armahani

Try again. It should work.

I don't think our system readily enables judges to refuse a challenge without it coming across as a huge insult. So I can understand them often being reluctant to do so. I love the European system with gradings for every dog entered (Excellent, Very Good, Good, Sufficient, Disqualified) with definitions for these, and written critiques which help the exhibitor understand why their dog was graded that way on the day. There only those graded Excellent are eligible for challenge. But a dog graded Very Good doesn't mean "terrible" - particularly a young dog - and often not a reason to get upset. It just means exactly that "this is a very good example of its breed, just with something which means it is not quite at that superior level where I would say it is excellent". Obviously a dog graded Very Good doesn't mean terrible, but it still isn't eligible for the challenge. Yet here, refusing a challenge gets interpreted as a judge saying "this dog is terrible." It's just a different perspective. We seem to think that any example of its breed as long as it is not "terrible" is challenge worthy. In Europe a dog is not seen as challenge worthy unless they are that extra level above. I don't know what it is like in other breeds, but I've had a glance at a number of show results for my own breed in its country of origin, and I would say on average only about half of those who enter the ring at most shows get graded excellent. That seems to say that only about 50% of dogs showing are challenge worthy. Here I would speculate that most people assume 100% of the dogs who enter the ring should be challenge worthy. As I said, a different perspective, but I think the European system (and perhaps showing culture) makes it far easier for dogs to be refused challenges there.

Will PM you

We received contrary advise :) - we contacted the rules and regs committee (Dogs Vic) before our last show and were told that neuters were not eligible to enter most property classes (other than a veterans special class / sweepstake as long as it isn't an ordinary class eligible for challenge). The reason we were given is that because the rules are "silent" on the issue (ie when the neuter challenge/championship rules were introduced there was no corresponding change also giving neuters other "showing rights" so to speak in any other type of class). So therefore the basic rule/premise that neuters can't compete in conformation stands (except where there are specific written exceptions in the rules). Personally I think they should be able to compete in property classes - these are largely "fun" classes anyway. Although for many breeds I can see a good reason for excluding them from a "best coat" class.

Yes. There is actually no such thing as a "neuter register", only the mains register and limited register. Neuters just have their mains registration updated (both on paper and electonically) to "note" them as a neuter - they don't get moved onto a different register. So the number remains the same. There may not be a form. There isn't in Victoria. We just send in the registration certificate, along with a letter explaining we'd like them updated as a neuter, and the neuter certificate from the vet (along with payment of course :D )

We must be lucky in our breed I think. Every single import, both male and female, with the exception of the first, and one male who died young (so never tried), have had successful litters. Oh, sorry, and the most recent who has only just arrived :laugh: .

The only way of establishing if this has ANYTHING to do with the importation process would be to work out if: (1) the incidence rate of infertility in male imports is higher than those who remain in their country of origin (2) the incidence rate of infertility in male imports is higher than those born and remaining in Aus (3) the incidence rate of dogs who are fertile at x age and then infertile at y age is higher in male imports than those who remain in their country of origin (4) the incidence rate of dogs who are fertile at x age and then infertile at y age is higher in male imports than those who are born and remain in Aus Sounds like it could be quite an interesting study :D But anything else to me is pure speculation. I've heard of plenty of Aussie born males who are infertile, and plenty who sire a litter or two and then end up infertile later in age. A number of cases of this happening to imports doesn't mean anything to me unless there is shown to be a higher likelihood of it happening in an import population than in a stable population.

Yes, that was including purchase price. But keep in mind my first was almost 7 years ago now (when I somehow got a bargain on purchase price :) ) and the last a few years ago - so the lower price probably isn't accurate anymore. Quarantine prices have gone up a fair bit since my last import and the freight prices seem to skyrocket all the time - although on the upside exchange rates are much better now. I would generally think around $10K (for a medium size older pup) is realistic as long as you have a small buffer.

Sure ... if you want to leave them in quarantine for three months :laugh: . I can't imagine why anyone would do this! Esky, standard currently is 150 days after RNATT blood draw for travel to have the minimum 30 days quarantine (although as you would be aware that's under review so may change by the time you come around to it). It's basically 180 days from time of blood draw to time of release from quarantine, so currently if you want less time before they travel, you pay for it with more time in quarantine. I've always budgeted between $6000 to $10,000 - but it's more toward the higher end these days.

Just a reminder that this is still going ahead next Tuesday night. Please RSVP if you haven't already done so.

Hi all, For anyone interested, please find below information on a Finnish Lapphund Breed Lecture being held by the Finnish Lapphund Club of Victoria on the evening Tuesday, 8 May 2012 at Bulla. We are very excited to be welcoming Linda Marden, Sugarok Kennels, President of the Finnish Lapphund Club of America, and 25 year veteran of the breed to present this lecture. Further details are pasted at the bottom of this post. Please feel free to cross-post and further distribute. For your further information, the first championship show for Finnish Lapphunds in the Southern Hemisphere is scheduled to be run at KCC Park on Monday 11 June 2012. We are anticipating a large entry, and for anyone having an interest in the breed, this will be an excellent opportunity to see a large number, from most States of Australia, in the one place. FINNISH LAPPHUND BREED LECTURE LINDA MARDEN SUGAROK KENNELS, USA PRESIDENT, FINNISH LAPPHUND CLUB OF AMERICA Date: Tuesday 8 May 2012 Time: 7.30pm Followed by supper Venue: Room 1, Bulla Exhibition St Uniting Lane, Bulla To attend: Please RSVP to president@... to assist us with catering This lecture is being provided by the Finnish Lapphund Club of Victoria free of charge, however, in recognition that we are a small and relatively new club, a gold coin donation by attendees who are neither judges nor aspiring judges would be greatly appreciated. Raffle tickets for our annual raffle are also likely to be being sold by enthusiastic committee members. About our speaker: Linda Marden has had a lifetime involved in the showing and breeding of dogs, from her first Pomeranian as a 14 year old, to her successful line of Samoyeds. She was first introduced to Finnish Lapphunds in 1977, although it took 10 long years of negotiation before she imported her first, Jesse, from Finland to the USA in 1987. During the last 24 years, her involvement in the Finnish Lapphund breed has been extensive, with numerous trips to Europe to learn more about the breed, the importing of 22 dogs, and the breeding of 232 puppies across 45 litters, which have assisted to forming a solid foundation in the North America. She is the President of the Finnish Lapphund Club of America, and has been instrumental to lead that organisation in their efforts to gain full American Kennel Club recognition of the breed on 30 June 2011. Prior to AKC recognition, her Finnish Lapphunds were heavily campaigned in UKC shows, five of which were Best in Show winners, and also in Canada after breed recognition was gained there in 2007. Since AKC recognition she has titled 12 American Champions and 4 American Grand Champions, with numerous group placements, and her highly successful male Bruce (Sugarok Born in the USA) was the first Westminster BOB winner this year. Linda has lectured extensively on the breed across the USA and Canada, and we are enormously grateful that she has agreed to provide this lecture for us during her trip to Melbourne in 2012.

Mine has free access to and from the puppy room either when I'm home or not. I learnt the hard way with her first litter that she is perfectly able and willing to be an excellent mother, but will not be defined by her mother role alone and is an independent woman with other interests and needs (ie I could never keep her in there) :laugh: . It's taken me a while though to relax and figure out that she knows what she is doing better than me and is perfectly capable of feeding and cleaning them when needed to keep them growing healthy without my silly human interference. I swear she looks at me like "and have YOU ever successfully raised 7 babies before?"

I've been fairly quiet, so apologies to those I've missed a congratulations for ... Our trio has been doing amazingly well and are now 11 days old. They are without any doubt the strongest, healthiest litter I've ever had, and are coming along in leaps and bounds. I'm on eye-opening watch now LOL I've been putting up a few photos of the days here: http://armahanidiamond.blogspot.com.au/

Great news! Glad to hear they are all here safely LP!

Wow! Congratulations! 13 babies sure will keep everyone very very busy! We took individual photos of our much smaller group :D today: http://armahanidiamond.blogspot.com.au/