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Snow makes Cloud's blue eyes truly shine.
I had always liked the famous ShCh Asoka Navajho of Firelynx and my Tristan has his mum's brother Asoka Apache of Firelynx in his pedigree. So when I got the chance to get Cloud, who has some very old lines behind her including Asoka Navajho and Asoka Apache within 3 generations (both born in the 1970's!), I could not resist!
Cloud had been living in kennels so her life changed a lot when she came to live with me at 9 months old. To start with she was wary of people and things but has now more or less overcome her shyness. She still does not like certain people if she thinks they are suspicious, but most people she likes when she has had a little time to get to know them on her terms, then she's the friendly dog I know. :)
I think she's an absolutely wonderful little thing! Lively, happy dog with a sparkling personality. She's very easy to live with, quiet in the house but ready for any game. She's a right clown, and we always laugh at her which she does not mind :) Most people really like her when they meet her. She knows how to win hearts.
I've not trained Obedience to Cloud with determination, her downfalls being heelwork and distant control. Other exercises she likes but can be a little monkey sometimes. :) She is an excellent tracking dog, she's like a train on a track when she goes. I've never done much tracking with any dog so I've been surprised how easy it's been.
Cloud has done a bit of agility and here again, she learned the weaving poles with minimum training and in a very old-fashioned way. I'd love to do more Agility with her but it's not my sport anymore. She loves to jump and does jump high for one so small (height only 46.5cm), she does actually clear the 1m high WT jump.
Cloud works sheep nicely, not the pushiest dog but usually she gets them where she wants them (or rather, where I want them!). She may seem rather sensitive but she can be tough, too.
Success is a complicated thing - some think only Champions have gotten some but I think it should be measured by what obstacles you conquer on the way. There have been moments when I have been very proud of Cloud, and we have won obstacles along the way in life. I am so proud that she passed the BH test (behaviour test, obedience and a walk in the city) in Sept 03. She did all exercises very well indeed, and liked all those strange men.:) She tries so very hard to please me, and asks for reassurance.
She received a training result of JK1 on 4th October 2003, she found all the articles on the track :), and was placed 2nd from the 9 dogs competing! Her first 1st prize from Cl.4 in Ob came from Helsinki District Championships in 2004 with a 2nd place!! :0 (13 dogs competing). Her 2nd first came with a reserve-CACIOB at an int Ob. Show in 2005.
And the third first came in May 2006 thus making her into the first blue merle BC in Finland to become an Obedience Champion! She also won the competition. I am SOOO proud of her. And to prove her worth, she got a first from the next competition, too.
I have always made her to take the back seat to my other dogs, first I had to finish Roo's ObCh title, then came Spark, then Freak with his devastating illness.. So I've not campaigned her at full throttle at any one time and still she got her title in only 16 competitions. That's rather well done I think. Of my dogs she must be the most successful one - she has won over her fears. My braveheart. :)
No big plans for my lovely girl.. This backseat girl has never competed in more than 4 shows a year and when she became a champion I thought of retiring her... but fate took over and she won't retire just yet! She's now (2007) doing Agility with a friend of mine, and will be seen in competitions, too. Best thing, of course, is that she gets to do Agility which she really likes!
My dream was to have a blue-eyed blue merle boy from Cloud.. unfortunately Freak's life was to be very short (oh how I miss him!). I have a blm bitch pup from Cloud's last litter, I have big plans for her.. dreams dreams dreams... ;)
None of Cloud's pups have the reservedness she sometimes has. Cloud has an excellent pedigree working- and temperament wise, and I hoped it comes through in her pups. It seems so, more of her kids in the progeny page. She will not have any more litters.
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