More about Karl

Karl came to live with us when he was about 13 weeks old.  We had just gotten back from the IGCA National Specialty in 2004 and got a call from his breeder, Kerrie Smith.  Due to some health problems, she needed to place some of her dogs, and wanted to know if we were interested in anything of hers.  On the drive up to see her we agreed: NO boys, NO blues and NO PUPPIES!!!

We were about to move ourselves and didn't have time for a puppy.  We had had terrible luck with our previous blues and were not ready to try another any time soon.  What we needed was a nice, proven bitch as part of our foundation. 

Upon arrival we saw several lovely dogs, including Karl's dam, a puppy sired by the top ranked dog at the time, and a pair of stunning, older red puppies.  And then she brought out Karl.  He didn't have a name yet.  Kerrie let him out of his run and he leapt up, biting at our arms and legs trying to entice us into a game.  Laughing, she said he made her life miserable trying to get things done while he just bounced off her and everything in his path.  She stacked the gangly little puppy who didn't want to stop wagging.  He had a lot of potential.  We kept comparing him to the other dogs.  Kerrie left us alone for a while, and we looked at each other.  That was the dog.  We weren't sure why, but he needed to come to Alfheim.

Kerrie seemed pleased by our choice.  We were just kind of stunned.  He was EXACTLY what we didn't want.  We started discussing names.  When Kerrie asked what we were going to name him, she seemed horrified when we said "something Norwegian".  That meant we needed to make it good.  His father was a "Cityboy" and this puppy was destined to be a "Countryboy" given our lifestyle.  That brought to mind "The Lay of Rig" from the Poetic Edda. 

We named him "Kimson Countryboy of Alfheim", and to us, he was known to us simply as Karl. 

Little did we know the future he had in store. 

With more than 40 Best of Breed wins, 2 television appearances (Rose City Classic on Animal Planet), being featured in a magazine ad (for Petsmart), multiple owner-handled group placements, multiple owner-handled group wins and an owner-handled AKC All-Breed Best in Show, Karl looks to have a bright future ahead of him.