a tragic accident. She slipped out of my electric gates as they were closing and was killed on the road. It was a savage blow during what was already a difficult time. To this day I don't think I have got over it.

By 2004 the sun was shining again in my little world, although I still missed Kallis dreadfully. I was now living very happily with Rory and finally had someone who was happy to accompany me in my doggie pursuits.

We decided to repeat the Smuu and Tuukka mating and were blessed with another beautiful litter of five pups in the spring, two bitches and three dogs. Smuu was far more relaxed this time around and the litter were very laid back and easy. We decided to keep Sisko (Finnish for sister). To see details of this litter please click here

Smuu rarely returned to the show ring after Sisko was born.

Unfortunately her tendency to yap when excited had grown and grown and because she wasn't shown so often (I was concentrating on Tuukka and Sisko) it was obviously very exciting for her, so catch 22.

She was however trundled out at Crufts and won a second place!

In 2006 as a result of the Optigen gene test (www.optigen.com) I learnt that not only was Tuukka a carrier (for the prcd genotype), but that both Smuu and Sisko were affected.

At first I was terribly upset but then I realised that I was indeed fortunate to have such fantastic dogs in my life and at least I knew they always had a home with me. Until the gene test, it was impossible for breeders to know the status of their breeding stock, especially since PRA in our breed is late onset and there was absolutely no way of telling which dogs were carriers.

Smuu's vision (at time of writing at 9 years of age) seems to be OK. She is a bit hit and miss at catching biscuits but otherwise is leading a completely normal life. Long may it continue!

I had her spayed and I'm afraid we now need to fight the battle of middle aged spread! She has enjoyed helping Sisko with her puppies - although like most Grannies, she was either being really lovely or really grumpy!

Preferring indoors to outdoors now, she is never far from me. She still has the energy of a three year old and it is impossible to tell by either looking at her or watching her play that she is actually getting on a bit.

She still likes to 'tell a good story' and still chases all manner of wildlife. Her recalls still leave a lot to be desired as well! Smuu has only grown more beautiful as she's got older.

She's still a Princess, capable of sulking at times - but she's gorgeous and challenging and I love her to bits!