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Since I remember myself I have been dreaming about a dog. When I was 11 years old my dream finally came true – a fox-terrier Chip appeared in our house. He was a dog of uneasy character, which combined the inclinations of a cute cadger, pride and independence. Chippy never acknowledged me as his owner. When you are child, you so much wish to have your own dog, which would be devoted only to you. After a year my mother Elena Yankop brought from Saint Petersburg (those times it was Leningrad) our first Irish Terrier, a bitch Ginger-Scarlet of Kinship, who later gave two litters. Named after a heroine of “Gone with a wind”, she fully conformed to her name. It was a great problem to let her without a lead – she was “gone” so far, that we have been forced to look for her for hours (we were lucky to find her, Scarlet stayed with us long 16 years). A hunter would be absolutely happy with this dog, but not a girl like me. Hunting was Scary’s main passion. Since urban life is poor with fur and feather, she looked for cats and marked them according to all rules. She managed to find them everywhere, even there where they shouldn’t dwell, for example in a forest. If she couldn’t snatch a poor tailed one, a cat was driven on a tree and was forced to spend there hours, being watched and barked. Then she remembered that place for years and checked it at every opportunity. It was impossible to wean her from doing it, and no one was going to hunt with her. Only couple of times we let her not as intended – to an artificial hole, where she bravely hunted raccoon from the very first time. She was a beloved dog, but not the one whom you call as truly yours.
This only one and unique was Scary’s daughter, who by the will of fate returned to our house when she was one year old. Her name was Breezy, like a light breeze from the sea. Breezy was taken back from very poor conditions and there were no limits for her dog’s gratitude. After half-starving, each time after feeding she came to me to say “thanks”: to lick me or wag her tail. She adored me for going for a walk to a forest, swimming, training exercises. She was staying by the door while I was away from home. Breezy always helped me – to carry bags after shopping, to strip wallpapers during a renovation and in general she tried to guess my wishes. Of course she also proposed her own decisions, for example she used to take her lead in her teeth, showing me, where she wanted to go. Breezy became a dog of my dreams; she was a pure gold with a golden heart, as described by Jack London. She was the dog, after which I didn’t want to change the breed and after which I realized that I want to stay with my Irish Terriers for long-long years.
It turned out so that I could bred Breezy only once. The sole puppy, who was born after this mating with one of the best mail dog of those times Grigus Bustle from Russia, was Cleo (Cleopatra Lenkste). Her name is translated from Latin as “in memory of a father”, because she was the only puppy from this mating, and her father was an effective dog, which are few even nowadays. I so much wanted that little Cleo would resemble her father! This red girl didn’t disappoint my expectations, becoming one of the most titled Irish Terriers in the Baltic States. Quick on her toes, always positively charged and ready to follow you everywhere and anytime, not so long ago she has celebrated her 10-year anniversary and is intended to stay with us for a long time, at least for 10 years more!
When Cleo was little more than 1 year, I met my future husband Alexander. Together we went for a walks with dogs, participated in dog-shows. He always supported and keeps supporting me in everything, related to our red fellows, for what I am very much obliged to him. Soon Irish Terries fell to a wayside and our daughter Nastya appeared in our life. Time runs fast…Being only four-year old Nastya already tries herself at dogs’ trainings, plays with Cleo and Tonic. Time will show if she will continue my passion for Irish terriers – an excellent breed, which gave our family so much positive emotions, adventure, happy moments and which unites us not just in frames of our family, but with all breed fans all over the world. Thanks to our dogs we have acquired so many wonderful friends during these years.
It remains a fact, that during the time of my passion for the breed I have gathered experience and knowledge, which helped me to make and important step for the development of stock in Baltic – bring Tonic (Anluan Prince of Thieves) from one of the most famous Australian kennels. All my new hopes and unforgettable feelings from many wins at the shows are connected with him. Completed Cynology courses and bred litters gave me an opportunity to found my own Irish terrier kennel – RED FACTOR. I hope this new, yet little-known name, will let to speak only good words about the breed and only in superlative, because they really are like this, these Irish Terriers – the best!
12.05.2009.