The Finnish Toy Dog Association (SKKY) is a national breed club for 25 breeds in the utility/nonsporting and toy groups. In registrations, it is the largest breed club affiliated with the Finnish Kennel Club with nearly eight percent of the Kennel Club's total annual registrations.
Its history goes back to 1921 when a canine club, Finska Kennelklubbens Unionsektion, was founded in Helsinki to promote pure-bred dogs. With the growth of the sport, the club has undergone several transformations with many breeds forming their own breed clubs. The Finnish Toy Dog Association has functioned in its present form since 1986 when the Club was divided into two, a Utility and Working Dog Association and a Toydog Association.
Under its affiliation with the Finnish Kennel Club, the club has a seat on the Kennel Club's Council, its highest decision-making body.The club has a total membership of nearly 5000 members, consisting of 13 member associations (The Boston Terrier Club, , the Chinese Crested Club, the Coton de Tuléar Club, the French Bulldog Club, the Griffon Club, the Havanese Club, the King Charles Spaniel Club, the Lhasa Apso Club, the Lowchen Club, the Maltese Club, the Pomeranian and Klein Spitz Club, the Russian Toy Club, the Schipperke Club and the Yorkshire Terrier Club) and individual members. In addition to officially registered breed associations, the club has organized unofficial clubs for two breeds it represents (English Toy Terrier and Japanese Chin)
The club covers a variety of activities from educational seminars to judges' education and examinations. The annual highlight is the Championship Show for all breeds in the FCI Group 9 (Companion and Toy dogs) as well as a number of traditional toy breeds in other FCI groups which the club represents, ie. the Schipperke, the Pomeranian and the German Spitz (klein), the Yorkshire Terrier and the English Toy Terrier.
The show is held in a historic park in downtown Helsinki at the end of August with an international panel of judges from Europe, the U.S., Canada and Australia. This year's show will be held on on August 26. All dogs registered with FCI-affiliated clubs or kennel clubs recognized by the FCI are eligible to participate.
The President of the Club is Ms. Kirsti (Chris) Lummelampi.
For more information please write: Ms. Lummelampi, Bergmansg. 33 A 8, FIN-00140 Helsinki, Finland, e-mail: president.toydogassn (at) toydogs.net
If you want to join as a member, please contact: Ms. Paivi Rantanen, e-mail: membership.toydogassn (at) toydogs.net
