Ajuaq Kennels
GCH Pikkinokka's This Girl Rockz, RN, CGC, TT
"Rock Z"
Born February 24, 2006
I resisted getting a Finnish Spitz bitch for several years, despite many people trying to convince me otherwise. Most of the bitches I had met were aloof and always had their own agendas in life, and humans weren't usually a priority. And I really had no desire to breed a litter, and having an intact bitch around the house can be a real pain. But in 2006, I finally agreed to succumb--if I could find a really exceptional bitch that had that "something" that set her apart from the others.
RockZ is that bitch. I knew it the first moment I laid eyes on her at 8 weeks. (Til tried to send me pictures beforehand, but she wouldn't hold still--she was usually the blur in the background behind her brother.) She had the look and conformation, and more! She had that spark--that fire--that a truly great show dog must have. I had seen it a couple times before, most notably in my Top Ten Malamute bitch, Star. My feelings were confirmed the first time she set foot into a show ring. She took Best of Breed over Kodi, at the tender age of 6 months, 1 week. And she got the first of many comments from judges that basically all boil down to, "Wow! She is exquisite!"
And she is. She finished her championship at the age of 15 months, with a Group 1!!! Prior to that, she had taken a 5-point major at the national specialty weekend, and two other 4-point majors. Like Star, she is a princess, and she knows it, and she makes sure everyone else knows it, too.
People always ask me why her name is spelled the way it is. I like unique names, so I was trying to find a unique, pretty, and classy way to spell her name. It wasn't long after she came home with me that it became obvious. "Rock" is because she loves to collect them, move them around, and line them up down the hallway. And the "Z" is for Z-28, because she NEVER does anything slowly. Life is too short! There are rocks to move and birds to hunt and holes to dig and things to chew and ribbons to win and games of tag to play and . . . . Well, you get the idea. That "spark" I saw is actually a fiery love for life, that she lives at high speed.
In 2009, we started to seriously campaign. I finally got to take over the lead, and start showing her (my mom always starts the puppies—she’s really good with them). She took us by surprise with her high-speed success in the show ring, taking several major wins before she was even 2 years old, and several more before she was 3 (including two more Group placements and Best of Opposite at Eukanuba). She earned the top spot in the Finnish Spitz rankings--#1 overall--toward the end of the year, and held on to it until November. As far as I know, the first bitch to do so.
It’s our turn to ROCK!!! And she and I have started out with a bang this year, with several Bests of Breed and a Group 2 at a large show in
We're still looking for that elusive BIS, but she and I took two HUGE wins in Blackfoot, ID in 2010--back to back Group 1's!! They were my first Group 1s ever, and at a show where my goal has been to simply make the cut, as owner handlers rarely get past that at those shows. Still tingling from that thrill!
But most importantly, she is my cuddle-bug and bed-buddy. There isn't an aloof bone in her body, and her agenda includes the people around her. I couldn't ask for more.
2011 has been a big year for her for 'diversifying'. She still finished the year at #1 FS Bitch, despite pretty much stopping showing in June (except for one show in October, at 4 weeks pregnant). She earned her CGC (Canine Good Citizen) in the spring, and her RN (Rally Novice) in October. In between she earned her TT (Temperment Test), of which I was really proud. Then in November, she had puppies!! Likely her last litter, they are a beautiful bunch. I'm excited to be part of their futures!
RockZ winning her first Group placement--a Group 1!!!! (also finished her championship that day)
Her Favorite sleeping position (wasn't she CUTE?!)
With her brother, Tektite, winning Best in Sweeps and Best of Opposite in Sweeps at the 2006 FSCA National in Tucson, AZ (Tek won Best; both in the 6-9 month class). We told the judge afterward that we knew it would come down to the two of them, we just didn't know which one would take Best. She was surprised, then said we were right--and that she had had a very difficult time choosing.
HUGE win at the 2007 AKC/Eukanuba National Championship in Long Beach. She took Best of Opposite Sex; her uncle Ivan (CH Jayenn's Ivan of Tsankawi) took Best of Breed. Again, the judge said she had a very difficult time choosing. Both handlers admitted it had been a looong time since either one had had to work so hard in the Finkie ring!
Two more nice Best of Breed wins in 2009.
Two of her favorite places to be: her "throne" in the living room, and on the dashboard of the motorhome--surveying her kingdoms!