About: Me
I have always been fascinated by the sighthounds and their tremendous elegance and beautiful movements; when they move they are flowing forward in full control and still able to turn on the spot or in the air if necessary.
Especially the Italian Greyhound got my attention, a very big dog in a small body and with an expression, personality and attitude that can easily hypnotize you.
I found my first Iggy in 1998, the famous "Dora" - she became my foundation bitch and is still living well and ruling the house as the "queen" she is. Noone tells her story better than my former kennelhelp and friend Margrèt: (...read more...)
Good old Dora, the “golden diva”. The best and most beautiful Italian greyhound of them all. At nearly 10 years of age there seemed to be no stop to her victories! She won BOB at the Norwegian Winner show in Hamar in 2006 & 2008 and BOB at the Nordic Winner shows in Norway 2006 & Sweden in 2007.
Not only that, but she also won BIS-2 veteran in Hamar 2006, BIS veteran in 2007 and in 2008 at almost 11 years she was 3rd in the sighthound group at that same show! To put the icing on the cake she was #2 IG of the year in 2006 & 2008 and #1 in 2007, and all that from the veteran class!
You can surely say that Dora stopped on the top by winning BOB for the 3rd year in a row and a nice BIG 3 placement at the prestigious Norwegian Winner show in 2008. At the World Dog show in Sweden we had the ultimate duel in the veteran class. Dora was entered and her biggest competitor from the “old days”, Multi Ch, multiwinner and BIS winner Dogcastle’s Unforgettable. It was so great to see these two famous dogs “battle” it out once again, with Dora taking the bigger piece going BOB veteran.
I’m very lucky, I know the “diva” very well. I’ve lived with her and I’ve even got the privilege to be her handler from time to time.
I would like to take you back to 1998 to a KC show in Bergen, Norway. Tone Bekkåsen Fischer, known for her Eugenios poodles and Chinese cresteds was at this show with some of her dogs. She was walking through the hall and notices a puppypen with Italian Greyhound puppies. It was pretty dark in the hall, but a little ray of sunshine came through the window in the roof and was shining over the puppypen. Midst in the ray of sunshine sits one of the puppies, an isabella coloured bitch but because of the sun shining down on her like a spotlight it looked like her colour was pure gold – hence the “golden diva”. When Tone saw her she knew that this little puppy just had to become hers. And for us who know Tone, if she wants something, she’ll get it one way or another so needless to say, the puppy known as Dora became hers. Her carrier speaks for itself, she’s not only among the best, she’s also behind the best!
Sighthound of the year in Finland 2006 & 2007 and titleholder of winning the finnish winner title 5 times in a row!) (Multi Ch Soltar’s Unbelievable) is her granddaughter. Eugenios Othello, Eugenios Romeo Montague & Eugenios Juliet Capulet are names everyone in the breed knows, they are all multiple champions and top dogs who took the breed to a higher level. They are all Dora’s “puppies”. Dora only had 2 litters, (both were sired by the very well known Multi Champion and BIS winner Dogcastle’s Unforgettable) so her lines/pedigree is not something you get easily. Eugenios Juliet Capulet was exported to Finland to Knl Soltar’s where she is the broodbitch and has given her owner some fantastic offspring.
Dora is a “once in a lifetime” dog, dogs like her don’t grow on trees. I myself have given this a lot of thought… why does she win so much? The older she gets the more she seems to win, usually in big competition with IGs that are the “future” of our breed and often at prestigious shows and yet she goes on taking one BOB after another! Are “we” as breeders just plain bad at breeding dogs of that quality? Why haven’t any of the younger dogs got the “whole package” like Dora? Her overall balance, her outstanding movement, her shape, her temperament and her attitude in the ring?.. One must wonder!
After thinking about this, going over these questions in my head I think I got the answer. There is no one like Dora and there will never be anyone like her. Dora is a very special IG in all ways. She’s a queen, and of course the ray of sunshine was shining on her in ’98 when Tone just happened to walk by. It was karma, meant to be. Without Tone I don’t think Dora would ever be the legend she is today and there’s my answer; she’s a legend! She’s the type of dog people will remember. She’s the type of dog people will talk about for years to come, she is a dream of a dog.
Dora is living the good retired life now. Watching over the little Eugenios puppies, showing them the ropes. She’s been through a lot and she always comes through and shows what a unique, strong minded IG she is.
I am lucky to have come into the “world of Italians” in the days of Dora, who felt like they would last forever. She inspires me and will always stand as a goal I want to work towards. She gets me to think about what I want. I hope I will own/breed a dog just as special as Dora at least once in my lifetime.
Margret I. Veigarsdottir
Caeles Italian greyhounds