2009 has been an annus horribilis for us in regard to breeding. First it was the fiasco with Amélie's litter in February. We should have read the web site of Arcanas von Tuuli before agreeing to that mating. That the site is in German should not have been an obstacle, since German is Luis's second language. Rosmarie and Beat are of the very rare sort of breeder who speak frankly about health issues in their Samoyeds. And we had read years ago some humorous articles written by Rosmarie in the Swiss magazine 'Samojeden-News'. Well, at least both surviving boys of the litter are healthy, very nice-looking, and their respective owners are delighted with their well-balanced and good-natured temperament.
In February we were sent frozen semen from an American Samoyed stud related to Amélie (closest by Bramblewood's Bluelite). Our aim was to use it next year for Amélie, and have a second litter ex Lily this year, mainly to dilute the high handling and transport costs of frozen semen. In March we inseminated Lily using the usual high-tech method for frozen, but she stayed empty. In July, after our firm decision of withdrawing Amélie from our breeding plans, we inseminated Haltija instead. She stayed empty as well. In Autumn we decided not to use the remaining frozen semen for a second try with Lily. We inseminated her this time with refrigerated semen from a beautiful European stud. Third disappointment, since Lily stayed again empty.
We are having a spell of bad luck in regard to puppies. In 2008 we were to get an American puppy, but some of the highly beautiful puppies in the litter were affected by retinal folds. This year 2009, Cathy Pendleton had promised us the pick girl from the future litter ex her bitch Monique (BISS AM CH SnowSong's A Moment Like This). However, Monique stayed empty, and Cathy sadly passed away a few weeks later. We still have Cathy in our hearts.

With showing we have no complaints. Although in 2009 we have attended very few shows compared to both previous years, our girls have been very successful. First it was Haltija in April who finished her International Championship. Lily kept enjoying the judges' favour: In May she got a group placement in Viana do Castelo, in July she finished her Portuguese Champion title in Lisbon and in October she got in Vélez-Málaga the right to be an International Champion. Her booty in 2009 in only 6 shows: 2 champion titles, 1 group placement, 1 BOB, 4 CACIB and 5 CAC. She failed only at the Spanish Spring Obligatory Show in Talavera, the most important of all shows, where she had a disastrous performance. Despite of it, Antonio di Lorenzo rated her excellent. Just 4 weeks before, Lily had defeated in Viana the winner bitch in Talavera.
Finally, Angie stayed undefeated in her 3 shows, ending her triumphal campaign of the last 23 months taking the Austrian Champion title in Tulln. We have decided to retire her from the show rings, mainly to not succumb to the temptation of trying further titles (maybe the Swiss or the German ones).  
Amélie will be retired too, since she does not like showing at all. It is a pity, because Amélie is in many aspects the best of our girls.
But not only our four girls at home have been successful. Northy, our boy in Mexico, was two times BIS Junior, got several placements in the adult group and went a Junior Champion in Mexico. For unknown reasons his owners have discontinued showing him. And his sister Bijou, here in Spain, was two times Junior Group Winner, two times BOB and has earned her first CAC and CACIB awards. Anyway, contrary to what happens with Lily, judges tend to undervalue her merits.

Now it is time to reconsider with calm our future.

Picture of Tessie, CH El-Al's Tennessee Waltz—granddam (sire's side) and great-granddam (dam's side) of our Ciro, double great-granddam (sire's and dam's side) of our Silver, and gg-granddam (sire's side) of our Salvia—added to the Grandparents page. We have just got the picture from Elsie Buhaly, her breeder.
 

Tessie 2 years old (July 1984), BOS at the Greenville Kennel Club Show
 

Well, Lily has been taken her time but finally we have bred her. We are looking forward to, hopefully, announce mid of December that she is pregnant. Luis had always been a fan of the boy's sire. Unfortunately, it was not possible to use him. In the last two years we have been tracking several of his sons. It was early this year that it was clear for us who was our only candidate. A gorgeous young boy—out of the very last litter Lucky could manage to sire—who excels his father in many aspects. His achievements in the show rings during the last 8 months are only confirming our first impression.

Ana with Bijou (Exc. 2nd in intermediate class) and Pedro with Samspring Artemis (Exc. 2nd in open class) competing for the RCAC/RCACIB, finally awarded to Hayskem Tundra Diamond (Exc. 1st in open class).

Amélie, even drooping her tail as extreme sign that she would prefer not to be shown. From left to right: White Magic Star To Villaodón (Exc. 3rd), Amélie (Exc. 4th), CH Samspring Artemis (Exc. 2nd), Hayskem Tundra Diamond (Exc. 1st, RCAC/RCACIB), CH Be My Baby Apache of Karasea (Exc., not placed). Not in the picture: Nala de Bilken (VG, not placed).

Finally a short comment regarding the argument between Luis and the main steward. When it came to place the open class bitches, Carla Molinari, the judge, asked the main steward how many of the exhibits she should place. The steward answered: three. At this, Luis told to the steward that she was wrong and that the judge should place 4 of the exhibits (the whole class had been rated at least very good). Molinari accepted and placed Amélie 4th, but the steward went angry and argued that the Show Regulations clearly stated that 2 exhibits or optionally 4 were to be placed. Why then had she said 3? Luis replied to her that the worst stewards he had ever met were the Spanish ones, many times with little or no knowledge about the regulations. That was too much for the steward who answered that she was an approved judge too. Let's draw a veil over the rest of the argument. It seems that when all Samoyeds were judged, the steward left the ring waving a copy of the show regulations (?) in one of her  hands and very agitated looking for Luis, who, fortunately, was not there any more.  
Quote from the Regulations for FCI Dog Shows (valid as from 01.01.2008): The four best dogs in each class are placed provided that they have been awarded at least the qualification “VERY GOOD”. (The Spanish version does say, obviuosly, the same).

Amélie and Lily walking us on the hills close to Vélez-Málaga the afternoon before the show.

International Champion !!

That has been the 4th champion title won by our girls in the present year so far: Haltija the International title, Lily the Portuguese and the International titles and Angie the Austrian title.

Austrian Champion !!

After 58 shows (5 in Puppy Class, 2 in Junior Class, 13 in Intermediate Class, 13 in Open Class and 25 in Champion Class), 12 BOB wins (plus 2 Best of Breed Puppy), 10 BOS wins, 1 RBISS at the Spanish Samoyed Specialty 2007 and 4 champion titles, Angie—now 5 years old—retires from the show rings. In her last 13 shows since December 2007 she has been at least best Samoyed female and was BOB eight times. We are very proud of her, but today is a sad day for us.

The bad news today is that Hatija is not pregnant after her insemination with frozen semen. First it was Lily in March who failed, now our reliable Finnish girl. In the next weeks Lily should be again in season. We will most probably try this time with a different boy and a different technique: refrigerated instead of frozen. Provided, of course, that Lily is not ready for mating exactly the week our choice candidate will be competing at the World Dog Show in Bratislava.  

Blue Angel Star de Salviamar, call name Silver, at the age of nearly 18 months.

Both sisters, Queen (Belle White Queen de Salviamar)
and Silver with their inseparable friend 'Chispa'.

We have been with Lily and Haltija to the International Dog Shows in Lisbon. Our exclusive aim was to finish Lily's Portuguese Championship. And we far exceeded our expectations. With some luck, of course. Lily had started last week to shed her wonderful coat and Haltija was still half recovering her not less good one. Ana was there too with Bijou (absolutely off coat).
On Saturday we decided to keep Lily on the bench to smooth the path for Bijou's first championship points when she was ranked Excellent 1st in intermediate class. Sonia Faletti, the judge, however, fell in love with Haltija and awarded her both the CAC and the CACIB, and later ranked her as the best bitch (BOS) against the junior winner.

Bijou's excellent side gait at trot

Mother and daughter confronted: we suppose that it was because of her being out of coat that Bijou was not even awarded the RCAC.

On Sunday, with the obligatory CAC-QC at stake, we had to suffer the typical Lisbon weather in July: an ambient temperature above 30 ºC (86 ºF), no breeze and a blazing sun, just at its zenith when the Samoyeds were called into the ring. Haltija, our Lapp girl, shown this time by Margarita, decided that trotting at noon under the sun was not the best idea, and refused to move twice. Loureiro let her go with a very good. Lily, confronted with Bijou for the points, was awarded the CAC-QC and the CACIB, while Bijou had to settle for the reserve (RCAC-QC). When Lily was confronted with the junior winner for the best bitch, she started to pace at high speed instead of trotting. Mr Loureiro realised suddenly that Lily did not deserve the honours he had just given to her and went absolutely angry at Lily and at himself. He nearly shouted that Lily should have been downgraded to very good. Luckily for Lily (and unfortunately for Bijou) it was too late to change his decision. Anyway, the point would have stayed in the family (Haltija's one). When we left the ring, Loureiro was still very upset explaining to our common friend, and happy winner both days, Pedro Brito (Samspring) why he should have downgraded Lily, and about the bad movement of the pointed dog (another "pacer").

Lily has got her Portugal Champion title in only 5 shows (the minimum possible): Excellent-QC (and BISS Junior) at the Portuguese Nordic Dog Specialty 2007, under judge Luis Gorjâo Henriques; CAC at the National Dog Show of Moita 2008, under judge Vitor Veiga; CAC/RCACIB at the International Dog Show of Costa Azul 2008, under judge Fernando Rodrigues Madeira (these two competing still in intermediate class); CAC/CACIB/BOB (and 3rd of Group) at the International Dog Show of Viana do Castelo 2009, under judge Avi Marshak; and finally CAC-QC/CACIB, yesterday, at the International Dog Show of Lisbon under said judge Manuel Loureiro.

And contrary to what has been usual in Portugal in the last two years, where only very few Samoyeds had been present at shows, Lily had rivals to defeat in each and every of the 4 shows where she earned a CAC.

Northy (MEX JR CH Bright Northern Star de Salviamar) again BIS Junior in Mexico, despite being out of coat. This time under judge Dr. Carmen L. Battaglia (AKC judge and author of the book "Breeding better dogs") at the All Breed Dog Show held in Ajusco.

Tanja and Franco (Sonrisa de Nieve Samojeden) and their Samoyeds Tycho (CHE & AUT CH Arctic Aivik Tycho, uncle of our Amélie) and Bayju (Arctic Aivik Bayju con Sonrisa)  have been staying with us over the weekend. On Sunday we all went with Tycho, Bayju, Lily and Angie to the International All Breed Dog Show of Onda. Bayju was Excellent 1st, Best Junior in Breed. Unfortunately, this year for the first time there was no junior final in Onda. Lily was CAC + RCACIB. Tycho was CAC + CACIB + BOS, and finished that way his International Champion title. And Angie took the CACIB, was BOB (for the 12th time so far) and short-listed in a very strong group 5, full of many outstanding dogs. This time Tycho and Angie have interchanged their placings of the last time they met in a show ring (IHA Innsbruck, August 2008).
This afternoon Coral is strongly longing for Bayju, her best friend in the last four days.

Onda 2009: Margarita with Angie, Sarai with Mika and Lily,
Franco with Tycho, Tanja with Bayju, and Laura with Dana and Kaos

He is grandsire of Ciro, our first Samoyed, and great-grandsire of our Silver.
Here we can see him in 1980, at the age of 3 1/2 years, taking a BOB win exhibited by Jo Ann Stage, founder of Rexann Samoyeds.

We have added too a second picture of Rexann's Casino Magic to the Parents page.

Lily simply ignoring Mr Lorenzo. Not the best way to get a good placement!

On her part, Bijou (out of coat) was shown by Ana, her owner, for the first time in intermediate class. Contrary to her sister, she behaved and moved very well and was ranked excellent 1st in her class. Di Lorenzo found Bijou to be somewhat overweight.

To round off the weekend, Ana came with Bijou to watch the show. It was very nice to see both girls (owner and Sammy) again. We are sure that Bijou will be in due time a champion as well. She is a beautiful bitch and an excellent representative of the breed.

Cathy Pendleton with some of her "kids": Jack, Kiaya, Tia, Monique, Dusty, Celia, Praise and Caprice

International Champion !!

That way Haltija has managed to become a champion before her son (Northy) and daughter (Lily) who will most probably be champions in the second half of the year. At least we hope so.
It was a pleasant show day in company of our Portuguese friends Claudia and Pedro (Samspring) and their lovely and  playful Cabaka Juniors: Ulli (who took the breed) and Valiant.

Carnival King (left) & Chardonnay

Cathy, in the center, with Kiaya (second Sam from the left)

Although still in winter, we can enjoy the beautiful view of almond trees in full blossom and the early fragrance of many orange trees.

The  sire when still a teenager

Copyright Salviamar