Kennel Al-Dahná's Jipijapa (Jipi) | Page about Al-Dahná's Jipijapa (Jipi), with pictures, siblings, pedigree and results

The original version of this story about Int North CH Al-Dahná's Jipijapa, that usually was called Jipi, has previously been published in the Norwegian Sighthound Clubs magazine Mynden, Fall issue of 2008, in the series "Our old stars". Since Jipi was an Al-Dahná afghan, this story naturally also belongs on the Kennel Al-Dahná website. In difference to the magazine version of the article, we've added some pictures, changed some of the others, used the colour versions where we have them, added her pedigree, added links where it is natural, and listed her siblings. Some of the photos are unfortunately marked by time.

International Nordic Champion Al-Dahná's Jipijapa, was without doubt the best known of the Kennel Al-Dahnás dogs in her time. She won virtually everything she took part in, both domestically and internationally. Jipi was Afghan of the Year in 1981, 83, 84, 85 and later Veteran of the Year in 1986 and 87. One of the highlights of her career was when she won BIS in an Open Show for Afghans, where a total of 94 entries took part.

Afghan Hound Int Nord CH Al-Dahná's Jipijapa (Jipi)

Photo of Int Nord CH Al-Dahná's Jipijapa (Jipi) taken on the day she made International Champion
Photo: Grete Knudsen

Even today she is, for those who have been in the game for a while, a benchmark for my dogs. And when Al-Dahná's Vitae Victoria was described as my best dog since Jipi, I was very touched, happy and proud.

Int Nord (N S Fin) CH Al-Dahná's Jipijapa was after Int Nord CH Fargils David Copperfield and N Fin CH Al-Dahná's Banjana (Banja), and born November 19th in 1978. You can find her pedigree further down on this page.


Int Nord CH Fargils David Copperfield Photo: Grete Knudsen	N Fin CH Al-Dahná's Banjana (Banja) Photo: Grete Knudsen

For the J-litter everything went OK to time where the pups were about 3 weeks of age, when things started to happen. We thought Jipi had a managed to get a fish-bone stuck in the throat because she started retching and the food came up. At the veterinary examination the vet found a constriction of the oesophagus right by the stomach. And this young lady should have been exported to England. That was of course cancelled. The veterinarian would put Jipi down right away, I would not, I wanted to have her examined with a view to my breeding program. At this time, there were some lines that had a lot of these problems and I was afraid that I had gotten the same problem into my lines. According to the veterinarian Jipi would become max. 7 weeks old. She survived the 7-week limit. The time after that went surprisingly well, vomiting became rarer and rarer, and at 5 months of age Jipi stopped vomiting altogether and she functioned normally. This, she had now grown out off - we thought - until a new examination at the Veterinary College showed something else.

Int Nord CH Al-Dahná's Jipijapa (Jipi) at about 7 or 8 weeks of age
Photo: Grete Knudsen

Jipi could never walk normally, she was always "floating" through the air like a black shadow - people knew her like that! And when we met the veterinarians at the Veterinary College they said that it was impossible that she could have a problem since was in such a super condition. So when the X-ray image of her was checked they went pretty quiet - the constriction, with an expansion above it, of the oesophagus was there, and quite large at that, but her body had found a way to compensate for this, so everything worked as it should. Jipi had defied this problem and died at a respectable age of 13 years and 4 months. She lived a perfectly normal dog life, but she was a very special dog that was something special for us. For me a real afghan will always be all black, never will anything measure up against that, nor will they be able to measure up against Jipi.

After this difficult start, Jipis show career started. This she loved. The ring was the only place she walked perfectly on 4 legs! She won pretty much anything she took part in, both domestically and internationally, and was the only Norwegian bred all black International Nordic Champion, and I believe she still is alone in that. At this time, it was not unusual with number of participants in the range between 70 and 90 Afghans at shows, so to win then was a real achievement! Moreover, there was not so much "acquaintance judging", fortunately. This was before Internet-times, and not usual to travel outside Europe. Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway were the normal places. Denmark was the only country she did not show in due to "closed" borders.

Int Nord CH Al-Dahná's Jipijapa (Jipi) wins the Yearling Dog class in Sweden
Photo: Grete Knudsen

Jipi had everything that an afghan should have, intelligence - humour - style - really mischievous, absolutely wonderful. She was always sweet and happy-all-friendly to both the two-and four-legged. She could be "stashed" into the car with everything - never a complaint. She knew that we were going to a show and that was a life she loved! When the show lead was put she did the rest herself. Jipi has also entered the big show ring in Stockholm and to ge in through the portal and be followed by the spotlight around the ring was a feeling that was indescribable! This I will never forget!

Int Nord CH Al-Dahná's Jipijapa (Jipi) wins the group at a show in Harstad, Norway
Photo: Grete Knudsen

Jipi was "single dog" for the first period of her life, she lived inside with us - the other dogs had their own room, and she was thus quite spoilt. So when Bent-Ove was born many people wondered how this would go, but Jipi took "care of" her little brother from day one. She was lying next to his bed from the time he came home and that was where she slept the rest of her life. The two were inseparable. He was on his first exhibition only a few weeks old and the first trip to Sweden 5 weeks old, when Jipi got her Swedish CC and CH. Later, he went with Jipi everywhere, both here in Norway, Finland and Sweden. The two experienced a lot together through the years. When Jipi became ill and we knew that it was not a long time left I asked Bent-Ove to leave, but he would not. He was going to the vet with us. Before this Jipi had to check that everything at home was OK. The dogs and cat were around her, and then she relaxed. That was Jipi. At the vets I asked Bent-Ove once again to leave, but he would not, Jipi had supported and helped him for many years, now she needed him, so there he would be. Then I had to go out!

Int Nord CH Al-Dahná's Jipijapa (Jipi) on a trip with Bent-Ove and Torill
Photo: Grete Knudsen

Jipi had a huge personality which makes sure that she will never be forgotten by those who met her. At that time there were many people that were actually scared of Afghan hounds because of their temper which could be so so. I do not forget a coach trip to Sweden with her. What happened was so typical of her, spontaneous and social as she was. On the seat across the isle there was a Greyhound/Collie owner who was afraid Afghans. Suddenly, before anyone knew anything, a black shadow flew through the air and ended up on her lap as the most obvious thing in the world - I'm not dangerous, she said. After this the two were best friends! She was a top show dog, but also a great social dog that is never forgotten by those who knew her!

Int Nord CH Al-Dahná's Jipijapa (Jipi) photographed at Bogstad, Norway
Photo: Grete Knudsen

We have had many trips with Jipi in Norway, Sweden and Finland where she won many, many group placements. At this time, there was no one who plucked the afghan saddle coat, so when we arrived in Finland the first time with a dog with a "full" coat everywhere, we were met by Finns who said that it had to be plucked, at least a stripe on the back so the judge could know that the saddle coat was correct beneath it all, without this we would not win anything at all. They (the Finns) helped, which impressed me greatly. The result was a Finnish CC and Finnish CH. We were unbelievably happy and proud! This friendliness toward a "competitor" is something I miss from the show environment today.

Int Nord CH Al-Dahná's Jipijapa (Jipi) wins the CC in Finland, after some friendly help from competitors
Photo: Grete Knudsen

Jipi followed in the footsteps of her ancestors, her grandmother Int Nord CH Nordkroken's Gentiana (Tiana) became Hound of the Year in 1974, 5th to Bamse Statuetten (an all breeds year long winner competition) and 4BIS at an International show in Finland (very difficult for outsiders in those days), and her mothers half-brother N CH Al-Dahná's Fadiq who became Hound of the Year in 1978, and BIS winner.

Afghan Hound N CH Al-Dahná's Madiq Marashi and Int Nord CH Al-Dahná's Jipijapa

Madiq BIS1 and Jipi BIS2 at the Openshow 86 under judge Christer Mättic

The picture above is from an open-show held on Nøtterøy by Tønsberg, Norway, and the judge was Christer Mättic from the Swedish kennel Jildirim. Christer has this picture of N CH Al-Dahná's Madiq Marashi (Madiq) and Jipi with him wherever he travels. That is something that make a breeder very proud.

Jipi was never used in breeding. No veterinarian, at the time, could confirm that the problem she was born with was not hereditary, so there was no litter for this wonderful bitch! Today they had probably been able to confirm that it is not hereditary, but since I did not know, I could not take the chance. These are decisions that any responsible breeder must take there and then, and not just hope for the best. The breed deserves that breeders takes such considerations.

Jipis siblings

Siblings to Al-Dahná's Jipijapa - (Jipi)
Al-Dahná's Jarosh			1978-11-19
Al-Dahná's Jazirah			1978-11-19
Al-Dahná's Jilani			1978-11-19
Al-Dahná's Jojakin			1978-11-19
Al-Dahná's Jolanda Angelique			1978-11-19

The pedigree of Int Nord N S Fin CH Al-Dahná's Jipijapa (Jipi)

Pedigree of Al-Dahná's Jipijapa - (Jipi)

Int Nord CH Fargils David Copperfield

Presentation of Int Nord CH Al-Dahná's Jipijapa (Jipi)

Jipis siblings

The pedigree of Int Nord N S Fin CH Al-Dahná's Jipijapa (Jipi)