MARCH

31/03

While the rest of us stayed home in the UK due to other commitments, this didn't stop Jess having a fantastic trip across the water to Ireland for the IKC Combined Canine International / National Championship Shows.

On Saturday at the International Show under judge Zorica Blomqvist (SE) she wins 1st / Excellent Champion Bitch, Green Star / Best Bitch, CACIB and Best of Breed.

Onto Sunday at the National Show where under judge Francisco Salvador Janeiro (PT) she once again claims 1st / Excellent Champion Bitch, with a further Green Star / Best Bitch and Best of Breed in the Challenge.

My sincere thanks to Scarlett Burnside & Rachel Kenna for handling her across the two days in my absence.

29/03

Today we compete at Edwinstowe & DCS Premier Open Show, with all three dogs from my kennel in Open together under judge Adrian Bicknell.
Coming out on top with 1st place & Best of Breed was Jess, with Noah 2nd & Reserve Best of Breed and Alice conceding to 3rd. Not a bad days work!

24/03

A warm but enjoyable day weightpulling.

Starting with Elska (Fenrirkin Out Of The Black) who had a happy day with owner Kurts, not only winning the 41-60lb class with a pull of 1200lb (21.05x her bodyweight), but also claiming highest weight pulled by opposite sex and highest percentage of bodyweight pulled on the day. So awesome to have this girly flying the flag for our kennel!

Next up was my Malamute representative Harry who at 11 years old continues to make me proud, and actually ended up winning the 81-100lb class with a pull of 1500lb (18.29x his bodyweight) – got to love the veterans!

Dylan was also in the 81-100lb class where he placed 4th after making it clear he was not in the competitive spirit, refusing to even try pulling the 1200lb – but he of course enjoyed getting to do his social bit!

Noah on the other hand was a much more willing competitor and ended up 2nd place in 101lb+ class with a cracking pull of 2000lb (18.52x his bodyweight) – we skipped the 2100lb to try for a new PB of 2200lb but it wasn’t to be, however I couldn’t have asked for any more for him and was happy to see him pushed through and end on agood note

Not to be forgotten, while we were busy in Lincolnshire Alice had a road trip South to attends Herts & Essex CS Premier Open Show where under judge Elizabeth Ashcroft she wins 1st Open & Best of Breed! And by all reports thoroughly enjoyed her first show in nine months!

17/03

We had decided at the start of the year to earmark this weekend for a trip across the water for the IKC Celtic Winners International / St Patricks Day National Championship Shows, although with Jess till in season (her timing in missing Crufts and this trip really was impeccable) it ended up as a bit of a boy’s road trip, seeing Ryan entered his first show experience in Baby Puppy class joined by his Uncle(ish) Noah for company. And what great results we had!

Day 1 at the Celtic Winners International Show under Breed Judge Sean Knight:
Noah: 1st / Excellent Champion Dog, CACIB, Green Star Dog, Best of Breed & Celtic Winner 2024!
Ryan: 1st Baby Puppy Dog & Best Baby Puppy in Breed!

Onto Day 2 for the St Patricks National Show under Breed Judge Marie Thorpe:
Noah: 1st / Excellent Champion Dog, Green Star Dog & Best of Breed! 
Ryan: 1st Baby Puppy Dog & Best Baby Puppy in Breed!

It was wonderful to see Ryan have such a positive first experience in the ring (even if staying on four feet still needs a bit more practice) and was super proud of how he coped with the busy venue and his longest journey to date.
But Noah’s weekend was also pretty special, as these 2 Green Stars means he returned home as a NEW IRISH CHAMPION !!

So of course I couldn’t resist getting few photos of my boys from Visions / Photography and Graphic design studio to commemorate this title and Ryan's first show. 

Meanwhile back in England, Elska (Fenrirkin Out Of The Black) & Kurts were busy representing our kennel at AMWA's end of season Haughley Park rally, where over the 2 days they earned an awesome 3rd place in their Bikejore class against largely Sibe competition. So super proud of this girl and her human team who give her the opportunity to shine!

10/03

Still on cloud nine for Nuuka's wins yesterday - but absolutely shattered - it was back to the NEC for our final day on Discover Dogs with Noah being accompanied by cousin Alice. Even with us all being pretty knackered after a long few days my Norwegian cousins didn’t let me down, happy to have fusses from the general public, with Noah being a particular hit with the younger fans and Alice assuming the standard flop position for a majority of the day (I am beginning to think she is fuelled by tummy rubs)! 
Our last day at Crufts also meant the chance to collect our 2023 awards for Top Breeder, Top Dog (Jess), Top Stud Dog (Dylan, bred by Nicola Singh & Stuart Winterton) and Top Brood Bitch (Alice, bred by Marit Anes). Good Greenlands!

09/03

It's Working & Pastoral Group breeds day for showing at Crufts today and my original plans had all gone a bit sideways, with my entry of three dogs reduced to just one present on the day thanks to Jess being in the middle of her season which in turn meant Alice was needed to fill her place at the DD booth on Sunday and thus the decision was made to leave her at home with her daughter, also, rather than making her do full three days at the NEC (it’s tiring enough for me)! Nothing like throwing away £70+ of entry fees, eh? 

So, with my first one dog Crufts in over a decade (a strange feeling indeed), and after the usual fairly long wait to get in the ring, onto the breed results under judge Espen Engh.

Admittedly, not the best start to proceedings for me, as our judge made it very clear he was not a fan of Noah but I was still super happy with how he performed and we did still manage to come away with a rosette for 2nd Open Dog.

But things only improved from there, as while fair to say it was not my day as an exhibitor it really was my day as a breeder with my Dylan x Alice girlies flying the flag:
3rd Open Bitch – a very naked Zippy (Fenrirkin Gives You Wings With Austmans, owned by Kimberly and handled by Mark)
2nd Open Bitch & Reserve Best Bitch – Elska (Fenrirkin Out Of The Black, with co-owner Charlotte doing a wonderful job at the end of the lead)
And…. ** drum roll please ** ….
1st Open Bitch, Best Bitch & Best of Breed – Nuuka (Fenrirkin Catch Me If You Can, handled by friend Lisa)!!

I really cannot begin to say how proud I am of this girly and her human team at only her second ever Championship Show, having qualified at Manchester Championship Show just over a month ago. To have a puppy that came back to you at 11 months of age not just land on their feet with a wonderful new home but to then be there in person to see her go on to such an amazing achievement is like a dream come true. As much as I would love to take credit as her breeder, it is a testament to the work put in by Jo & Carl, not to mention Lisa for getting the best out of her and ensuring she enjoys her time in the ring. I think getting to watch the girls in that big ring together backstage with Jo was an even more wonderful experience than being on the green carpet myself, and is certainly a memory I will treasure.

08/03

Today was my one day off in four but the Discover Dog booth was again being manned by representatives from our kennel, this time with half sisters Nuuka & Kulu.

Like their siblings the day before, by all reports they did the breed and owner’s Jo & Carl proud with their friendly, cuddly natures and ensured all visitors to the stand got their fill of happy Greenland cuddles.

07/03

Four days of Crufts chaos kicks off today, and it was a family trio of Mum Alice, daughter Elska and half-brother Ryan representing the breed on the Discover Dogs stand. 
Alice & Elska were in their element as always, and very much enjoyed their day of showing the general public how affectionate Greenland Dogs are (even if it then took some persuading for people to believe that they are in fact a high energy breed, not sled dog rugs) – and fair to say Ryan also thoroughly enjoyed his first experience and made me very proud with how he took meeting lots of new folk in his stride (with plenty of nap breaks between cuddles, of course)!

04/03

Today we say happy birthday to our oh so special Malamute Harry who along with his littermates turns 11 years old - still our chief puppy sitter at home, a star in the weightpull chute and all round good boy.

03/03

Day 2 of the Thetford Forest Group Cranwich race and we decided to mix things up and swapped mother and daughter to put Jess in lead with Wolvey which seemed to work a treat, with the team actually coming in quicker than the previous day even with a turning disagreement when they spotted my van on the other side of the ski-netting (note to self, close van door next time so they don’t hear their kennelmates complaining at their abandonment)! And another 1st place claimed for their efforts too - well done to Kim & the woos!

02/03

Another race weekend, this time for Thetford Forest Group's Cranwich race, with Kim once again running our combined All-Greenland team. Typically, the heavens opened just as Wolvey, Alice & Jess got into the start chute (and pretty much lasted the entirety of their run) but that certainly didn’t dampen spirits as they hit the trail with great enthusiasm, coming 1st in their class and arriving back with big smiles all round!

Highlight of the day, however, may have been our four dog recreational run in the courtesy class, which I think won the award for most novel team with little-n-large Greenland duo Strike & Noah in wheel and Kim’s two Team Collie brothers Harvey & Nero in lead. What a blast they had on their leg stretch, completing the two mile trail in around circa six minutes (glad it wasn’t me on the rig!
Not to mention Ryan enjoying his second full weekend away in the van and making lots of new friends as we pottered around – I think he quite likes this race malarkey!

FEBRUARY

26/02

After a last minute change of race plans due to a cancelled event at Dalby, for the first time we found ourselves en route to Northumberland for the SDAS Ford three-stage event.

No freight classes here – in fact, I think we may have been the only freight team competing – which meant friend Kim and our combined Greenland team of her own Wolvey and my mother-daughter duo Alice & Jess were running in Nordic, so clearly our goal was less about our placing but rather to give the dogs happy runs and the fun of a second time running this particular three dog formation.

And fair to say we succeeded, despite some over-enthusiastic starts (Jess has apparently now extended her signature gobbiness to include a deafening “I want to run!!” scream in the chute!) with the trio coming away with some respectable times on all three stages, generally within a couple of minutes of the Sibe Teams they followed in the rankings and, more importantly, crossing the finish line with big smiles all round.

We even decided to chuck Noah & her young girl Strike into the Rec class for a leg stretch where Noah of course decided to live up to his reputation of not being trusted to be trusted to navigate but being directionally-challenged didn’t stop them having a fun time. Thank you Horses For Courses for these fabulous photos!

18/02

A very rainy but enjoyable day at the Lincolnshire weightpull championship today. 
 

First up, a bit of a surprise with Jess who after actually managed one pull of 400lb in competitive circumstances (!!) After which she promptly reverted back to her ongoing insistence that it is impossible to move from the spot unless I am by her side. But she did still show more inclination to move in her novice pulls and progress is progress - we may get her back from her scare yet!

Onto Alice who showed great enthusiasm up to her final weight of 1100lb (18.64x her bodyweight) to come 2nd to daughter Elska in the 41-60lb class. I skipped the 1200lb pull to go straight to 1300lb where she decided it would be much easier to slip her harness off like a sweater two times in a row (doh)! Nice to know she hasn’t forgotten that particular party trick!!

Harry was the oldest dog competing on the day but was a very good boy and pulled 1700lb (20.73x his bodyweight) to come 2nd in the 81-100lb class (and tortured me once more by pulling that 1800lb more than two thirds of the way before running out of steam).

Noah also had a good day with a final pull of 2100lb (19.81x his bodyweight) to come 2nd in the 101lb+ class, an equal PB and, if he were a different breed, this would be his second WWPDA leg. 

And last but by no means least, another proud breeder call out to Elska (Fenrirkin Out Of The Black) who won the 41-60lb class with a pull of 1300lb (22.81x her bodyweight), also the highest weight pulled by a female dog on the day. Good girl!

17/02

Today Elska (Fenrirkin Out Of The Black) attended FDCUK's Dalby rally where by all accounts she and owner Kurts had a good day, teaming up in Bikejore class where they came away with a respectble time. Only attending one day of this two day race meant they weren't in the final podium places but based on Saturday only their time made them the fastest freight dog team and would have put them 2nd in the Adult Male category - very proud of them both!

11/02

Another Open Show with breed classes, this time North East to Ashington & DCS. Just Noah showing from our team but he doesn't let the side down, winning 1st Open & Best of Breed under judge Jane Hill (Molson)

10/02

An enjoyable day out at National Working & Pastoral Breeds Society Premier Open Show, which see's judge Dolores Montgomery (Gatti) officiating. Coming out on top is Noah, who wins 1st Open & Best of Breed, with Jess conceding to 2nd in the same class but claiming Reserve Best of Breed in the challenge.

03/02

A very enjoyable day out at Isle of Ely CS Premier Open Show today, which has scheduled Greenland Dog breed classes for a number of years now. Under judge Helen Taylor-Morris (Pelenrise) Jess wins 1st Open & Best of Breed, with Noah hot on her heels claiming 2nd & Reserve Best of Breed. Not done there, under Working Group judge Tim Ball Jess not only makes the final shortlist in good company from 17 dogs present, but goes on take a fantastic Working Group 2 - a good first show of 2024 for the Ginger one!

JANUARY

21/01

Today was the first weightpull competition of 2024, drawing an entry of 20+ Malamutes, CEDs, Greenlands & Sibes across the competitive / novice classes - it certainly proved a fun one and a particularly good day for Team Greenland!

Noah’s successful week continued, coming out on top by not only winning the 100lb+ class with a pull of 2000lb (17.9x his bodyweight) but also claiming the prize for Highest Weight Pulled overall on the day – good lad!! 

Getting to do my proud breeder bit once more, at the other end of the size-scale Elska (Fenrirkin Out Of The Black, owned by Kurts & Charlotte) not only won her 41-60lb class but also claimed Highest Percentage of Bodyweight pulled with a final weight of 1400lb / 25x her bodyweight – clever girl!

On a whim I decided to chuck Alice into her first competition post maternity leave, and although still carrying a bit more weight than she should, resultantly tipping into the 61-80lb class, she surprised me with by how well she did, coming 2nd in the class with a final pull of 1300lb / 19.1x her bodyweight Although she still decided to tangle her way out of a higher weight with her insistent socialising 

On the Malamute front, Harry didn’t seem to be feeling in the pulling mood on the day, although still placed 4th from 8 competing dogs in the 81-100lb class, ending on 1400lb (16.9x his bodyweight) after I skipped the 1500lb and he decided it was a no-go on pulling 1600lb. Hopefully he’ll be back on form for the February pull.

And last but by no means least, half-siblings Jess & Ryan came along to socialise (the former still resting after the previous weeks injury and the latter now fully vaccinated and having his longest van journey to date); I was super proud of how my little man took to meeting lots of new human & canine faces.

18/01

The first Championship show of the year for us at Manchester today – and it turned out to be a bit of a special one with two stars of the day!

First up is Noah who under breed judge Marion Hodgson wins 1st Open Dog, Best Dog and Best of Breed. Not done there, however, from 24 breeds present in the Working Group under John Ritchie he only went and made it into the shortlist – the first Greenland Dog to be part of a UK Championship Show Working Group shortlist in almost nine years!!! 
I am sure many understand just how much this means not just to me but to the breed, as with no Greenland Dog having ever been placed in a UK Championship Working Group (only Puppy, Veteran & SB group placings at this level) this now makes him one of only four Greenlands to have had the honour of this final consideration, the first being Chaos (Seacourt Stormy Sky) over 20 years ago, the second, and first male, being Cosmo (Sledog Howling Blizzard) in 2013 and the third Cosmo’s littermate Osca (Sledog Winter Blizzard ShCM) in 2015. How awesome to have my Norwegian powerhouse join this list of special dogs!

As if that wasn't enough, I also get to share a proud breeder boast as Nuuka – Fenrirkin Catch Me If You Can – owned by Jo & Carl came out for her first ever Championship Show, winning 1st Post Gradate Bitch (giving her the Crufts qualification they were hoping for) and then going on to take Best Bitch & Best Opposite Sex in the challenge – what a star! 

14/01

Today was a venture to Redditch & DCS Open Show (always a calendar favourite for their much appreciated support of rare & import breeds). Only Noah able to show on the day, but he didn't let the side down coming away with 1st Greenland Dog Open & Best of Breed under judge Jane Paradise (Shardlow).

01/01

A happy new year to all our friends and supporters and - as is tradition - we start by rounding up the Our Dogs 2023 Top Dog Awards which saw some fantastic wins for the Fenrirkin Team.

Top Dog in Breed - Jess

Top Stud Dog - Dylan

Top Brood Bitch - Alice

Top Breeder - Fenrirkin

Very proud of the full team and all they have achieved, and especially so as this is our first time with a homebred dog claiming Top Dog and also our first time as top breeder outright (having previously shared this accolade with Kennel Suna-Sanik, breeder of Noah & Alice).