Kokkola INT

A lot has happened this summer, that I haven't gotten around to blog about. Like the fact that we now have puppies! But more about that later, after I get my camera working again. Right now I'd like to tell you about the international show in Kokkola this summer.

We headed out to Kokkola July 7th, with a whole bunch of Akitas to be judged by Mr. Pekka Teini from Finland. With us we had Huurre (Candida's Attention Please), Utu (C's Aurora Borealis), Roku (C's Name of the Game), Tuuli (C's Non-Stop Song) and Lumi (C's October Opal).

Huurre did quite well at his first official show, he got a Very Good and won his class.

Candida's Attention Please "Huurre"

Huurre

Huurre

Tuuli also got a Very Good and won her class. She and I had very different opinions on how a dog should behave in the show ring... She won :D

Candida's Non-Stop Song "Tuuli"

Tuuli

Lumi got an Excellent, CQ, won the Champion class and was placed 3rd Best Female. Unfortunately we were a little too short-staffed to get any pictures of her from this show.


Utu got an Excellent, CQ, won the Junior class, was placed Best Female and finally Best of Opposite Sex with CAC! For some reason all the shots of her turned out to be horribly overexposed :(

Candida's Aurora Borealis "Utu"

Roku, finally, blew it out of the park with his performance! He got an Excellent, CQ, won the Intermediate class, was placed Best Male and won Best of Breed with CAC and CACIB!

Candida's Name of the Game "Roku"

Roku

Roku

Roku

BOB Candida's Name of the Game & BOS Candida's Aurora Borealis

And as if all this success wasn't enough for one day, I also had the pleasure of showing my very first breeder's class! Unfortunately, once again, too many hands were needed inside the ring, and none were left free to take a picture. Kennel Candida's ended up getting an Honorary Prize, and was deemed the Best Breeder's Group of the Breed.

This has definitely been one of my proudest moments yet, and all the thanks go to the owners of Candida's Akitas, for taking such good care of them!

Helsinki & Kotka INT

June 16th was a very hot summer day. So we, of course, were at an international all breed dog show in Helsinki. With us we had Lumi (Candida's October Opal), who had just dropped all of her coat and looked like a street mutt, and Lumi's daughter Usva (Candida's August Surprise) for whom this was the very first performance in an official show ring.

Our judge, Elena Agafonova from Russia, placed Lumi 2nd in the champion class with an excellent critique. Usva in turn did incredibly well at her first show. She won the junior class, but lost the title of Best Junior of Breed to charming "Sparta", Cazador Grande de Alce. Usva was then placed 2nd Best Female and got her first CAC!

Lumi, our little jackal

"Usva" Candida's August Surprise

Usva

Usva

Usva

BJOB Cazador Grande de Alce & BJOS Candida's August Surprise

June 17th, on the other hand, was an extremely rainy summer day. So once again, we obviously headed out to another international all breed dog show, this time in Kotka. Lumi was entered, but as she was obviously not in the best show condition, we decided to leave her home that day. We did take Lumi's other daughter, "Utu" (Candida's Aurora Borealis) with us. And she sure delivered. She charmed our judge, Annukka Paloheimo, all the way up to Best Female, won her first CAC, but lost BOB to gorgeous male "Marski" Hiro Go di Casa Saporito. Which was exactly what we were hoping for, as we didn't much feel like waiting for the group rings in the pouring rain :D Congratulations to Marski's owner! As it was raining quite a bit during the ring, here's all the photos we have:

BOB Hiro Go di Casa Saporito & BOS Candida's Aurora Borealis

Utu, dried up and indoors :)

Hamina & Tampere INT

Apparently I forgot to publish this... :D

A few weeks back we entered two international dog shows in Southern Finland with our Akitas. Hamina INT was on Saturday, and our judge for the day was Mr. Harto Stockmari from Finland. Routa (Razmus Akai Oujisama Go) was placed Best Puppy of the Breed, and Usva (Candida's August Surprise), who made her show debut, was Best Puppy of the Opposite Sex. They both received excellent critiques. Lumi (Candida's October Opal) was placed Best of Opposite Sex. Thanks to Salla Huohvanainen once more for handling Usva on such short notice!

BPOB Razmus Akai Oujisama Go

BPOS Candida's August Surprise

Candida's August Surprise

BPOS and BPOB with our judge, Harto Stockmari

BOS Candida's October Opal

Candida's October Opal

BOB Viribus Unitis Uma Goten & BOS Candida's October Opal

On Sunday it was time to head to Tampere INT with Routa, Utu (Candida's Aurora Borealis), Lumi and Roku (Candida's Name of the Game). Judging Akitas was Mr. Tomas Rohlin from Denmark. He placed Routa as Best Puppy of the Breed again, leaving Utu Best Puppy of the Opposite Sex. Roku got an excellent critique and won the intermediate class. Lumi was handled beautifully by Nyyti Halme (thank you!) and placed 4th Best Female. I also got to handle Akita Pandayan Axuki to BOS and last CAC for her Finnish Championship, and Shiba Yukiguni No Akisamekou to BPOB. Congratulations for both are in order to owner Riina Haapakallio!

BPOB Razmus Akai Oujisama Go

Razmus Akai Oujisama Go

BPOS Candida's Aurora Borealis

Candida's Aurora Borealis

BPOB & BPOS with judge Tomas Rohlin

Candida's Name of the Game

Candida's Name of the Game

Candida's October Opal

Candida's October Opal

BOS Pandayan Axuki & BOS Kohaku Halne Wzgórze

Puppies' show debut

Yesterday we took Utu (Candida's Aurora Borealis) and Routa (Razmus Akai Oujisama Go) to their very first puppy show. Our judge for the day was Unto Timonen from Finland. Both of the puppies received excellent critiques, and finally Utu was chosen Best of Breed and Routa was a close second at Best of Opposite Sex.

 

BOS Razmus Akai Oujisama Go & BOB Candida's Aurora Borealis

Lahti INT

Last Sunday we were at Lahti international dog show with Lumi (Candida's October Opal). Our judge Juha Putkonen from Finland placed her Best Female, and Best of Opposite Sex to Eiko Go from Hachimantai.

I also had the pleasure of showing our friend's dog Kami (Pandayan Axuki), who unfortunately didn't please the judge enough that day.

Here are some photos by Tiina Sipilä, you can find more at http://candidas.kuvat.fi/

Candida's October Opal

Candida's October Opal

Pandayan Axuki

BOS Candida's October Opal and BOB Eiko Go from Hachimantai

The show season is just starting up for us, so stay tuned for more show updates this spring and summer ;)

Turku INT

We had an awesome day at Turku international show today with Lumi (Candida's October Opal). Our judge for the day was Bo Skalin.

Lumi was placed best female, won Best of Breed, and got her last CACIB to finish her Champion International de Beaute -title (to be confirmed).

Bo Skalin & Candida's October Opal

We also stayed for the group judging, but weren't placed today. We're plenty happy with our girl :)

All pictures taken by Tiina Sipilä