American Norrbottenspets Association The Forest Hound Volume 2, Issue 4 December 2013 Editor s Corner And here we are again. Most of us freezing! How nice that Norbies grow their own underwear! They love this kind of weather. Not like my Ibizans who refuse to go outside for more than 3 minutes - just long enough to create yellow icicles. We enter the Miscellaneous classes of our journey at AKC in January. Our eternal gratitude goes to Tomme Trikosko, Sue and Jacque Vareberg for all their hard work in getting us there. It would not have happened without their blood, sweat, tears and money. Their dedication is mind boggling. Needless to say, their efforts will go into Norby history in the U.S. Since we are starting out on our show time journey, we have aimed this issue at those of you who want to participate in the conformation part of the dog fancy world. A couple of comments. Last time we covered disasters. The magazine: Shop Smart" (January issue) had an article on disaster supplies and made some recommended picks. Might be worth picking up. Another question which has come up recently, is if we Photo Shop. Answer is: Nope. We do not have the software, I do not have the patience or computer savvy to use it and Jacque doesn't have the time. Besides,- we get such neat photos from you out there and our pooches are so photogenic, we don't need it. Hope you enjoy the articles and keep warm. Inside this issue: President s Letter 2 Get Ready-Get Set-And Go 2 A Letter from Loki 3 Loki Illustrates the Steps to BOB Dogs on the Move 5 Home for the Holidays 5 A Purple Heart for a Special Boy Editor s Correction 5 Summary of Minutes 6 2014 Annual Meeting 4 5 Located at: Portland, OR Expo Center On: January 18, 2014 Time: To be announced We hope to see you there! UKC CH Koivunevan American Idol SC s win picture after completing his United Kennel Club Championship. Photo by Tarianne UKC CH VIkingheaven Metsa Keiju SC s win picture after completing her United Kennel Club Championship Photo contributed by Tomme Trikosko
The Forest Hound UKC/CKC CH Manjusha s Yalena Vikingheaven SC after earning her UKC Championship Because of our efforts, January 1st begins a new era for the Norrbottenspets in the U.S. as the breed steps paw into the AKC Conformation ring for the first time! Page 2 Photo contributed by Tomme Trikosko Vikingheaven Thorfinn strolling around the ring. President s Letter Dear Norrbottenspets fancier: As I churned through club records compiling required documentation for the American Kennel Club on ANA activities, I was impressed by how much our organization has accomplished since its formation in August 2010. Because of our efforts, January 1st begins a new era for the Norrbottenspets in the U.S. as the breed steps paw into the AKC conformation ring for the first time! The Norrbottenspets joins several other breeds new to AKC conformation in the Miscellaneous Class. Participation in the Miscellaneous Class gives lovers of a Foundation Stock Service breed a new area of opportunity to show we care about doing things with our breed. The time that Norrbottenspets spend in Miscellaneous is a proving period on the path to full recognition; a time of final scrutiny by the AKC of our dedication and intent. Despite how hard we work and how much we love our dogs, it does take more than a handful of hard-working fanciers for the Norrbottenspets to become a fully recognized breed in the AKC. In the eyes of the AKC, a committed and supportive group of fanciers Get Ready - Get Set - And GO! As you all know, we will be in miscellaneous classes beginning in January. It's been a long, frustrating haul. Now - let's get out there and enjoy it. If you have been doing your homework, you have been getting out there in public with your dog, getting him used to crowds, new situations and strange people. You both are leash trained and move well together at a brisk trot. He will come back to the judge with ears alert, happy faced and tail wagging. He will let the judge look at his bite, check his testicles (boys only) all without sitting on the judges hand or doing something else hilariously disastrous. There will be no whoopsies when the judge goes over him to check angles and condition under that lovely clean, properly brushed coat. You look good too. You appear professional in a a suit with pockets and the skirt is long and loose enough that you can move comfortably and bend over without showing everyone the labels on your undies. Shoes should be comfy and rubber soled. Nothing kills a ring motivated to preserve a breed is shown by having a minimum of 100 households on the membership list of the parent breed club (we have 23: please join the ANA). A breed enrolled in the AKC Foundation Stock Service working toward recognition must demonstrate a desire among its fanciers for long term sustainability of the pure breed by an increase in the population of recorded dogs to a minimum of 300-400 dogs with three generation pedigrees from approved registries (we have 188: please record your Norrbottenspets with the AKC FSS). Participation by Norrbottenspets in AKC events across the country is required to show wide-spread support of organized dog activities (join us in the AKC conformation, agility, and obedience rings and on the AKC lure coursing and tracking fields). In this issue of The Forest Hound, learn a little about conformation competitions----how to be ready for the ring, what exactly is going on in there, and how you become Best of Breed. A written exam on the elimination bracket is available on request to those that would like to test their mastery of how to get to Best in Show See you ringside in January! performance more than your feet hurting or going out from underneath yourself. Haven't got it quite all together yet? Find a nearby handling class. It can be a tremendous and helpful experience for you both. There are also several good books out there. (Try Amazon) Work with friends at a show. Take a lesson or two from a Junior handler. They get such a huge giggle from helping out that "old" person. Watch the handlers and old timers from ring side. They may not have the time to help you at the show, but you can still learn a lot from observing. Try to watch them (not the dog). I always spent more time watching the dogs and didn't learn much. But most important - Go. Have fun. Learn what you can and don't worry about making an idiot of yourself. Judges really do have a sense of humor. Besides, they are either done it themselves or seen it all before. Just go - have fun - Good Luck!
Volume 2, Issue 4 A Letter From Loki Guess what, guess what, guess what!!!!!!!!! On January 1 st, Norrbottenspets get to enter AKC shows! We will be in the Miscellaneous Class. For those of you who may not be familiar with dog shows, this is a group of dogs that are trying to get recognized for full registration in the AKC. So what does full registration mean? We meet a bunch of requirements, go into the Hound Group, are eligible to become champions and have a chance to win Best in Show. Until we get full registration status and move into the Hound Group, we can only be awarded a Best in Miscellaneous, get a Certificate of Merit, and can t become Champions. So here s the basics: Best in Show is the ultimate award at the end of the show (see the figure on the next page). A dog gets Best in Show through a process of elimination. First a dog (that is not spayed or neutered) has to win his or her class (gets first place) competing against the dogs in their breed. After a dog wins his or her class, then they move up in the competition. Males (dogs) and females (bitches) are judged separately and the judge picks the best of each and they become Winners Dog or Winners Bitch. These dogs can win points towards a championship. Both of these dogs now go into the Best of Breed competition. Best of Breed (BOB) competition includes dogs and bitches that are already champions and the Winners Dog and Winners Bitch. Out of all the dogs in BOB competition, the Judge picks one as the Best of Breed winner. Then he or she picks the Best of Opposite Sex of Best of Breed, a Best of Winners from the Winners Dog or Winners Bitch and a Select Dog and Select Bitch. Only the Best of Breed winner moves up to the Group competition. There are seven groups in the AKC: Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non- Sporting and Herding. Out of each of these groups, the judge gives out ribbons for 1 st through 4 th place. The first place winner advances to the Best in Show Competition. Finally, at the end of an exciting day the judge picks the Best in Show and Reserve Best in Show. WOW what a day for all the dogs at the show! Remember, Norrbottenspets can t become Champions from the Miscellaneous Group and in order to join the Hound Group we need to show the AKC that we are a breed that wants full registration So Get yourself entered into AKC shows! Loki, the author of A Letter from Loki, showing how smoothly he runs around the ring. And in order to join the Hound Group we need to show the AKC that we are a breed that wants full registration. DanR carefully selecting his next foot placement at the 2013 Specialty Photo by Barbara Mayfield Keiju reminding everyone to have fun. If you aren t having fun, neither will your dog. Page 3
The Forest Hound Loki Illustrates the Steps to BOB Best in Show From one of the 7 groups But not from the Miscellaneous Group First through Fourth Place are selected from all the dogs in the Group First Place goes to compete in Best in Show Tomme and YaYa in the CKC Group ring Photo by: Jacqueline Vareberg Best of Breed Goes into a Group - For Norrbottenspets Miscellaneous Best of Breed (BOB) Best of Opposite Sex to BOB Select Dog Select Bitch Best of Winners Chosen from Penny Lund joined her family Bill & Chris Lund Winners Dog or Winners Bitch Photo by Bill & Chris Lund Winners Dog Chosen from the dog or bitch who got first place in the classes below Winners Bitch YaYa was featured on Canada TV at the Lower Mainland Dog Fanciers show Reserve Winners Dog Chosen from the class that Winners Dog or Bitch came from Reserve Winners Bitch Photo contributed by Tomme Trikosko Dogs - boys Dog Show Classes 6-12 month puppy Bitches - girls (sometimes 6-9 and 9-12) 12-18 months Novice Amateur-Owner-Handler Bred-by-Exhibitor Page 4 American-bred Open
Dogs on the Move After all of this talk about showing dogs, we cannot leave off the brags of Norrbottenspets earning titles. Conformation Titles: Chubby has certainly been out in the show ring strutting his stuff! He has earned a Canadian Championship as well as a United Kennel Club Championship! CKC/UKC CH RNB s Confidence Man will be sure to make his appearance in the Miscellaneous class ring soon. Chubby s friends, Valhallasun Ragnhild and Valhallasun Sigurd Blackie have also been spending some time in the UKC rings. They Home for the Holidays have also earned t heir UKC Championships. Way to go Chubby, Ragnhild, and Sigurd Lure Coursing Titles: Keiju is working her way up in the ranks and has joined the Norrbottenspets who have titles in conformation and lure coursing! She is the fifth Norrbottenspets to earn the Senior Courser title. Keep it up, UKC CH Vikingheaven Metsa Keiju SC! Don t forget to keep us updated on titles that you and your Norrbottenspets have earned. We ll now be announcing them during the quarterly newsletter and sharing them on the ANA website at: Norrbottenspets.weebly.com Volume 2, Issue 4 Congratulations on your Senior Courser title, Keiju! Bill and Chris Lund of Lakewood, CO welcome Penny to their family! Penny is from Naku Norrbottenspets. A Purple Heart for a Special Boy Sometimes dogs come into our lives that change us forever. Those dogs make our lives feel complete and full. Runie has been battling grand mal seizures for the last year. This isn t a sad story, though. Would we send you a sad story on Christmas day? The following was in a card to Runie s family: Dear Pete and JoAnn - On behalf of the doctors and staff at Lincoln Heights Veterinary Clinic, we would Welcome to the Norrbottenspets family, Bill and Chris Lund! like to award Runie with a purple heart. He has spent the last year in and out of the clinic for tests and check-ups and has been such a brave dog. We are very proud of Runie for being courageous whenever he visits us. We wish him continued success in his ongoing battle against seizures. Sincerely, LHVC We would like to award Runie with a purple heart Editor s Correction Editor s note concerning the statement Since the Finnish Spitz is the progenitor of the Norrbottenspets,, My Trip to Connecticut By Loki, Volume 2, Issue 2. The white spotted hunting spitz that became known as the Norrbottenspets lived with the Finnish speaking inhabitants in Norrbotten, Lappland, and Kainuuland as long as there had been wilderness settlements, long before the official breeding program to develop the solid red barking Finnish Bird Dog hunting spitz occurred in the late 1800 s. Page 5
American Norrbottenspets Association 4031 Country Way The Dalles, OR 97058 Summary of Minutes September 19, 2013 Minutes Report of Committees: Education Committee: Bark in the Park in Aurora, CO was canceled due to flooding. New Business: Nominating Committee: Sue Vareberg volunteered to be the head of the nominating committee. Bonnie Fleming moved that Sue assume the position on the nominating committee. Jacqueline seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. designer and editor. Sue seconded and the motion carried unanimously. Bonnie moved that two years of Weebly will be purchased for $159. Jacqueline seconded. The motion carried unanimously. November 21, 2013 Report of Committees: Education Committee: Susan Lundebjerg will be unable to attend Eukanuba because of restraints of her job. Lynn has entered two of her Norrbottenspets into the open show and will try to do the Meet the Breed permitting time allows and if there is an open booth. Sue has chosen JoAnn Klager and Susan Lundebjerg to serve on the nominating committee with her. The two alternate choices are Terry Harris and Joan Harris. October 17, 2013 Minutes Reports of Committees: Education Committee: Lynn will be attending the Meet the Breed on February 21, 2014 at the Rocky Mountain Cluster Show. Booth materials have been given to Susan Lundebjerg for Eukanuba. Nominating Committee: The nominating committee has nominated the following members for the 2014 Board: Tomme Trikosko President, Jacqueline Vareberg Vice President, Sue Vareberg Secretary Treasurer, Lynn Higgins Board of Directors, Susan Lundebjerg Board of Directors and AKC Delegate. As stated in the Bylaws, the slate selected by the nominating committee will be declared elected and ballots will not need to be mailed because no additional nominations were received from club members. Unfinished Business: Membership Renewal: Membership renewals need to be mailed before December to avoid the holiday rush. Membership rates will be determined during the November meeting. New Business: Website: Jacqueline has been using a free trial of Weebly.com for creating a new website. Weebly Pro costs $99 for 1 year or $159 for 2 years. A domain name can be selected and used for free. Weebly is user friendly and has a professional design. Bonnie moved that Jacqueline serves as the website Correspondence have been received regarding the Meet the Breed at the Rose City Classic. Susan Lundebjerg will be able to attend on Saturday and Sunday. Tomme, Sue, and Jacqueline will be there Thursday through Sunday. Unfinished Business: ANA Website: The new American Norrbottenspets Association website has been published. The website is not complete. There will be a page for frequently asked questions, breed history, and a contact form to submit articles to the newsletter committee. The website also needs more pictures. The URL for the website is Norrbottenspets.weebly.com Membership Dues: Lynn moved that the prices remain the same as they were for 2013. Regular - $25, Household - $30, Foreign - $20, Associate - $20, Junior - $10. Jacqueline seconded the motion and it carried unanimously. New Business: Rose City Classic Grooming Space: To ensure that there is enough space for additional dogs and people, Tomme suggested that they club purchase a 10X20 foot grooming space to serve as an unofficial breed education booth. Lynn moved and Bonnie seconded that ANA sponsors and pays for a 10X20 grooming space and that $150 be spent for renting the space and purchasing educational material. The motion carried unanimously. Seattle Kennel Club Meet the Breed: Susan Lundebjerg and Tomme will be attending the Seattle Kennel Club Meet the Breed again. They would like to rent a double booth. They are planning on decorating the booth as a hunting scene.