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I had not intended to keep a pup.. But Gale, as she was first called, had other ideas. She was still for sale at 8 weeks old for I got only one decent inquery for her (because "her parents don't have enough results"...!) and had that person called back as promised, the darkest pup of the litter might have moved to a new home. But the phone never rang and time went on.. and so she stayed.
When let wild in the house she loved to play with my young BC male Freak, who in turn loved to play with her. How could I resist anything from Freak, the apple of my eye? So he got to keep his playmate. :)
We had our first baby-training session in a park. Gale spotted a car some way away.. And went off! Far away off! I said "Where the heck she's going to?!" Except that we have this peculiar saying in Finland, the loose translation is "Is she going to Nevada or what?!" /"Minne huitsin Nevadaan se on menossa?!", which is what I said.
She completely ignored my calls and in the end I had to go and get her!!! :0 So this is how she became Nevada. 'Nevada' is spanish for "snowcapped" (the mountains), and there is one glacier in Nevada, US, and that their territorial (or something..) motto has been; "willing and able". So I thought that why not?!
Except that 'willing' was NOT in her vocabulary the first 9 months of her life.. she was (is..) stubborn, a right rebel who wanted to please only herself!
As a pup Nevada's absolute tops was playing with Freak :)) Freak adored her and was brilliant with her even with one blind eye and the size difference. Sadly, they had to say final goodbyes on the doorstep of Winter 2005 when he had to be put to sleep.
After Nur the (Mad) Maltese arrived at the turn of the year, Nevada's attitude greatly improved and she started to change from the rebel into a team player. She can be an absolute joy to train with speed and enthusiasm to spare, but at times the old rebel comes out. She's like her gr.sire Spark, can do can do can do... I tire quicker than she!
Nevada also likes to herd Cloud (...), and play with other dogs when given the chance. She's very social with others and has matured into a very nice dog to live with. Her two dislikes are a parrot at a local petshop (who managed to scare her as a young pup) and car-rides due to me! One learns with every dog... I learned how NOT to introduce puppies to riding in a car (don't worry, I'll never do the same mistake again!!).
At home she plays, by herself, with tiny pieces of gravel that come in in the bottoms of ones' shoes..
Obedience will be her forté. She's ever so clever, and fast (and trained with titbits 99%!!). She started her career with a BANG in May 06 winning her very first competion with 192/200p (out of 18 dogs)!! On the very same show my Cloud became an ObCh so it truly is a day to remember.
We did another Cl.1 competition which did not go that well (177½/3rd place) and four days later Cl.2 test where her heelwork was brilliant but DC was a disgrace! :D Still she got 175p/4th place thus qualifying for the next class. And so the pup who REFUSED to fetch anything for me, got full points for the Retrieve exercise!! :D The judge said "you are on a razor's edge with her...". I totally agree, she's as sharp as an icy wind she's named after.
We had some ups and downs but a day before she turned 17 months old, Nevada got the 3rd first prize from class 4 and so she became Fin Ob Champion, in only 4 months! Quite an achievement, even if I say it myself. She's a proof that good LINES produce good dogs, do not put down too much to one dog.. sometimes the only reason why a dog does not have results from competition, is the owner. Not all of us have the desire to compete.. (this statement is mostly for finns as in other countries people understand that. But hey, Finland as a country is only about a hundred years old so heritage, tradition and generations past are something rather new to finns!).
We'll concentrate on Obedience for the time being, but will try her paw (or nose, more like) on tracking. We might also add HTM to our agenda, but that would be only to relax.
She's also my working partner when I give lessons in Obedience. She sleeps while not needed and with the click of my fingers she's ready to do work, always as enthusiastic as ever. I am very very glad that she decided to stay with me. She's my star. :)
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