Web Cave of Dogs Lily & Xena

Muura's Liljankukka

born 27.4.1998

Lily came to Elina as a companion to Sulttaani, also with hopes of breeding potential. She is born out of phalène parents with Sulttaani as grandfather. As a puppy she suffered an identity crisis - whether to have ears up, down or the other up and the other down. Later she decided to become a papillon.

Lily never became show dog. She was only in one club show and puppy class. Her major win was a "happiest tail" competition. As a puppy Lily never seemed to stop wagging her tail. She also had fun by chewing and shredding things, hanging on Elina's pants or shoelaces with her teeth. In general she was a hyperactive puppy. And very different from Sulttaani what comes to her temperament. Lily has always been more a "people dog", as Sulttaani was a "dog dog". Lily is also a lot more social.

Elina trained Lily in various tricks, and she was always a fast learner, looking for to learn more new tricks. Lily also won a very inofficial obedience competition, mostly due to her great ability of keeping contact with the handler and performing happily in general. Lily's major talent and passion proved out to be agility. She would have probably deserved a better handler. Elina thought however that it's just about having fun together - a nice hobby shared by the dog and her owner.

Lily has never been bred, but she kind of adopted Xena as her puppy. Lily has been temperament tested, and got 173 points with saying "would be a promising service dog if she was of a service breed". Perhaps a pet breed would need to have a different result? That's at least what Elina thought - no use in trying to breed a service dog out of a pet breed, as Elina also knows the disadvantages such a temperament brings.

Anyway Lily is a lovely dog, that keeps company to whoever is ill. She feels very attached to her people, and is dearly loved. Her health in 2008 is rather good, with some occasional back, anal gland etc. problems. She has calmed down considerably during the years. Her walks outside tend to be rather on the shorter side, but she's a happy and active elderly dog.

Lily and Xena moved to live with Elina's parents due to asthma in 2002.