I had been looking for a new dog for a while; one that I could start training so it would be ready when Vixen retired. I had been in contact with a really good breeder whom I have great trust in, Johanna Järnegren from Kennel Inlicios in Norway, and we agreed that I would get a female from her next litter. Unfortunately, only males were born, so that idea fell through. Of course, I was sad, but I still had Vixen, so it wasn't urgent. Or at least it wasn't, until we found out that Vixen had stomach cancer and only a few months left. Suddenly, it became more urgent, and I started looking into other litters that might be interesting.

I turned to Anette Björgell, who owns Kennel Vildandens in Sweden. She was the one who led me to Kennel Lech-Toller Nest in Germany back in 2012, where I got Vixen. And she knows a bit about what type of Toller I am looking for. She suggested a few breeders but also mentioned if I might be interested in a puppy from her next litter. After looking at her puppy plans, I had no doubt that a puppy from that litter could be something for me. And so, the waiting game began.

They had hoped for a heat cycle in August. Nothing happened. Nor in September, October, or November. But... at the beginning of December, it was time for mating. And therefore, also time to wait. The scan showed there were puppies, but not many. However ... there just had to be two females; then there would be one for me. The litter was born on February 6th - and only one female was born, which was to go to the owner of the dam that was mated. I was so disappointed and sad.

But amidst the disappointment, I activated my great newwork.

I had been looking at litters that I found interesting. None of the breeders knew me, so I had to ask people who knew me to point out to them that it would be ok to send a puppy to me in Denmark. Later that evening, Johanna Järnegreen (Kennel Inlicio) contacted me and told me that a litter had been born in Sweden with three females and two males. The sire of the litter was Aron (Inlicios Rimfrost), and the dam was West Coast Tollers Diana (Disa). The most interesting thing for me was that Disa's father is Silver, who is Vixen's litter brother. The idea of getting some "Vixen blood" into the lines of my new dog - for better or worse - was exciting. I know there is a lot of autoimmunity in those lines, but on the other hand, I also know that you probably won't get better working dogs. And after looking through the pedigree, I had no doubt that I wanted a puppy from that litter.

Johanna contacted the breeder, Ann. I don't know what she said to Ann, but the next morning I was told that there was a female puppy for me if I wanted one. I did! It was a bit hard for me to believe it would actually happen, so I was a bit hesitant to spread the news too much at first. But after having been to Sweden to see the litter when they were 4 weeks old, it suddenly became real. And then it was just about being patient and waiting to find out which of the three females would come with me to Denmark.

On March 25th, the suspense ended - and it was Drömhultets Chiquitita who was to move to Denmark.

On April 2nd, we drove to Sweden and picked her up. Coincidentally, it was on Vixen's 10th birthday. To me, however, this is not a coincidence.

Now I look forward to seeing what kind of dog Tsula will become. And I look forward to developing with her.