LACRIMA CHRISTI - our history

The "DALMATIAN"
is a real "cynological jewel", in all his attributes:

   The beauty of his outlook, elegance of moovement, harmony of body
   proportions, noble attitude and behaviour, graciuos walk, speed of
   moovement, lively temperament, strong and good natured character,
   intelligent eye expression, quick learning and accomodation to different
   circumstanses, devotion to his master...

Attractive body colour - white base with black or liver spots -
reminds to Dalmatian craggy region.

He is a wonderfull companion for children, adults and older people.
Loved all over the world and spread on all continents...

     Written by:
                                                     Mr. JOVICA BALAC-FCI all round judge (HR)
            (a part from his book "CYNOLOGICAL CLUB "DALMATINAC" Zadar)

ŽELJKO & MOON - best friends

Living in the home land of this wonderfull breed, we have been occupied with dalmatians since 1992.
Our "TARA" - EBONY 101 DALMATINER, was the first spot in our home, comming from the very old and famous croatian kennel at that time "101 Dalmatiner". She has shown us from the very first moment all the qualities of this wonderfull breed. With help of many experts in this breed, we started with planed breeding, what became a guiding star in our breeding program. Her first litter was sired by CH. Hadrianus Liver Kirby (CH. Olbero Orange Prince & CH. Hadriana Van Huis Dalmatho), from a very famous english lines. This litter was our beginning...

EBONY 101 DALMATINER
"Tara"

Multi CH. CORRADO
"Corrado"

From that first litter, CORRADO was the one who stayed in our home, the very special one with whom we started a very big show career. He gave us a first joy of breeding, owning and handling at the same time. He was recognized as a real show dog from the side of many specialists and all-rounders, won several Best in shows (specialties and all breed shows), became a Multi champion with 7 championships and has proved himself as a father of many famous litters from which many of them have the champion title. Let's say - Corrado, was the one who pushed us forward... Now, after 67 shows and bunch of titles, he enjoyes his very well deserved retirement with his mother Tara.

In 1995, we decided to have one more female in our home and after long searching, "Zara" - AGOMENTI CHOCOLATE JUICE has joined us. A liver spotted bitch, out of Multi Ch. O'Leary Hadrianus Van Huis Dalmatho & Ch. Palindrom Artemisz, a continuation of famous english lines, what made a perfect combination to Corrado, which was recognized later in the 2 litters they two had. Two of the puppies have already became champions (Multi CH. Lacrima Christi Choco Royal and CH. Lacrima Christi Courtney Cox) and four of them are on their way to become ones. After 2 litter she had, first of 16 and second of 13 puppies born, many show titles she collected, she joined Tara and Corrado in their retirement.

CH.J. AGOMENTI CHOCOLATE JUICE
"Zara"

CH. KRUNA
"Nina"

One stormy night in August 1996, Corrado sired one of his litters. A very promissing litter of 14 puppies was born. When we visited the breeders home, we were very pleased to see one very promissing litter, but we couldn't get our eyes off of one wonderfully spotted black female, with dark eyes, looking very smart, esteemedly sitting on the distance, observing "this people" (us) who suddenly came and ruined their afternoon's play. During our way home, we couldn't stop making comments for this litter, and every few seconds our thoughts were again on this special female. She joined our home 1 week later, NINA (KRUNA) was how we called her. She was really special, with a special temperament, strong natured and very dedicated to her spotted and non-spotted family, following her father's show career and has closed 3 championships. She was the one that has given us the most promissing litter till today, sired by our Multi CH. Dalissi Magical Moonshine. From this litter of 9 puppies born in 2000., today we have our biggest pride and joy, World & European CH. Lacrima Christi Coppola (living with us) and 3 more champions (CH. Lacrima Christi Cartouche, CH. Lacrima Christi Coconut Dry and CH. Lacrima Christi Cherry Brandy). Unfortunatelly, in her age of 4, she tragically died, having only one litter... She was our first dog that has left us and took parts of us forever...

Few years, we have been searching for a new stud dog, to help us improve our breeding later on and to bring some fresh blood to our country. After long searching (again), the very wonderfull female from England that was very well known to us from the show rings and from the outstanding dogs in her pedigree, Euro, Multi CH. Salsusa Eternal Star (CH. Theakston Tamerlan & CH. Olympic Star Of Olbero), had her first litter born 1997 and sired by a famous Multi CH. Busby's Freschman, a dog very well known to us from a European Show 1997 in Kopenhagen, where he astonished us with his gorgeous outlook and wonderull moovement. The litter was born in kennel "Dalissimo" in Italy and we ofcourse took the trip there. But, as we have seen many litters before, that we went to see with lots of hope and came home a little bit dissapointed not having found what we were looking for, this time we said we will just go to see the puppies and will not be admired before we see them (eventhough we had long telephone calls with the breeder before, where we could recognize how they were pleased with the litter and we had an opportunity to pick the best male from the litter). We came to Milan, sat in their living room, waiting for the puppies to come from their puppy-room... There we stayed speachless... We immediatelly fell in love with our little MOON - Multi CH. DALISSI MAGICAL MOONSHINE ! And this was our lucky day, where we have finally found the right male for us ! He joined our spotted familly of 4 and became our second liver spotted dalmatian. With his wonderfull temperament, he has brought a lot of joy into our home, and with his outstanding outlook and moovement gave us unforgettable show days, winning many Best in shows prizes and specialties under the very famous specialists and all-rounders, that have recognized his outstanding quality. He has sired 18 champions so far, from which the most famous is his son World & Euro CH. LACRIMA CHRISTI COPPOLA, his best spotted friend...

Multi CH.
DALISSI MAGICAL MOONSHINE
"Moon"

WORLD, EURO, Multi CH.
LACRIMA CHRISTI COPPOLA
"Coppola"

What to say ? In the year 2000. we had our 7th litter. The fourth generation of our dogs, very long expected and carefully line bred after 9 years of lot of joy, passion and collecting our knowledge. This time we had almost everything, combination of very famous dogs, good feeling that something good might be born, we just needed God's help to make it all come true. Well, we must say we were very very lucky. Our Nina was sired by our Moon and gave us the best litter we had till today. COPPOLA was the one that stayed at home, as a very promissing and outstanding puppy. From his very first show, Croatian Specialty 2001, judged by a famous breeder Mr.J.Fatauros, kennel "Starlong", he was described as a VERY VERY PROMISSING PUPPY and from that day on, he became a WORLD and EUROPEAN CHAMPION, plus 8 championships behind so far. Several famous breeders have recognized and used him so far, where very promissing litters were born, which show quality puppies are continuing his great show carrer. We will see more about his champion children later ...

Totaly unexpected, Carla has joined us in her age of 1 year, 2001. Her mother Nensy (liver spotted), Corrado's daughter was sired by our Moon, but bred by our friend, personal breeder, and this was the first double liver litter Moon has sired. Nine puppies were born, all liver ofcourse and with no faults. From this litter, there is one champion "Capuccino" known. Carla was owned by one joung family, that sadly decied they don't want to have their dog anymore, luckily we knew them and took her to our home. We can not express with words how she was gratefull we took her and from this day on, she enjoyes her life with us and our spotted family. Unfortunatelly, she was not trained as a show dog from the very beginning and too cheery for show rings, enjoyes her freedom of playing and running at most...

CARLA
"Carla"

CH.J. SPOTNIK'S WITTY WAGTAIL
"Witty"

When our Nina has left us, we had two already retired females and three males. We have been waiting for a female from very famous kennel "Spotnik" for almost 3 years. Witty's litter was born in January 2002 out of CH. Spotniks' Snow Storm & CH. Spotnik's Primadonna. We had an opportunity to have a very promissing female from this interesting litter, and with breeder's help, Mrs. Helle Hoie, we chose Witty as the most promissing one. She joined us and won our hearts with her wonderfull chearfull temperament, with no minute to standstill. Her quality has showed on very big specialties, especially on ECDC show in San Remo 2002, where she won the title of the Best female and Res. Best in Show after her very known uncle Multi Ch. Spotnik's Special Selection. This year of 2004., she is planned to be bred by our Coppola, so let's see what will come out of this very interesting combination...

Through all these years, after 10 litters born so far, we have learned to be patient, there is no need to rush, the breeder should be objective and
sincear to himself by realising his dogs qualities and faults. To love our dogs and cherish them, slowly learning and researching, reading many
books and researching handbooks, listening to many old breeders, and when all this collected together, to try to give your best. To advise the
new owners and young breeders. There is not every litter that can be a successfull litter and nor all the puppies are of a show quality. As much as
we try, the nature has it's own selection and our job is to try to get the best possible out, from getting two most important facts together -
fenotype and genotype.

Before all, they are our life, our passion, and we all enjoy in our everyday's mutual joy of friendship.

... to be continued
Anita & Željko, 2004.

The continuation - May 2006.

      For the past few months, after our site has passed through a big update and one heavy stone finally fell off my back, I feel a need to write something on this page, as in 2004. when it was made, I promissed it will be continued.
Eventhough I'm not pregnant and it's not very late in the night (as it was in 2004.!), I found some free time to write few words...

     Many things have happened in our lives since than and the biggest one is that our son Andy was born in 2004. and turned our lives upside-down! :))) This was ofcourse the happiest moment in our lives !!!!
We had to re-arrange our daily schedule where, on the beginning it was a mess, no time for anything, but soon we got into normal... Ofcourse, our spotted members of the family were living even better than before, as they were important with "checking all the things and happenings", taking advantage of Andy's grandmother and Željko wanting to go in and out the house 1000 times during the day "to keep everything under control"...
      Our Andy was growing, everything came into normal and than our 12th litter out of Coppola & Witty was born in September 2004. Twelve puppies were born, everything went fine, except me, beeing constantly with Andy and the puppies, feeding the puppies with the bottle all the time in the beginning, sometimes having a moment not knowing whom I have to feed - Andy or the puppies ?!!!
Luckily, there was always our grandmother to help with our little Andy, as otherwise it wouldn't be possible. The "big spots" were under Željko's custody, enjoying their wonderfull lives in their everyday's long walks in the woods...
     During this period, our Multi CH. DALISSI MAGICAL MOONSHINE, was enjoing his life at our dear friends home of Irina Petrakova -kennel "Terletskaya Dubrava" in Russia. He achieved wonderfull show results, became Russian champion, Byelorussian champion, Russian Dalmatian Club champion, Russian Club winner, Russian Champion of the year 2004 and sired very nice litters as well, which offspring is available to be seen also on this site.
     This 12th - long expected litter, turned out very well, maybe even more because all our hopes and wishes were focused on it!
Now, these "puppies" being 20 months old, have already achieved wonderfull show results, some alreadly became champions and some are on the good way to become ones!
     We already introduced to You CH.J. LACRIMA CHRISTI CHOCO MOUSSE in Poland, CH. LACRIMA CHRISTI CAIRO in Russia,
CH. LACRIMA CHRISTI CUTIE PIE (co-owned) and LACRIMA CHRISTI CHARMELLA (in Australia) on our site, in the meantime we are waiting to introduce You also LACRIMA CHRISTI CHEEK TO CHEEK in Denmark and LACRIMA CHRISTI CARAMELO in Portugal, who also achieved great show results, just his owner is not so quick with sending us photos and show results.

     In 2005, our 13th litter was born out of Carla and CH. Mirmas Braveheart, this time "only" 6 puppies were born, a very nice litter, from which most of them went to the breeders and are achieving already very nice show results and - LACRIMA CHRISTI COUNT ON ME became the 1st champion from this litter being only 16 months old, LACRIMA CHRISTI C'EST LA VIE in Finland, LACRIMA CHRISTI CRO A' PORTER and LACRIMA CHRISTI CORRECT IMPULS in Germany...

     In this past 2 years, Coppola sired many nice litters, from which many of them already became champions ! We are happy to say, that our work is recognized by many other famous breeders who have used Coppola for their breeding and are very pleased with the new spotties bred under their kennel names ...
In Nowember 2005, Coppola left to Finland and is now enjoing his life up there in the north, at our dear friends home of Outi Vilkuna, kennel "O'Zone" till July 2006. Many litters have been born in Scandinavia and we hope they will follow his footsteps...

    At the beginning of this year, we have sadly lost our oldest ones, our first dalmatian EBONY 101 DALMATINER and CH.J. AGOMENTI CHOCOLATE JUICE...

    Our 14th litter was born in January, out of our Witty & very well known European champion from 2005 - Multi. CH. Kamilkan Vainamoinen from Finland. Eight puppies were born, a very nice and even litter, from which few of them went to the breeders, one female -"Csilla", stayed at home and 2 boys "Carpe Diem" & "Chocaholic" in co-ownership... We will see how all of them will develop and will ofcourse be up-to-date with informing You...

     So, now at home we have Corrado (12 years), Moon (9 years), Carla (6 years), Witty (4,5 years), Ennie (2 years), Csilla (4 months) and Coppola (5,5 years), who will join us again in July...

     And as the last, but not the least, I have to mention our "right hand" in showing, our very well known friend, handler, "reviewer" and Coppola's best friend - Ante Lučin, with who's help many shows never would be visited and many show results never achieved...

Also, our friend and Enni's special handler Svetozar Egić, whom she adores at most...

... will be continued
Anita, May 2006.