I have been about 3 weeks connected to the dog leash. Finally this afternoon I was let to run free in Ottobrunn nature park, after ensured that no male dogs around 1 km, because even if I'm not more interested of males, but they are still interested of me. Mika took some videos with his new HD camera and put the worst one (I hated to stand still on command and I show that clearly in the video shot) in the public YouTube with the name Ciara the Basenji. Only thing you can observe from the video was the fact that we had a lovely weather today.

Yesterday Cami took me to the veterinary in order to get the stample of echinococcus treatment in my animal passport, which is compulsory, when travelling to Finland. Same time I had clinical examination and the vet said that I already have some minor pregnancy symptoms. I have learned from Nala that you have to be acting as nice as possible in the veterinary in order to get out as soon as possible. You have to be out of your mind, if you love to visit doctors!

We are travelling together with Cami by train and ferry to Finland from 17th December, so that we are finally in Finland on 19th December. We are looking forward to the X-mas in Finland!

Yesterday I declared that now it would be suitable time for pairing: no doubt of that! So we reserved an appointment with Ruben for the weekend.  Ruben has already three litters in UK so he is experienced.

For me this will be my first (and Cami hopes that it will be also the last) litter, but it seems to be so, that my hostess is more nervous than I am. This morning she packed the luggage when she believed that it is already Friday  Fortunately my master has his legs on earth!

Cami did some calculations and noticed that the puppies can be delivered to their new homes just for Eastern holidays when they are 10 weeks old (if someone does not want to collect the puppy two weeks earlier). Then she has better time to educate the puppies ready by the clicking training method like Nala, as a puppy, was successful done by the breeder. My puppies (with Kennelname Aittakankaan) will born in the city of Espoo, which is situated about 15 km from Helsinki. Keep your fingers crossed that everything goes as planned!

Nobody has asked directly from me about MY puppy plans! I would like to have puppies with every handsome and virile male in town! Even today, when a daddy-candidate (= a Bernese Mountain Dog) came to offer his help of breeding puppies, Cami brutally alarmed him off. I tried to motivate the male by signaling, that the breeding will be more successful, if he would wait for a couple of days (and meanwhile I try to get rid of my hostess).

First of all, we disagree with Cami, that the daddy candidate have to be a Basenji like myself. If the temperament of a male would be so important to Cami as she claims, then she would choose another, more sympathetic, dog breed as a male candidate. When putting the breed as the first condition and their character as the second, she got under 10% of basenji males to choose from. All too few, if you ask from me.

Of course, we both would like to have very healthy male as a daddy for my puppies, otherwise the puppies won't live a happy life. But Cami has wrong way to check the health by checking the health test results and corresponded with the owners extensively. She knows that the most common basenji healthy problems are not shown in tests or the owner does not know like: allergy, hormonal problems, lack of infection immunity and accident vulnerability. My nose would tell that immediately!

Finally, we both have the same idea of the appearance: the male should remind of my dad  Manu: masculine with strong muscles. There are a lot of Rhodesian Ridgebacks with those appearance qualities, but again, we disagree of the first condition (a Basenji).

My folks has acted strange recently. They have checked my back part more than once a day. Even if I use to check other dogs geneticists quite often, it hasn't been so obvious. This morning they were very happy to notice that I'm in heat. Earlier years they haven't put so big interest to my seasons: only male dogs has been interested.

So Ruben: I'm looking forward to our wedding

Typical questions about me in Middle-Europe from straingers are: "What breed she is? Is she a puppy?". Reason for this is, that the basenji is not a common breed in Middle-Europe. There are a positive hidden meanings of the first question: I do not look like mixed breed dog and I look very feminine (no-one asks about he or him). The latter question is caused by my puppy look (shiny coat and sporty feminine body) and my puppy-like behaviour (still love to play and be joyful).

In Finland straingers do not ask any kind of questions. If they ask something in Finland, the native people think that the questioner is eather drunk or crazy. That is something we Finns are famous for and proud of  If you don't believe me, then try to say "Tervehdys!" ( = "Greetings!") to someone native and sober looking passer-by in Helsinki, then you realize, what you have been warned of.

After publishing my puppy plans in Finnish Basenji Club web-pages in Commited Breeders list of Expected puppies, the daily question from basenjists and friends all over the Europe has been: "Has Ciara's seasons begun, yet?" The answer is: "Not yet." Yes, I'm the black sheep of Liljeborgs family, because I have broken the tradition of October heat and December puppies. Previously I have had seasons as follows: 1. 1st of September 2006, 2. 25th October 2007 and 3. 1st November 2008. Ruben, you still have to wait for our marriage!