New "Baby" in the House!  − 28 April, 2008

So this weekend Casa del Mango (my house) welcomed it’s newest member (and soon to be star!) a beautiful little Finnish Spitz female named Ginger. Ginger is a delicate, refined, feminine girl – about 2 years old. She is VERY fox-like, and will do well in the show ring. She is actually the granddaughter of my previous Finkie, Bell. Ginger isn’t Bell’s “type” at all, even though she is the daughter of Bell’s son Ricky, who is a male version of his mother. Bell and Ricky’s “type” is my preferred “look” – compact body, sturdy bone, rich red coat – stunning. I got to see Ricky as a fully mature adult male this weekend on my trip to pick up Ginger – what a STUNNING male. My idea of perfection. And a temperament to die for – animated, interactive, solicitous of attention and affection and that indefinable “look at me – I am GORGEOUS” vibe that the best “Best In Show” dogs have.
If I didn’t already have 2 intact males at home, I would’ve taken Ricky to show – he is a Eukanuba/Westminster dog. As it is, my girlfriend Karla fell in love with him and has him to try him out. My girlfriend Siobhan also fell in love with the breed and will be taking a puppy out of Ginger and Ricky’s upcoming planned breeding.
I have worked with this breeder before – my first 2 Finkies were from her – and now Ginger, too. She has burned some bridges in the breed, and is not the easiest person to deal with, but she has a fantastic eye for breeding, is honest to a fault, and has no problem calling a spade a spade (which is how said bridges got burned I think). I would raise my dogs a little bit differently, but again, the only thing 2 trainers can agree on is that another trainer is doing something wrong… :)
I have to say, though I love my big breeds, Finkies make me smile. I didn’t realized how much I missed the breed until Ginger came in to my home. She is also funny and feisty. Kiri, the shepherd, thinks Ginger should be low man on the totem pole (the position Kiri has held since infancy), but Ginger is having none of that. Not that Ginger is dominant, she simply is unwilling to have Kiri out-rank her. So they have been having little spats. And Ginger will do ballsy things like bite Kiri’s rear leg or tail as she walks past, starting said spat. And imagine – Kiri is at least 85 pounds – and Ginger is barely 20. And the little vixen STILL doesn’t give any quarter to the shepherd – whose HEAD is about 20 pounds! Sheesh.
I am sure they will eventually be “sisters” and comfortable with equal rank.
So far, Ginger has charmed my husband (who, like me, LOVES to cuddle with adorable, minky foxlets) and sleeps on our bed at night. Though all the dogs “visit” up on the bed, Ginger is the only one who sleeps up there all night.
I am so happy to have a Finkie back in the house. Ginger did inherit some lovely traits from her grandmother – her Sophia Loren eyes, her minky coat texture, her perkiness. We are planning to breed her back to Ricky to double-up on Bell’s bloodlines – my personal interpretation of the Finnish Spitz Standard – and I expect the puppies will be exactly what I love about and want to see more of in the breed – SUPER temperaments, and perfect conformation. I love a Finkie that wants to work for me. I am so excited about it.
As she is just about 2 years old, we will breed her on her next heat. I have her crated next to Kiri in the hopes that they will “cycle” together or somewhat closely – it will certainly be able to whelp 2 litters at once. Poor Bonnie – my girlfriend who will be midwiving and nursemaiding the litter(s) – will have her hands full, I am sure…
So I will keep you all updated and post pictures when I can – she is too cute not to share.