Sad News, And Happy Freedom!
Yesterday my dear friend and breed mentor Ulla Gamberg had to say goodbye to one of her best friends. Nina and Rakki‘s father, BISS Ch. Vastgota Birk, passed away yesterday at the grand age of 16 years and 4 months. Less than two weeks ago he relived his show dog glory days at the Swedish Vallhund Club of Canada’s National Specialty – Ulla says he went into the ring for Veteran Sweeps and got his happy face on and gaited around the ring like he owned it, like he always used to. He was so happy, people cheered, the judge cried. Goodbye Birk, you special, wonderful, kind dog. Once in a while a dog comes along who has that special, indefinable quality – Birk had that, and passed it along to some of his puppies. My beloved Nina, his daughter, has it and I am blessed to have her, Birk’s legacy will live on.
On to fun puppy happenings:
So the puppies have been getting free “bomble time” (as we call it) in the puppy room (outside the pen) for the last day. They LOVE it, all kinds of new surfaces to walk on (tile in the bathroom, carpet in the bedroom, marble between the two), they can go under the bed (I’m looking at you, Esposito…), they can check out Nina’s food and water bowls (both girls are very interested in this), they can play with their toys, then can really stretch their (tiny little) legs, they can interact with Tish and Rakki through the baby gate, and try to go THROUGH the baby gate (I’m looking at you, Donnelly), they can try to wrestle the shower curtain down (also Donnelly). They can climb on laps (Connelly is already a lap dog), they can chew on ankles (Aniston, the biggest of all, is concerned he may starve at any moment) – they have TEETH now…poor Nina! They are WIPED out after a good session of marching around exploring, which is why the puppycam is probably a bit boring sometimes just now!
And Nina is happy that she can PLAY with them now that they are little dogs instead of just puppies: