meet the dogs 2

This is my youngest dog, Finnish Lapphund Keskiyö (Elbereth Keskiyö to be precise). His name means 'midnight' in Finnish and was so named because - you guessed it - he was born at midnight almost 2 years ago. Which makes him still very much a youth in terms of his behaviour, which is naughty and still very puppy-ish at times.

This is a photo of him doing his thing in the show ring, where he has distinguished himself many times and in many ways, winning so much that he now holds several records for the breed in the UK. Am I sounding like a stage mother yet? No? I must not be trying hard enough.

Keskiyö is far more sensitive than Neka; where she is pretty much bomb-proof and fearless, he is easily frightened and his feelings get hurt if you tell him off. So he's very much the baby of the family... and quite spoiled I'm told. I'm sure I don't know what those folks are talking about.

Here's another one of him at 10 weeks old. So adorable I could take bites out of him! OK, perhaps just the tiniest bit spoiled, then.








And this dignified old lady is my Akita, Annie.
Mr J & I got her from the RSPCA when Neka was about 6 months old. We weren't actually looking for another dog at the time, having our hands well and truly full already. However, we met Annie completely by chance and she stole our hearts away so we just had to have her.

I believe that Annie coming to live with us was definitely meant to be and that our meeting her was orchestrated by a power greater than us. She is about 10 years old now and we know nothing about her past, although I can't help but guess. She has lived for 31/2 years with us and we are grateful for every day we have with her.

She's not so keen on her walks, though, so I'm usually gritting my teeth and muttering unflattering things as I drag her around the village.