Really the only reason I wanted to go there, was to actually meet one or hopefully more Estrela dogs. I was lucky in several ways; partly my friend wanted to go there with me so we went in her car, partly, there were as many as five Estrels on site. Judge my happiness and great fascination, that finally, after many years, actually get to see a real Estrela again.
I will try write a little about both Estrels and about the fair itself. 😀 I start with the Estrels.
It's a thing to read about a breed of dog and actually meeting it, I can say. This does not mean that the meeting was negative – at all. It was cool to actually see several Estrela dogs. They are, which I already knew (but again; it's one thing to read about how big a dog breed is, and to actually see it) large. They are really impressive. Compared to Ella, they are gigantic. 😀 But then Ella, on the other hand, was quite small to be a German Shepherd.
Estrela is a dish osocial ras. At least if you (again!) compare with Ella, who was so oversocial that she almost became annoying at times. I had arranged in advance to meet a Finnish woman who was there exhibiting her dogs, and none of them were particularly interested in greeting me. It does nothing, because I don't want to force myself on a dog that is so obviously disinterested. However, I greeted another, smaller dog (can't remember what the breed was called, but also a watchdog of some kind) – so insanely cute I almost snapped, but that dog refused to greet my friend, on the other hand. 😀
Now that I the first time in many years, actually met a real Estrela, is my first impression of them that they are impressive and awe-inspiring. It is not a dog you approach anyway, just because you feel like it. Which makes me think about what my friend and I were talking about sometime during the day; that the so-called fighting dogs get so much respect when it is actually this type of dog that you should have the most respect for. An Estrela is not a Leonberger, even though they look very similar to each other.
To not be too long-winded, I can say that I haven't changed my mind about wanting an Estrela, but the challenge it will be (which I welcome) feels more real and clear than a future fantasy. My dog is coming, like Ella, to be badass – but it's a completely different kind of dog that will require completely different things from me.
Over to ourselves the fair. I have never been to the dog fair – or any other fair there. Oh my God, what gigantic premises. I'm glad I had sensible shoes on, although I was extremely tired in the legs when we went home. We were extremely lucky when we got there; it certainly took a while, but we actually found a parking right near the entrance.
My main impression of the day is – murmur at a volume so I could barely hear what I was thinking. I get extremely tired in the head from a lot of noise like that. Not to mention all the people. There was an awful lot to look at, and I probably missed at least half. I had no money to spare, so I didn't really look at all the exhibitors, but my friend bought some stuff for his dog.
Among other things had I set up a meeting with a person I had known through Facebook for a couple of years, but never met. It was very fun to see, and he introduced me to Anders Hallgren who was nicer than I imagined. Anders asked me if I have a dog, and when I told him that I lost Ella last summer, I received his book Farewell to a Friend, as consolation. Extremely friendly, I was very happy and moved.
To continue name drop, I saw both Fredrik Steen and Anders Bagge in the crowd. Didn't stop to say hello though.
I'm on it overall very happy with the day. However, I found it very expensive to enter, despite my pensioner discount – not to mention it was expensive to eat. I cheated and drank my brought tea and bought a couple of bananas, while my friend bought an ice cream. And just – it was also very hot in there. Everyone was talking about it. 😀
Will I go to the Stockholm dog fair again? Not the palest. Luckily, it's only once a year, so I don't have to decide now. But I think that if I want to go to a bigger dog show, I will probably invest in visiting the Rocklunda show that is here in town, i april.
Now I will try tuck me into bed shortly, because tomorrow means spending time with both Lilo and Floki! ♥