Tag Archives: Pumi Puppies NY

CCCC or the Catskill Climate Change Chronicle…

June 13, 2018

Bad planning or bad execution?

Man plans, God executes … (or corrects what man keeps screwing up…) I am back in Hungary again, at this time with Anka. Even though, this trip has been planned in advance, our departure date has been seriously circumvented by climate change. As it turns out, climate change manifests not only in rising sea levels, more frequent and more intense weather events or dying coral reefs, it also effects my dogs’ physiology. To be precise, my bitches’ heat cycle have turned on like clock work in the past, however, this year, because of the unusual long winter (I believe…), everyone has been late.

When the tension is high enough, we are ready to travel,

Ironically, it was a relief to see the sudden growing tension between my girls, as their hormones finally started kicking in. It was the long awaited signal to set preparations in motion for my trip. Veterinary certificate, USDA papers and most importantly the airplane ticket with two dogs in the cargo hold. ( FYI I also planned to take Agyag along to give her a chance to finish her Hungarian Championship at the Budapest Grand Prix.)

Well, instead of " yes," I've got a middle finger from Luftwaffe - the second time...

Well, instead of saying ” yes,” and correcting the botched booking, I’ve got a middle finger from Luftwaffe – the second time…

I am not lucky with Lufthansa – to say the least. Back in 2013, Lufthansa have lost Fruska and Agyag for close to a full day that has created some major complications to reach the Budapest WDS, my destination at the time. Booking my ticket and two dogs in the cargo hold with the airline, has seemed unusually easy at this time. Once ticket purchase was out of the way (or so I thought), based on my flight schedule, I went ahead to plan my entire itinerary. However, as it has turned out, Luftwaffe not only friendly fired my plans and screwed up my ticket with the two dogs in the busiest traveling season, they also refused to honor my original reservation.

Since my trip has been time sensitive, I had no time to run after my loss. I had to look for a another airline that could accommodate two dogs and flew me to Hungary for a reasonable price. While I’ve managed to secure a ticket, unfortunately, they could accommodate only one dog. Obviously I took Anka.

My least favorite Hungarian traffic sign

So we made it to Budapest where I am staying with my sister and planning to see many friends and acquaintances while managing Anka’s dating schedule.

To be continued…

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

March 17, 2016

Happy involuntary St Patrick’s Day at TXL/Berlin, Airport Germany

I am involuntarily celebrating St. Patrick’s Day at TXL/Berlin airport in Berlin, Germany. I am stuck here for most of the day because I missed my connection to Budapest, Hungary. It is a pretty depressing run down place. It feels like the European version of Jim Crow era public place – only the appropriate sign is missing “Germans Only…”

The only thing consoling my distress is the 40 Euro voucher that I got from Airberlin for my pain and suffering. That is about 8.88888 beers in an airport bar. My options are; make friends by buying a few pints for some random intimidating strangers or drink it all by myself… but than I might miss my connection again.

Baby in the airport bar -early child hood education – or no chid left behind

Until than, Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

loud rowdy crowd drinking beer at the airport. A beer putsch for every day. In 2016, 366 day…

the EX and the dog

Do you have a beer bone?

give me a beer biscuit

Announcing Catskill Pumi C-Litter, May 2015

April 3, 2015

We are announcing our upcoming Catskill Pumi C-litter in May, 2015.

Dam: Kaffogo Agyag, Hungarian Junior Champion, CM, PT, JHD, FCI Herding Certificate, Junior World Cup Winner of Hungarian Breeds, Budapest Hungary, 2013)

(D.O.B.03.08.2012),

Color Fawn (Maszkos Fako)

Health Tests: Elbows 0/0, Hips “GOOD” (OFA), PLL Clear (OFA), DM Clear (OFA) Health test certificates are available upon request

Kaffogo Agyag, HPJ, CM, PT, JHD (AHBA), FCI herding Certificate,

Sire: Pustan Helmen Karhunsammal “Daco” Finnish Champion, Estonian Champion (D.O.B. 05.01.2011)

Color Black,

Health Tests: Elbows 0/0, Hips B/B, PLL Clear (OFA), DM Clear (OFA) Health test certificates are available upon request

Pustan Helmen Karhunsammal “Daco”

The Return (sequel two, part one)

March 22, 2015

I am pretty concerned about a possible Icelandic Culinary Month celebrated by Finnair. I am not sure if I am ready for a fermented shark fin and pickled herring mousse with sour sheep milk.

Men plan, nature executes… Based on Kaffogo Agyag’s reproductive cycle in the past two years

, we had a perfect plan until last week. Than everything turned into chaos and upside down as the four bitches have brought into heat each other, including Agyag. Bitches…

I had to contact Marja-Leena Puranen to double check wether the male dog is available and wether Marja-Leena was ready for us. Once we had the green light, I had to break the news to Laszlo while we had only a few days left for a massive rescheduling of all plans for the next two weeks and of course to buy a new airplane ticket to Helsinki.

Since we left late from home (as usual), we had a nail biting four-hour drive to the airport in an insane weekend traffic jam. At check-in, our saga has continued with customer service. They had no idea about “live animal traveling fee rates” and I ended up paying double ($400!!!)one way – for Agyag. (What is wrong with weekend customer service…? Once I am back in the States, I have to recoup the money.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LxaTT8uCV8. <——–Click here

according to the yellow label, Agyag is in the 121lbs category that cost $400 (twice the standard price) each way to transport. Is it a slightly over weight Pumi or a traveling crate carved of stone?

I waited until Agyag’s crate was conveyed into the belly of the plane then I finally boarded too. When the plane took off and we were ascending, after all the stress, I could only hope that this was not an Icelandic Culinary Month for all Scandinavian airlines when they serve fermented shark fin, pickled herring mousse and sour sheep milk while someone is out-loud reciting from the Kalevala in Finnish.

My anxiety disappeared in an instance when we reached cruising altitude and I heard the captain in the loudspeaker, “ladies, gentlemen, it is time to start your cocktails….”

Marja-Leena was waiting for us at the Helsinki Airport. It was so good to see her again.

If you had one too many of the cocktails on the plane, you might freak out that you ended up on planet El-Adrel from “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and bumped into a Tamarian when encountering Kim Simmonnsonn’s ceramic sculpture in the Art Port at the Helsinki Airport near Gate 37 (Curtesy of Finavia Corporation).

March 24, 2014, Two more days

March 24, 2014

If Fruska stays on her 60-day schedule, by tomorrow, she will be able to walk only in a straight line. Her huge body seriously limits her movements and her body’s weight distribution is also significantly off balance. Her belly is so big that she cannot curb her back anymore when she tries to perform some essential bodily functions. The more I look at her the more she reminds me a walking oversized cinder block, heavy and rigid…

But do not worry Fruska we love you and things will be much easier in a few days .

Poor girl resembles an oversized cunderblock with her big pregnant body…

Five More Days and Her Belly Keeps Growing…

March 21, 2014

According to the schedule, Fruska has five more days to go. She keeps growing like an airship or blimp. I would not be surprised to find her levitating under the ceiling after I wake up one morning.

Fruska has been growing like an airship or blimp. One morning I might find her levitating under the ceiling…

As we get closer to B-Day (B-litter), the excitement and of course some tension have grown within the Pumi pack. As a result, Fruska is in “protective custody,” partially removed from the pack.

Fruska is in protective custody for her own safety…

Also, the Pumi maternity ward has been slowly building up its inventory of items that we will need during birthing and after. Regardless if it is lambing, kidding, foaling or dog whelping, I always think that I should be better prepared.

What else we need…?

and life goes on…

“do you remember? this looks like the subway vent tunnels in NYC… I did not realize that the subway comes to Delhi…”

September 24, 2013

Things are accelerating. The pups are growing, they need more exercise outside and more organized even custom tailored work.

The Heartbreak Motel According to Catskill Pumi Kennel…

They sleep in individual crates for discipline and also because of their ultimate separation is inevitable soon or later.

It might sound funny but they have double matured after NYC and things will never be the same.

liberal arts studies in NYC has made the dogs crazy for self cultivation. Ag ordered “Thistle” on the internet. I think he dialed the wrong number because “Thistle” came from a nursery not from a book store…

Acel is gone…, Alpar aka Kuli is next. He is going to Canada on Thursday. What a change will be for the little guy; growing up on sweat and blood hard work produced lamb and goat meat here in the U.S. and living the rest of his life on subsidized Canadian bacon (hopefully uncured)…

Ag or Zoli has to wait longer because mom is a busy doctor and dad travels a lot and they want to have a block of time to get the little monster accommodated with the rest of the pack under direct NEW parental supervision, as mom said, she will be on “petarnety” leave for two weeks.

So life is going on…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFSn-2ndTPc&feature=share&list=UUGAe-4zFkQdx4L2mHnpLHBw <—–Click here

Back to School…

September 9, 2013

For the Catskill Pumi Six it might by more appropriate that school has started, as they are the new pupils this fall.

The curriculum is truly enjoyable; “Learning with Fun.” We have been stretching the area we go to, so we they learn some recalls and walk on different surfaces. So if someone ends up in an urban home, he’ll know that it is OK to eliminate on asphalt if there is no grass around (trust me we’ve encountered endless cases like this in NYC during our many years of dog training). The dogs are happy and so far everybody is in the top of the class.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6ClJhnDJK8 <——- Click here