American
Norrbottenspets Association
The Forest Hound
Volume 2, Issue 4
December 2013
Editor’s Corner
And here we are again. Most of us
freezing! How nice that Norbies grow
their own underwear! They love this
kind of weather. Not like my Ibizans
who refuse to go outside for more than
3 minutes - just long enough to create
yellow icicles.
We enter the Miscellaneous classes of
our journey at AKC in January. Our
eternal gratitude goes to Tomme
Trikosko, Sue and Jacque Vareberg for
all their hard work in getting us there. It
would not have happened without their
blood, sweat, tears and money. Their
dedication is mind boggling. Needless
to say, their efforts will go into Norby
history in the U.S.
Since we are starting out on our show
time journey, we have aimed this issue
at those of you who want to participate
in the conformation part of the dog
fancy world.
A couple of comments. Last time we
covered disasters. The magazine: Shop
Smart" (January issue) had an article
on disaster supplies and made some
recommended picks. Might be worth
picking up.
Another question which has come up
recently, is if we Photo Shop. Answer is:
Nope. We do not have the software, I
do not have the patience or computer
savvy to use it and Jacque doesn't have
the time. Besides,- we get such neat
photos from you out there and our
pooches are so photogenic, we don't
need it.
Hope you enjoy the articles and keep
warm.
Inside this issue:
President’s Letter
2
Get Ready-Get Set-And Go
2
A Letter from Loki
3
Loki Illustrates the Steps
to “BOB””
4
Dogs on the Move
5
Home for the Holidays
5
A Purple Heart for a
Special Boy
5
Editor’s Correction
5
Summary of Minutes
6
2014 Annual Meeting
 Located at: Portland, OR Expo
Center
 On: January 18, 2014
 Time: To be announced
We hope to see you there!
UKC CH Koivunevan American Idol
SC’s win picture after completing his
United Kennel Club Championship.
Photo by Tarianne
UKC CH VIkingheaven Metsa Keiju SC’s
win picture after completing her United
Kennel Club Championship
Photo contributed by Tomme Trikosko
The Forest Hound
President’s Letter
Dear Norrbottenspets fancier:
UKC/CKC CH Manjusha’s
Yalena Vikingheaven SC
after earning her UKC
Championship
Photo contributed by
Tomme Trikosko
“Because of our
efforts, January
1st begins a new
era for the
Norrbottenspets
As I churned through club records compiling
required documentation for the American
Kennel Club on ANA activities, I was
impressed by how much our organization has
accomplished since its formation in August
2010. Because of our efforts, January 1st
begins a new era for the Norrbottenspets in
the U.S. as the breed steps paw into the AKC
conformation ring for the first time!
The Norrbottenspets joins several other
breeds new to AKC conformation in the
Miscellaneous Class. Participation in the
Miscellaneous Class gives lovers of a
Foundation Stock Service breed a new area of
opportunity to show we care about doing
things with our breed. The time that
Norrbottenspets spend in “Miscellaneous” is
a proving period on the path to full
recognition; a time of final scrutiny by the AKC
of our dedication and intent.
Despite how hard we work and how much we
love our dogs, it does take more than a
handful of hard-working fanciers for the
Norrbottenspets to become a fully recognized
breed in the AKC. In the eyes of the AKC, a
committed and supportive group of fanciers
motivated to preserve a breed is shown by
having a minimum of 100 households on the
membership list of the parent breed club (we
have 23: please join the ANA). A breed
enrolled in the AKC Foundation Stock Service
working toward recognition must demonstrate
a desire among its fanciers for long term
sustainability of the pure breed by an increase
in the population of recorded dogs to a
minimum of 300-400 dogs with three
generation pedigrees from approved registries
(we have 188: please record your
Norrbottenspets with the AKC FSS).
Participation by Norrbottenspets in AKC
events across the country is required to show
wide-spread support of organized dog
activities (join us in the AKC conformation,
agility, and obedience rings and on the AKC
lure coursing and tracking fields).
In this issue of “The Forest Hound”, learn a
little about conformation competitions----how
to be ready for the ring, what exactly is going
on in there, and how you become Best of
Breed. A written exam on the elimination
bracket is available on request to those that
would like to test their mastery of how to get
to Best in Show ☺
See you ringside in January!
in the U.S. as the
Get Ready - Get Set - And GO!
breed steps paw
As you all know, we will be in miscellaneous
classes beginning in January. It's been a long,
frustrating haul. Now - let's get out there and
enjoy it.
into the AKC
Conformation
ring for the first
time!”
Vikingheaven Thorfinn strolling
around the ring.
Photo by Barbara Mayfield
Page 2
If you have been doing your homework, you
have been getting out there in public with
your dog, getting him used to crowds, new
situations and strange people. You both are
leash trained and move well together at a
brisk trot. He will come back to the judge with
ears alert, happy faced and tail wagging. He
will let the judge look at his bite, check his
testicles (boys only) all without sitting on the
judges hand or
doing something else
hilariously disastrous. There will be no
whoopsies when the judge goes over him to
check angles and condition under that lovely
clean, properly brushed coat.
You look good too. You appear professional in
a a suit with pockets and the skirt is long and
loose enough that you can move comfortably
and bend over without showing everyone the
labels on your undies. Shoes should be comfy
and rubber soled. Nothing kills a ring
performance more than your feet hurting or
going out from underneath yourself.
Haven't got it quite all together yet? Find a
nearby handling class . It can be a
tremendous and helpful experience for you
both. There are also several good books out
there. (Try Amazon) Work with friends at a
show. Take a lesson or two from a Junior
handler. They get such a huge giggle from
helping out that "old" person. Watch the
handlers and old timers from ring side. They
may not have the time to help you at the
show, but you can still learn a lot from
observing. Try to watch them (not the dog). I
always spent more time watching the dogs
and didn't learn much.
But most important - Go. Have fun. Learn
what you can and don't worry about making
an idiot of yourself. Judges really do have a
sense of humor. Besides, they are either
done it themselves or seen it all before. Just
go - have fun Good Luck!
Volume 2, Issue 4
A Letter From Loki
Guess what, guess what, guess
what!!!!!!!!!
On January 1st, Norrbottenspets get to
enter AKC shows! We will be in the
Miscellaneous Class. For those of you
who may not be familiar with dog
shows, this is a group of dogs that are
trying to get recognized for full
registration in the AKC. So what does
full registration mean? We meet a
bunch of requirements, go into the
Hound Group, are eligible to become
champions and have a chance to win
Best in Show.
Until we get full
registration status and move into the
Hound Group, we can only be awarded
a Best in Miscellaneous, get a
Certificate of Merit, and can’t become
Champions.
So here’s the basics:
Best in Show is the ultimate award at
the end of the show (see the figure on
the next page). A dog gets Best in
Show through a process of elimination.
First a dog (that is not spayed or
neutered) has to win his or her class
(gets first place) competing against the
dogs in their breed. After a dog wins
his or her class, then they move up in
the competition. Males (dogs) and
fem ales (b it ches ) are judged
separately and the judge picks the
best of each and they become Winners
Dog or Winners Bitch. These dogs can
win points towards a championship.
Both of these dogs now go into the
Best of Breed competition. Best of
Breed (BOB) competition includes dogs
and bitches that are already
champions and the Winners Dog and
Winners Bitch. Out of all the dogs in
BOB competition, the Judge picks one
as the Best of Breed winner. Then he
or she picks the Best of Opposite Sex
of Best of Breed, a Best of Winners
from the Winners Dog or Winners Bitch
and a Select Dog and Select Bitch.
Only the Best of Breed winner moves
up to the Group competition. There
are seven groups in the AKC: Sporting,
Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, NonSporting and Herding. Out of each of
these groups, the judge gives out
ribbons for 1st through 4th place. The
first place winner advances to the Best
in Show Competition. Finally, at the
end of an exciting day the judge picks
the Best in Show and Reserve Best in
Show.
Loki, the author of “A Letter from
Loki”, showing how smoothly he runs
around the ring.
WOW – what a day for all the dogs at
the show!
Photo by Barbara Mayfield
“… And in order
to join the Hound
Group we need to
show the AKC
that we are a
breed that wants
full registration.”
Remember, Norrbottenspets
can’t
b ecom e C ham pi ons f rom t h e
Miscellaneous Group and in order to
join the Hound Group we need to show
the AKC that we are a breed that
wants full registration–
So…………………………………
Get yourself entered into AKC shows!
DanR carefully selecting
his next foot placement
at the 2013 Specialty
Photo by Barbara
Mayfield
Keiju reminding everyone to
have fun. If you aren’t having
fun, neither will your dog.
Photo by Barbara Mayfield
Page 3
The Forest Hound
Loki Illustrates the Steps to “BOB”
Best in Show
From one of the 7 groups
☹
But not from the
Miscellaneous Group
First through Fourth Place are selected from all the dogs in the Group
First Place goes to compete in Best
in Show
Tomme and YaYa in the CKC
Group ring
Best of Breed
Photo by: Jacqueline Vareberg
Goes into a Group For Norrbottenspets
Miscellaneous
Best of Breed (BOB)
Best of Opposite Sex to BOB
Select Dog
Select Bitch
Best of Winners
Chosen from
Winners Dog or Winners Bitch
Penny Lund joined her family
Bill & Chris Lund
Photo by Bill & Chris Lund
Winners Dog
YaYa was featured on Canada TV
at the Lower Mainland Dog
Reserve Winners Dog
Fanciers show
Photo contributed by Tomme
Trikosko
Dogs - boys
Chosen from the dog or bitch who
got first place in the classes below
Chosen from the class that
Winners Dog or Bitch came from
Reserve Winners Bitch
Dog Show Classes
6-12 month puppy
(sometimes 6-9 and 9-12)
12-18 months
Novice
Amateur-Owner-Handler
Bred-by-Exhibitor
American-bred
Page 4
Winners Bitch
Open
Bitches - girls
Volume 2, Issue 4
Dogs on the Move
After all of this talk about showing dogs, we
cannot leave off the brags of
Norrbottenspets earning titles.
have
also
earned their UKC
Championships. Way to go Chubby,
Ragnhild, and Sigurd
Lure Coursing Titles:
Conformation Titles:
“Chubby” has certainly been out in the
show ring “strutting his stuff!” He has
earned a Canadian Championship as well
as a United Kennel Club Championship!
CKC/UKC CH RNB’s Confidence Man will be
sure to make his appearance in the
Miscellaneous class ring soon.
Chubby’s friends, Valhallasun Ragnhild and
Valhallasun Sigurd Blackie have also been
spending some time in the UKC rings. They
Keiju is working her way up in the ranks
and has joined the Norrbottenspets who
have titles in conformation and lure
coursing! She is the fifth Norrbottenspets
to earn the Senior Courser title.
Keep it up, UKC CH Vikingheaven Metsa
Keiju SC!
Congratulations on your Senior
Courser title, Keiju!
Photo by Barbara Mayfield
Don’t forget to keep us updated on titles
that you and your Norrbottenspets have
earned. We’ll now be announcing them
during the quarterly newsletter and sharing
them on the ANA website at:
Norrbottenspets.weebly.com
Home for the Holidays
Bill and Chris Lund of Lakewood, CO
welcome Penny to their family! Penny is
from Naku Norrbottenspets.
Welcome to the Norrbottenspets family, Bill
and Chris Lund!
A Purple Heart for a Special Boy
Sometimes dogs come into our lives that
change us forever. Those dogs make our
lives feel complete and full. Runie has been
battling grand mal seizures for the last
year. This isn’t a sad story, though. Would
we send you a sad story on Christmas day?
The following was in a card to Runie’s
family:
Dear Pete and JoAnn On behalf of the doctors and staff at
Lincoln Heights Veterinary Clinic, we would
like to award Runie with a purple heart.
“We would like
to award Runie
with a purple
heart”
He has spent the last year in and out of the
clinic for tests and check-ups and has been
such a brave dog. We are very proud of
Runie for being courageous whenever he
visits us. We wish him continued success in
his ongoing battle against seizures.
Sincerely,
LHVC
Editor’s Correction
Editor’s note concerning the statement
“Since the Finnish Spitz is the progenitor of
the Norrbottenspets,…”, My Trip to
Connecticut — By Loki, Volume 2, Issue 2.
The white spotted hunting spitz that
became known as the Norrbottenspets
lived with the Finnish speaking inhabitants
in Norrbotten, Lappland, and Kainuuland
as long as there had been wilderness
settlements, long before the official
breeding program to develop the solid red
“barking Finnish Bird Dog” hunting spitz
occurred in the late 1800’s.
Page 5
American
Norrbottenspets
Association
Summary of Minutes
September 19, 2013 Minutes
Report of Committees:
4031 Country Way
The Dalles, OR
97058
Education Committee:
Bark in the Park in Aurora, CO was canceled due to
flooding.
New Business:
Nominating Committee:
Sue Vareberg volunteered to be the head of the
nominating committee. Bonnie Fleming moved that
Sue assume the position on the nominating
committee. Jacqueline seconded the motion. The
motion carried unanimously.
Sue has chosen JoAnn Klager and Susan
Lundebjerg to serve on the nominating committee
with her. The two alternate choices are Terry Harris
and Joan Harris.
designer and editor. Sue seconded and the motion
carried unanimously. Bonnie moved that two years
of Weebly will be purchased for $159. Jacqueline
seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
November 21, 2013
Report of Committees:
Education Committee:
Susan Lundebjerg will be unable to attend
Eukanuba because of restraints of her job. Lynn has
entered two of her Norrbottenspets into the open
show and will try to do the Meet the Breed
permitting time allows and if there is an open booth.
Correspondence have been received regarding the
Meet the Breed at the Rose City Classic. Susan
Lundebjerg will be able to attend on Saturday and
Sunday. Tomme, Sue, and Jacqueline will be there
Thursday through Sunday.
October 17, 2013 Minutes
Unfinished Business:
Reports of Committees:
ANA Website:
Education Committee:
Lynn will be attending the Meet the Breed on
February 21, 2014 at the Rocky Mountain Cluster
Show. Booth materials have been given to Susan
Lundebjerg for Eukanuba.
Nominating Committee:
The nominating committee has nominated the
following members for the 2014 Board: Tomme
Trikosko – President, Jacqueline Vareberg – Vice
President, Sue Vareberg – Secretary Treasurer, Lynn
Higgins – Board of Directors, Susan Lundebjerg –
Board of Directors and AKC Delegate. As stated in
the Bylaws, the slate selected by the nominating
committee will be declared elected and ballots will
not need to be mailed because no additional
nominations were received from club members.
Unfinished Business:
Membership Renewal:
Membership renewals need to be mailed before
December to avoid the holiday rush. Membership
rates will be determined during the November
meeting.
New Business:
Website:
Jacqueline has been using a free trial of
Weebly.com for creating a new website. Weebly Pro
costs $99 for 1 year or $159 for 2 years. A domain
name can be selected and used for free. Weebly is
user friendly and has a professional design. Bonnie
moved that Jacqueline serves as the website
The new American Norrbottenspets Association
website has been published. The website is not
complete. There will be a page for frequently asked
questions, breed history, and a contact form to
submit articles to the newsletter committee. The
website also needs more pictures. The URL for the
website is Norrbottenspets.weebly.com
Membership Dues:
Lynn moved that the prices remain the same as they
were for 2013. Regular - $25, Household - $30,
Foreign - $20, Associate - $20, Junior - $10.
Jacqueline seconded the motion and it carried
unanimously.
New Business:
Rose City Classic Grooming Space:
To ensure that there is enough space for additional
dogs and people, Tomme suggested that they club
purchase a 10X20 foot grooming space to serve as
an unofficial breed education booth. Lynn moved
and Bonnie seconded that ANA sponsors and pays
for a 10X20 grooming space and that $150 be
spent for renting the space and purchasing
educational material. The motion carried
unanimously.
Seattle Kennel Club Meet the Breed:
Susan Lundebjerg and Tomme will be attending the
Seattle Kennel Club Meet the Breed again. They
would like to rent a double booth. They are planning
on decorating the booth as a hunting scene.