| Born: |
June the 9th, 1997 |
| Breeders: |
Arja Kettunen & Maija
Pakarinen, Helsinki, kennel Neliapilan |
| Sire: |
AM Ch Genesis Navajo Red
"Danny" |
| Dam: |
CIB FI EE Ch PzSg-93 Neliapilan
Satumaa "Anni" |
| Siblings: |
2 brothers and 1 sister,
all-Champions |
| Owner: |
Tuuli Koivumäki, Vantaa |
| Status: |
Retired + the respected &
righteous King of the team
(and the master thief...)
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Sir Walter 9,7 years old
#2 Male Afghan and Veteran Of The Year
2006 in Finland
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Sir Walter is the light of my life and truly my soul mate. He has a very special charisma as
well as thoughtfulness, and self-confidence sooooo enormous.....that
he has absolutely no need to prove anything to anyone! Which also
makes him an ideal life companion, since you can always count on him
taking absolutely no stress about anything. He just always knows what
is expected of him in every situation and doesn't mind behaving like
that. Through the years Walter and I have developed a very special
bond between each other, and we have been told that you can see it in
both of our eyes that we're first and foremost a Team.
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Sir Walter 11 yrs. - the oldest male of the
day at the SA-FA Spec.
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A lot of things have happened during our mutual years. As for the
shows, Sir Walter has been retired more or less since the begining of
year 2007 (except for only a couple of outings at our SA-FA National
Specialty and so). His show carreer has been in a way very exceptional
- and in a way, not. As with so many Afghan Hound males, also Walter
matured rather slowly, but still very surely. He won his first Best of
Breed being already 2½ years old, and then a year later hit the Jackpot with the
unforgettable BOB, CACIB (his first) & Group 2nd at the highlight
of the year 2000, the Finnish Winner Show!! And from then on his
carreer has been nothing but ascending, with collecting stylishly the
remaining CACIB's, winning two very prestigious Specialty Best In
Show's (the other as a veteran already) and several BOB's with group placements etc. But Walter
definately had his best show years as a Veteran, truly exceeding all
my hopes and expectations with for example the BIS-Veteran at our
National Specialty (first time out as a veteran in Finland), BOB-veteran
at the Swedish "Skokloster" + some more Specialty
BIS-veterans and even BIS-Veteran at International All-breed level!
All topped with the incredible win "Veteran of Veterans
2007" where the créme de la créme of Finnish Dog Show world is
invited to enjoy a gala dinner in glitter and glamour style...
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Veteran Of Veterans 2007
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Although we have never been chasing for any points or being interested
of the placements during the show season, I've been very delighted to
realize that after maturing, Walter has had a very steady carreer at
the top of Finland:
# 5 Afghan Male in Finland 2000
# 2 Afghan Male in Finland 2001 & Helsinki Sighthound Club's
Afghan Of The Year!
# 5 Afghan Male in Finland 2002
# 4 Afghan Male in Finland 2005
# 2 Afghan Male in Finland 2006 & Veteran Of The Year!
...then retired to the top at the beginning of 2007.
At the same time it amuses me that people don't really seem to
remember where we started from, Walter & I. Before Walter, I had
not really shown that many Afghans, only done some junior handling or
helping out at the breeders groups etc. And it also showed during
Walter's early show years... I was even claimed "nearly hopeless"
by a few impatient friends, who thought mom would soon take over and
start showing Walter - otherwise we'd just be a waste of entry fees,
ha ha. I
admit we must have caused some funny moments and good laughs for the
audience, because also Walter was not born to naturally give the best
of him, but we were also learning all the time. And thinking back,
Walter has absolutely been the best kind of teacher I could have ever
wished for!! I am also very much convinced that as a veteran, I could
have just sent him in the ring alone and he would have known what to
do all by himself. Or at least without a leash!
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My obedient boy...
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It is said that every "first dog" is always a "practice
piece" for the new owner - and so you could say about Walter
& me. There is not much we have not had a go at during these years!
I waited patiently for him to turn 1 year old to be able to start
jumping him. And then in only a week he had learned to jump over my back
and a bunch of other tricks! We also did some home agility, as at that
time it was impossible to get a regular training team position with an
Afghan Hound (and they would not have understood him at that time,
anyway), and there were no own Afghan training teams like today. But
my dad & I we built some obstacles at home and occasionally also
visited the real training places. Walter was a real genious by learning speed
- often just watching how the other dogs practiced! At the end of the 1990's I also took my first steps in
the clicker training, but with Walter it was better only as a helping
tool. He always learned best from my explanations, for some reason...
But one example is that I did teach him to run in front of me in the
show ring with the clicker - something he just loved and never forgot
to offer during his carreer.
We also did some obedience, but that game was a bit too serious for
me, really, so I never had a call for competing. But still I am very
proud to say Sir Walter is the very first (and so far the only?) Afghan Hound in Finland to
gain the "Canine Good Citizen" diploma (Kiva
Koirakansalainen, the Finnish version of the American Kennel Club's
CGC -title), which is also one kind of an obedience achievement. For
our Finnish visitors, you can find more information of the test from
the Kiva-Team
website.
And of course Walter has also had fun moments at the Sighthound
games Lure Coursing & Track racing, having licences for both! But
mostly just enjoying the regular practices at his home club track in
Tuomarinkartano, like in the photo below.
You can find more photos and info (more to be added) at Walter's
hobbies' page.
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Walter at the Tuomarinkartano race track
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One thing I admire about Sir Walter is his ability to speak to other
dogs and be understood. He is so sure about himself and always holds
himself on top of every situation, and other dogs just sense it and
respect him. That
is also why he always wants to avoid fighting - he simply doesn't see
the need for it! Every time he meets a new doggie friend he uses body
language and calming signals to tell the new dog that he's trustworthy.
Sometimes I can almost see from his eyes that he thinks he's on a
somekind of a mission - to make sure that every dog knows they can
trust him! And maybe thus he has an uncountable number of friends. A
sentence we have heard a thousand times must be: "What on earth,
my dog never likes big, black hairy males!? There must be something
unusual in your Afghan...? I can hardly believe they are friends
already?!". And if the new friend is small, Walter will always
lay down to the same level so that he wouldn't look so big and scary.
A genious gentleman, wouldn't you say?
Sir Walter has also taught me so much about the calming signals he
himself uses so often. And that a friendly smile is always a good way
to make new acquaintances! Playing around with Walter all these years
has also brightened my values concerning the human - Afghan Hound
-relationship: Never try to proof anyone that you are on a higher
position than your Afghan. Honestly, what's the need? Treat him fair
and equal and he will do the same to you (if you fool me, I will fool
you, Walter says). Sir Walter has also taught me that a true Afghan
Hound always wants to "keep his face", and even today he
will turn his back on me with despise if he doesn't like the tone of
my voice I'm asking him to do something. Whispering gently and a
little guiding gives the image that it actually was the Afghan who
came up with the idea of doing just what was expected, and you will
both be satisfied with the outcome. And this, I believe, is the "secret"
of our companionship.
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Sir Walter the gentleman
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