[ BACKGROUND ][ RESULTS ][ PEDIGREE ][ A-LITTER ] Zappa alias Fly, Flaikkonen, Zapera, Soppo, Seppo, Sapuska, Zakushka, Zapparainen, Kappalainen, Kabbalainen, Möntti, Erkki, Pöntti, Pönö, Bono, Ciabatta, Sapsojärvi, Santeri, Sepi, Sepu, Zap, Supatti Jaakko and I are very taken with Zappa, who for both of is our first dog that is all our own. Zappa is a member of our family. A funny and charming guy, whom I would not trade for any other dog in the world. In my childhood home we always had a dog, usually a Spitz mix. As a child I spent a lot of time in the dog house and told the dog all my joys and woes. After moving out on my own I considered getting a dog many times and after Hyde bought her Saluki, she never failed to suggest I try the same breed. There was always something in the way though, a relationship or general circumstances. I'm conscientious enough, that I couldn't take a pet until I was sure I could take proper care of it. In the spring of 2008 Jaakko and I went to look at Ameena's puppies when they were a few weeks old and learned that it would be possible for us to have one of the males. And so it was that suddenly the charming little Saluki male Fly, later renamed Zappa, was padding around our apartment. In the beginning I was so overwhelmed by Zappa's arrival, that I wrote down everything he did in a notebook. It makes for fun reading now, as there were so many nice and not so nice happenings during his puppyhood: He nearly ate a lizard, accidentally walked off a dock right into the water, had diarrhea in the car, dropped a glass bowl off a shelf while home alone but managed to avoid the shards, defeacated poop bags, tasted a piece off a suspicious mushroom, etc. Zappa is a very good-tempered and happy dog. He never growls or snarls at anyone, but approaches all dogs and people with cheerful curiosity. He would happily play with all comers. Because of this meeting other dogs on our walks still sometimes leads to a lot of jumping and messing about, although he otherwise now at least sometimes walks at my side nicely without pulling. Calling him in in a dog park full of other dogs was sometimes a bit of a challenge in the beginning, as he was more interested in running and playing than in us or treats. At home too he is very playful and likes balls, rope toys and such. Zappa has a funny way of bringing the toy up to one's face and to invite one to play that way, if he is not immediately noticed. Zappa always greets us happily, his tail going 'round like a propeller. Mostly he wants to be where we are and likes to lie next to us on the couch. He does not like to be petted on the head much, especially by strangers. Otherwise too Zappa seems to have his own ideas about when he wants to be near people. At times like that he will display his neck or tummy to be scratched, or holds one's hand with his paw so he can lick it. On the other hand these days one can easily just pick him up into one's lap. Once in a place where there was nothing soft to lie on he climbed into my lap as I sat in a rocking chair and immediately fell asleep there. When riding the bus too he wants to be on my lap even if there isn't really room for him. Sometimes Zappa is a little too brave and obstinate. He does usually stop what he's doing when told to, but does not react much even to harsh tones or sounds. A rattling tin can has therefore not been effective with Zappa as an aid when telling him no, nor has the spray bottle. Luckily he no longer steals food when someone is around, but if left alone one has to put the food stuffs high up into a cupboard to hide them from him, as he can open sliding drawers if he wants to and pull things down from as high up as a hat rack. He does not really fear even stern reprimands, but will retire to his own bed looking pathetic and guilty. Being alone does not seem to present him with any great difficulty. Since the very beginning he has slept his nights on his own bed in another room like a good boy and does quite well alone while we are at work. But he does get bored if left alone too long. Especially in the beginning he would find little things to entertain himself with. Once he opened the bedroom door and found wool, which he draped artistically around the room. Doors are no obstacle to Zappa, so doors must be carefully locked when he is home alone. He has caused some minor destruction as a puppy, though not much since he cannot get into all rooms when alone. Once after worming his way into the livingroom he had chewed up the USB cables of both cameras. He has chewed and torn bags, pens, photos and posters off the walls, as well as spatulas, a dish brush and duvet stuffings. When younger he was also an accomplished food thief who ate everything from gingerbread cookies, blue cheese, cucumber and fruit to margarine right out of the container. Once he ate half a bag of salty liquorice Fisherman's Friends. Zappa does not have a lot of faults, but impatience is one of the most annoying. Zappa can sometimes make really annoying sounds. He doesn't like standing still and waiting and starts whining and howling a lot if he has to wait somewhere even for a minute. He will always vocally let you know if something or some place is not to his liking. We have gradually begun running Zappa at trials. Zappa's speed was a positive surprise, as we have not trained him particularly and lure games too have been fairly scarce. Zappa's prey drive is enormous and he still chases everything, including leaves caught in the wind. When we are out walking and Zappa sees a bunny the entire neighborhood is sure to hear his desperate cries due to the fact that I won't run him loose in a city setting. He is also tremendously active, a real dog park personal trainer in the area. ~ Saara
[ LURE-COURSING ][ TRACK RACING ][ SHOWS ] 2013 10.03. 2013 Mustiala, Winter Coursing - 259 p. + 262 p. =521 p., placed 1/9, CQ 2012 10.03. 2012 Mustiala, Winter Coursing - 246 p. + 0 p. = 246 p., placed 1/6 05.05. 2012 Ylistaro, Suomi-Cup - 0 p. 2011 12.03. 2011 Mustiala, Winter Coursing - 233 p. + 271 p. = 504 p., placed 1/10, CC, FI LC CH 07.05. 2011 Ylistaro, Suomi-Cup - 256 p. + 257 p. = 513 p., placed 1/8, CQ, CVM-11 ~ VIDEO 22.05. 2011 Jyväskylä, Derby - 229 p + 249 p. = 478 p., placed 6/9, CQ 12.06. 2011 Mustiala, ajuekoe - 79 p. + 86 p. = 165 p., Best in Field-ajue (Zappa & Ameena), SERT 02.07. 2011 Iitti, Finnish Saluki Club's L-C Championship - 247 p., placed 3/12, CQ ~ VIDEO 09.07. 2011 Tampere INT, Nordic Championship - 226 p. + 209 p. = 435 p., placed 4/11, CQ 24.09. 2011 Helsinki INT - 254 p. + 172 p. = 426 p., placed 5/9, CQ 2010 27.02. 2010 Mustiala, Winter Coursing - 225 p. + 230 p. = 455 p., placed 5/17, CQ ~ VIDEO 09.05. 2010 Kankaanpää, Mother's Day Coursing - 249 p. + 248 p. = 497 p., placed 1/16, CC ~ VIDEO 15.05. 2010 Lieto - 223 p. + 233 p. = 456 p., placed 4/18, CQ ~ VIDEO 22.05. 2010 Hyvinkää - 130 p., placed 9/11 ~ VIDEO 20.06. 2010 Mustiala, Finnish Saluki Club's L-C Championship - 244 p. + 267 p. = 511 p., placed 2/20, CC ~ VIDEO 31.07. 2010 Tampere INT - 231 p. + 229 p. = 460 p., placed 2/19, CC, CACIL ~ VIDEO 29.08. 2010 Jyväskylä INT - 226 p. + 239 p. = 465 p., placed 2/10, CC, res-CACIL ~ VIDEO 25.09. 2010 Helsinki, Tuomarinkartano - 228 p. + 254 p. = 482 p., placed 4/24, CQ, HSKP-1 ~ VIDEO 2012 17.05. 2012 Hyvinkää - 680 m 49.43 s - placed 2/4 ~ VIDEO 2011 Finnish Saluki Club's Racer of the Year 2011 18.05. 2011 Tampere - 480 m 33.33 s - placed 1/2, CC, FI RCH ~ VIDEO 29.05. 2011 Hyvinkää, Finnish Saluki Club's Racing Championship 19.06. 2011 Helsinki - 350 m 23.84 s - placed 1/2 30.07. 2011 Hyvinkää, Derby 06.08. 2010 Tampere INT, Nordic Racing Championship 13.08. 2011 Helsinki, Finnish Racing Championship - 03.09. 2011 Hyvinkää - 480 m 33.03 s - placed 2/3 ~ VIDEO 01.10. 2011 Helsinki - 480 m 32.97 s - placed 2/5 ~ VIDEO 2010 Finnish Saluki Club's Racer of the Year 2010 13.05. 2010 Tampere - 280 m 19.95 s - placed 3/5 - 480 m did not finish ~ VIDEO 26.05. 2010 Tampere - 480 m 33.24 s - placed 1/3, CC ~ VIDEO 30.05. 2010 Hyvinkää, Finnish Saluki Club's Racing Championship 09.06. 2010 Helsinki - 480 m 33.30 s - placed 1/3, CC, HSKP-1 ~ VIDEO 12.06. 2010 Tampere, Tähtisprintteri - 280 m 19.93 s - placed 2/4 - 280 m FIN 20.34 s - placed 3/4 25.06. 2010 Oulu, Virpiniemi - 480 m 33.36 s - placed 1/3, CC, Track Record - 280 m 19.59 s - placed 1/2 ~ VIDEO 03.07. 2010 Helsinki - 480 m 33.23 s - placed 1/3 07.08. 2010 Helsinki, Finnish Championship Race 2010 18.08. 2010 Helsinki, HVK Cup - 480 m 32.58 s - placed 1/4 ~ VIDEO 12.09 2010 Tampere, Tampere GP - 480 m 32.88 s - placed 1/3 19.09. 2010 Hyvinkää, JK-10 02.10. 2010 Helsinki - 480 m 33.08 s - placed 1/4 ~ VIDEO [ Click on event for more info ] 2012 28.04. 2012 Lahti INT - Säde Hohteri - WORKING EXC-2 2010 21.03. 2010 Tampere INT - Carl-Gunnar Stafberg - INTERMEDIATE VG-3 15.08. 2010 Mustiala, SVKL Club Show (unofficial) - Marianne Holm - WORKING-3 HP 2009 18.07. 2009 Helsinki G10, Kartano Weekend - Marie Bryce-Smith - JUN VG-3 Un-official lure-coursing results 2009 04.10. 2009 Hyvinkää, Möllin Maastot - Youth Class (12 - 18 months) - 281 p., placed 4/10 ~ VIDEO |