Yip yap

(Yea that’s me, Tessa!)

^{I wasn't yet sure of what was to come, as Mommy put a bow on me.}

Hey! I'm Muffin’s daughter — proud Bolonka, proud 6‑month‑old pup, and now... proud winner!

^{Practicing for the ring}

A few days ago, on May 1st (humans call it May Day or Vappu, which sounds like a bark if you say it fast enough), I went to something they called a “dog show”. My very first one!

It was held on a horse‑racing track — Horses! Can you believe it? I didn’t see any, but their smell mingled with dry grass, warm dirt, and the quiet sizzle of sausages on the kiosk grills.

^{There was so much to see...}

The May air tasted like coffee foam and savoury sausages, layered over a symphony of barks in every key, and the distant crackle of a loudspeaker calling numbers. Two modest grill kiosks sizzled quietly while tents overflowed with collars, leashes, treats, harnesses, and every dog gadget imaginable. One tent even had a photo corner where dogs could pose proudly with their trophies (Of course, Daddy prefers to use his own camera, and snapped mine later at home). Colourful booths flashed squeaky toys and sparkly collars, and tails of every size and shape bobbed past like flags in a parade.

^{...I wanted to go after the smells.
Sort of made me look like a dachshund.}

Daddy bought Mommy — and himself — cups of coffee, two sizzling sausages for him, and a butter bun for Mommy. I deployed my most desperate feed‑the‑pup stare at those sausages, but got waved off; apparently hot sausage grease is also off‑limits for show dogs. Rude.

^{Mommy had some yummy treats for me.}

First Sniffs and Strange Growls

When we arrived, I zoomed straight toward some curly‑looking dogs (Lagottos, I think). But they growled at me! Their human laughed and said, “Italians never really understood Russians.” I wasn’t sure what that meant, but I puffed up my fluffy tail and trotted on like a polite little Bolonka diplomat.

^{I was a good girl.}

Then I met a Löwchen boy who eyed me with royal suspicion. I nearly tripped over my own paws — he had a fluffy mane and wrist‑puffs like a mini lion, but the rest of him looked freshly vacuumed! Why’s your fur only on half your body? I wondered aloud (politely). He flicked his pom‑pom tail and muttered something about “continental clips” and “breed tradition”. Apparently it’s just a fancy way to say “my ass needed mowing” or whatever! I suspect the groomer just ran low on fluff. We did the classic snout‑swirling dance — a little left, a little right — and guess what? Besties in five seconds. Fastest friendship in dog‑show history.

I also sniffed a tiny white Coton de Tulear called Ninni (what a coincidence, huh Ninnu?). She was super cheerful and totally in love with her BFF — a gentle giant Bernese Mountain Dog whose tri-colored coat looked like melted chocolate marble. They zoomed and tumbled together like they didn’t even notice the rest of us, and at one point the big pup even wrapped a furry hug around Ninni—now that’s a friendship you can feel!

There was also a black Pomeranian with big eyes and even bigger bounce, plus a little spaniel with silky ears — we shared a mutual sniff of professional respect.

🏅 And Then Came the Ring…

^{Saying 'Hello' to the judge-lady.}

Mommy took me for a walk into a ring where humans watched and whispered while another human — a cheerful lady-judge — touched my teeth, looked at my paws, and stared at my tail. It was weird, and I wanted to wriggle myself out of it, but Mommy told me to “Stand still, pretty girl,” so I struck my best “yes, I am adorable and I know it” pose. I think I did well!

Then came another quick zoom around the ring, followed by a call in front of the judge again.

The lady then started scribbling something in her clipboard, and another lady said something in a loud voice. I later found out what she had written (as best I can woof them):

“Cute proportions, sparkly coat, runs like the wind — just needs a fluffier tail set”

No translation needed!

🎖️ And the Results?

Guess what?

🎉 I won Best of Breed (Rotunsa Paras — ROP) in the Russkaya Bolonka ring! Okay, okay… I was the only Bolonka puppy there, but a win is a win — and I got a big red ribbon, a fancy ROP cup, and a shiny purple honorary ribbon (kunniapalkinto).

^{The horse track was just too dusty for a little dog to bear. Got it in my lungs.}

I didn’t make it past the first cut in the small-breeds puppy finals. I spotted my lion-trimmed Löwchen pal — plus a few other pups I’d met outside the ring — circling the mat with me. The judges sent me packing after our opening lap, and in the next round a poised little Pug strutted into the spotlight. Still, I’m pretty sure my strut was the snazziest.

^{You can see my Löwchen friend in this picture. He's the second one from the left.}

Surprise Shower

Just as Mommy had collected my shiny winning cup from the show office tucked inside a huge glass grandstand — apparently that’s where humans watch the horses thunder around the track — a plump gray cloud parked itself over the sun and unleashed a surprise downpour. In ten seconds every perfectly groomed coat poufed into a wet dandelion. Humans squealed, dogs shook, and the smell of soggy fur drifted up like steam off a sauna bench. Personally? Delightful. Free spa treatment! (I stayed perfectly dry, curled in our dog‑trolley under the grandstand awning.)