Stardust's Escada by Amila (AI)

CH Sonstraal Baron Samedi x SvCH Stardust's Amila

We set out on Sunday 4th May 2008 in a packed car ... we drove with the help of Daniel the "Sat Nav" to Harwich where we caught the ferry to Esbjerg in Denmark, arriving there on Monday 5th May in early afternoon.

10 hours drive later we arrived at Bitte's house and met Nina "in person" since I had last seen her at 6 weeks old.  Thankfully for me (although maybe not for Bitte and Emily) she lived up to my expectations and after an overnight stay and a trip to the vet to get her passport stamped we were off in the car (with Daniel) for the long journey back to a date with a ferry in Holland on Wednesday evening and Nina became officially British on Thursday 8h May, 2008 when we arrived in Newcastle.

3 hours late and she was playing in the garden with her sister Anny and dad Milo, uncle Kudo and cousin Bruno.

Nina has settled in very well and quickly and is learning that the home comforts she had in Sweden are the same in Scotland, just the language sounds different but a kiss is still a kiss !!!

Thanks to Bitte and Emily for transforming this puppy into a wonderfully loving girl and to Kate Lowson for her companionship on the long journey.

Nina will hit the showrings sometime in June hopefully ...

Milo got himself a beautiful Swedish penpal / girlfriend - Stardust's Amila - and we sent some chilled wrigglies out to Sweden over a period of 3 days (thanks UPS!!!) and they all arrived safe and well.  Amila was inseminated and we waited with fingers crossed.  Thankfully it was very successful and 9 perfect little puppies were born on 12 June 2007 - 3 dogs and 6 bitches.  We had decided that if there was an outstanding bitch in the litter then we would take something back.  Bitte kindly agreed to keep a puppy in her home and show it for us if that was what we wanted. 

We went to Sweden to look at the litter when they were almost 6 weeks old and over the course of the weeks had narrowed it down to a couple of the girls ... when we saw Nina it was clear she was what we wanted and we never changed our minds during that visit (or since!).  She was Puppy No.9, hence the name Nina.

Nina will hopefully hit Scottish soil in May 2008.

So far, Nina has been lightly shown in Baby Puppy classes by Bitte and her wins and critiques (translated into English from Swedish) are below:-

21 October, 2007
Cocker Club
Judge - Jan Törnblom
Feminine bitch.  Nice eye.  Good neck.  Enough angles front and back.  Good (nice) forechest.  Good (nice) back.  Good boned frame.  Moves a little puppy back and front.  Good coat and colour.
Place 3rd in 4-6 month.

27 October, 2007
Eskilstuna KK
Judge Kristina Vakkala
Attractive puppy.  Beautifully feminine head, delightful expression. Beautiful neck.  Excellent forechest.  Wellplaced parallel front, with good bone frame & centred feet.  For her age well developed breast.  For the day, little overbuild.  Well stable backstand.  Clear movement back and front.  Increasing temperament. WELL SHOWED.  Correct good ridge.
1HP Best Puppy 4-6 month / BIG 3

11 November, 2007
Boxwe show
Judge Caroline Beckman
A nice head with correct bite. Well placed ears. Approval neck and back.  Enough front.  Good brisket.  Good angles.  Moves ok but shuffling back, wish more go
Place 4th in 4-6 month.

1st in Breeders Group with Nina (Escada), Gittan (Emira) & Mistaya (Elektra)
A group who has equal expression.  Good wrinkle on forehead.  Very very much good temperament.  One very very much pleasant group.
1 HP

25 November, 2007
Swedish Whippetclub
Judge Carina Ekewall
Very very much feminine bitch.  Good (fine) head.  Dark expressive eye.  Correct (faultless) ear.  Long neck.  Well developed body for age.  Good ridge and feet.  Good croup and tail.  Well angled.  Moves very very well.  Nice (pleasant) puppy.
1HP BEST BITCH PUPPY / BEST PUPPY

Amila (Mummy)

6 weeks

L-R:  Nina, Granny Fayora, Mum Amila

Mmm - my first blood tracking day out

Another win!

Family Get-together!