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All-breed Judge Rainer Vuorinen Celebrates His Birthday

The international allrounder judge, Rainer Vuorinen, celebrated his 70th birthday with a reception in early January among colleagues and friends including the English Finnish Spitz enthusiast, Angela Cavill. Representatives of many breed clubs were also on hand to congratulate him.

Representing the Finnish Kennel Club, the Finnish Toy Dog Association President Kirsti Lummelampi presented him with a numbered sculpture of a Karelian Bear Hound, one of the native Finnish breeds.

Rainer Vuorinen is a past member of the Finnish Kennel Club's Board of Directors and the Kennel Club's honorary member. He has also served on the board of the Finnish Toy Dog Association's predecessor and has a long connection with the club.

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A Finnish-Bred Lhasa Apso Tops
the Toy Dog Association Championship Show

A Finnish-bred Lhasa Apso, Finnish Ch. & Finnish Junior Winner -06 Chic Choix Touch Of Class won Best in Show at the Finnish Toy Dog Association's annual Championship Show at the historic Kaivopuisto Park in the diplomatic quarter of the Finnish capital Helsinki. The Best in Show judge was Frank T. Sabella of the United States, while the breed judge was Hans Lehtinen from Finland.

This year's show attracted an all-time record entry of nearly 1400 dogs representing the toy and nonsporting breeds represented in the FCI Group 9 as well as a few traditional toy breeds in other FCI groups.

The exhibitors and the larger-than-ever public enjoyed sunshine and blue skies most of the day, only to be interrupted by thunderstorms and rain later in the day. The show turned out to be a media event with newspaper, radio and television reports on the show, including a report and interviews on the Finnish Broadcasting Company's national television news.

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David Dalton the Official Photographer at the 2007 Championship Show

The English dog photographer, David Dalton, will be the official photographer at the Finnish Toy Dog Association's Championship Show in the Kaivopuisto Park in Helsinki on August 26, 2007. All publicity materials for the show  will feature Dalton's photograph of a King Charles Spaniel.

Dalton will photograph all group-placed as well as Best of Breed dogs. He will also be available for private assignments at the show or during his visit to Helsinki. For more information, contact him by e-mail: dogphotos (at) daviddalton.org . His photographs can be viewed at www.daviddalton.org.

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The Finnish K.C. Council Meeting on May 17, 2007

The Finnish Kennel Club's Council, its highest decision-making body, held its annual meeting at the Finnish-Swedish cultural center in Espoo. During its 10-hour meeting, the Council discussed new show regulations, changes to the antidoping rules and the Kennel Club's proposed regulations.

The Council elected Mr. J.A.U. Yrjola, a former Chairman of the K.C. Board, as the honorary chairman of the Kennel Club. It also elected Mrs. Anja Toivanen (a Pekingese breeder and a benefactor who has raised funds for drug-dectection dogs for the Finnish Customs) and Mrs. Gunnel Holm (a Bernese Mountain dog breeder and a judge) as honorary members.

The previous year's annual report and financial accounts were approved. The K.C. finances showed a deficit of nearly 1.4 million euros, of which over one million euros were due to the ongoing IT technology project. The Council also voted to approve an increase of individual membership fees from 28 euros to 30 euros a year.

The proposed changes to the show regulations were rejected. There was also a lengthy discussion on the proposed new rules for the Kennel Club which include, if approved by the membership in November, several major changes including changing the role and the title of the K.C.'s office director from Managing Director to Executive Director. (May 2007)

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Registration's of the Finnish Toy Dog Association Breeds Show an Increase in 2006

The registrations of the Finnish Toy Dog Association's breeds continued their growth in 2006, increasing by 5.5 percent over the previous year. With 3561 dogs and and 7.8 percent of total Finnish Kennel Club's registrations, the Association strengthened its position as the largest breed club in Finland.

Several breeds in popular demand continued to increase their registrations from the previous year. For example, the Chihuahua registrations in 2006 were 824 dogs (435 smooth coats and 389 long-coats), while the Coton de tuléars continued their strong growth, totalling 470 registered dogs last year. They were followed by the Havanese (421 dogs) and the Chinese Crested (415 dogs, of which 222 were hairless and 193 powder puffs.)

Among smaller breeds, the Boston Terrier registrations went up from 73 in 2005 to 97 last year, and the Lowchens from 58 to 85.  The club's smallest breeds were the English Toy Terriers (15), the King Charles Spaniels (21) and the black or black and tan rough Griffons, the Griffon belge (20).

In fashionable breeds such as the Chihuahuas and the French Bulldogs, the annual registrations are not a true indication of the breeds' popularity as demand exceeds supply, and there has been a steady flow of unregistered puppies as well as cheap imports from the Baltic countries and Russia to the Finnish market.

The Finnish Kennel Club registered 45891 dogs last year compared with 44162 in 2006. The most popular breed was the Finnish Hound, followed by German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers and the Norwegian Elkhounds. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels were the most popular toy breed in 9th place.

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No to New Show Regulations

The Finnish Toy Dog Association has told the Finnish Kennel Club's Show and Judges' Committee that it will not support proposed changes to the Finnish show regulations. Instead, it has urged the Kennel Club board to start consultations with the other Nordic Kennel Clubs for the approval of common Nordic show regulations.

The K.C.'s Show and Judges Committee had proposed changes that would take the Finnish show regulations closer to the present FCI regulations with changes in the age limits for the puppy classes and the criteria for the breeders' classes. Another proposed change would remove the limits on the number of times a judge can judge a breed at an international show during a calendar year (presently limited to once), and the lifting of a requirement to reimburse entry fees in case of a change of judge, both of which are not acceptable to the rank-and-file exhibitors.  

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The Finnish K.C. Council Meeting Elects
the Toy Dog Association President to the Board

The President of the Finnish Toy Dog Association, Kirsti Lummelampi, was elected to a three-year term on the Finnish Kennel Club's Board of Directors  when the Finnish K.C.'s highest decision-making body, the Council, met in late November.

The Council re-elected Martti Mannersuo, the President of the Finnish Hound Club, as Chairman of the Board. The other board members elected at the meeting were Jaakko Ilvonen (Norwegian Elkhounds), who was re-elected, and Hannele Porsti (Obedience and Trial judge), who is a new board member. Six candidates, including the former Vice Chairman of the K.C., Marja Talvitie, competed for the three available seats on the board.

The Council spent a considerable time discussing the state of the Kennel Club's finances after it had become apparent that the Club had to write off more than one million euros in expenditures on its ongoing IT project.  It also approved next year's budget which shows a deficit of nearly 600000 euros in spite of small increases in registration fees and anticipated increases in  dog registrations and membership.

Another controversial topic at the meeting was the implementation of the new anti-doping regulations that take effect on Jan. 1, 2007 which have caused concern and confusion among dog fancy as well as veterinarians. (November 2006) Photo: Eine Tahko

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David Dalton Official Photographer at the Championship Show in Helsinki

The internationally renowned English dog photographer, David Dalton, was the official photographer at the Finnish Toy Dog Association's Championship Show in the Kaivopuisto Park in Helsinki on August 27, 2006. All publicity materials for the show  featured Dalton's Lhasa Apso photograph (left).

More than 1000 dogs were entered in this, the largest nonsporting and toydog event in the Nordic region. The Best in Show winner under Italian allrounder Paolo Dondina was a young Finnish-bred and owned Tibetan Spaniel male, EUW-06 Nanaza Poet.

David Dalton's photographs on the show  can be viewed at his website at www.daviddalton.org.
 

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The Kennel Club Disciplinary Committee Frees Two Breeders
Convicted of Dog Smuggling

The Finnish Kennel Club's disciplinary committee has decided not to take any disciplinary action against two dog breeders residing in Finland who were convicted by a district court of smuggling dog puppies into Finland and related offenses in 2004. The breeders, who both hold prefixes, received suspended prison sentences, one for six months 15 days and the other for four months 15 days.

The disciplinary committee concluded that the breeders, who were both Kennel Club members at the time of the court ruling, were engaged in business activity and, therefore, the Kennel Club had no disciplinary authority over the breeders as the Kennel Club rules only apply to members engaged in dogs as a hobby.

According to the court ruling, the breeders smuggled dogs, mainly from Russia and Estonia, into Finland in 1999-2001. The first breeder was found to have smuggled in 113 dogs and the other 42 dogs in addition to 26 dogs smuggled in jointly. Neither had obtained the necessary licenses for a large-scale commerce in dogs. (December 2005)

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The Club's Fall General Meeting

The Finnish Toy Dog Association's fall General Meeting was held in Helsinki in late November. All decisions, including the election of the officers and the board, were unanimous, and no vote was required.

The members re-elected Ms. Kirsti Lummelampi as Chairman and Ms. Tuulikki Helin as the Secretary of the Club. Ms. Marjo Heikka (Bichon havanais) and Ms. Marja Kurittu (King Charles Spaniels) were re-elected for a three-year term as board members while Ms. Marjo Suosalo (Boston Terriers) becomes a new board member.

The meeting approved next year's budget and an action plan which includes the annual Championship Show at the Kaivopuisto Park on August 27, 2006 as well as a program to promote DNA parentage verification among the breeders. The club is also placing special emphasis on consumer awareness to combat the increasing supply of unregistered and imported puppies.  The budget shows revenues and expenditures of over 53000 euros each.  The main sources of revenue are, besides membership fees, advertising revenues and dividends from the club's stock portfolio. (November 2005)

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Bichon Frise Takes Top Honors at the Championship Show

A Finnish-bred and owned Bichon Frise dog, Jitterbop Million Bucks,  took the top honors under British judge Ellis Hulme at the Finnish Toy Dog Association's 2005 Championship Show.

 The show was again the biggest toydog event in the Nordic region with a record entry of 950 dogs. A Lowchen, Chic Choix Une Femme Harem, was Best Puppy in Show, while the Lhasa Apso, Chic Choix Marlon Brando, was selected as the Best Veteran in Show. Nevicata's Boston Terriers emerged as the best breeders' group out of 45 groups entered at the show.

The BIS win was a repeat performance for the Bichon's breeder and owner, Jaana Kauppinen, who took BIS with another home-bred dog, Million Bucks' grandsire, Jitterbop After Me Please, three years ago.

Conditions at this year's show were very different from three years ago when, for the first time in 15 years, the day was marred with continues rain and thunderstorms. The toy dog exhibitors were lucky, though, as they were spared a mini-tornado which hit an international ladies golf tournament a few miles away and caused light injuries to several people when it hit a hospitality tent.

The 2006 Championship Show will be held in the Kaivopuisto Park on Sunday, August 27. An international Championship Show in Hameenlinna about an hour's drive from Helsinki will schedule the FCI Group 9 breeds the day before, giving exhibitors a chance to compete at two shows the same weekend.

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Dog Smuggling from Russia under Investigation

Finland's Eastern Customs District is investigating a large-scale smuggling of dogs from Russia into Finland. According to the customs, its investigation has revealed that a "large number of dogs" were imported into Finland from Russia without obtaining customs clearance in 2003 and 2004.

A foreign man and his son, living in the Southeastern city of Lappeenranta, have been questioned, suspected of smuggling and tax fraud.

The customs said the dogs, mostly Chihuahuas and Pugs, were sold to buyers in various parts of Finland at prices ranging from 700 to 900 euros. The buyers were asked to pay 50 to 70 euros for documentation which, the dealers claimed, would make them eligible for registration by the Finnish Kennel Club. No such documentation has been forthcoming, however.

According to the Finnish customs, commercial import of dogs into Finland is allowed through the Vaalimaa border-crossing point in Southeastern Finland where a customs clearance has to be obtained and a veterinary border inspection carried out. The dogs have to have an official veterinary certificate on a veterinary examination, which has been carried out in Russia less than 24 hours before the dogs are imported into Finland, certifying that the dogs were clinically healthy, properly identified and had valid rabies vaccinations and had had echinococcus treatment. Unvaccinated puppies may not be imported into Finland.

This is the second large-scale case of dog smuggling into Finland. In September 2004, a court in the Southern Finnish city of Tampere found two women guilty of smuggling 181 dogs into Finland, mostly from Russia and the Baltic countries, in 1999-2001. Both received suspended prison sentences. (March 2005)

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A Finnish-bred Japanese Chin Takes BOB at Crufts

A Finnish-bred and owned Japanese Chin, Okotan Kirei-Na, went Best of Breed at the world's largest dog show, Crufts, in England in March.  The two-year-old black and white female is bred, owned and handled by Mrs. Aulikki Maaninka. She is by Mon Aminetten Cupido Minimus out of Okotan Ureshi Naomi, both bred in Finland.

At Crufts, Kirei-Na prevailed over an entry of 118 chins. The judge was Mrs. J. Jolley from England. She has already attained her Finnish title and has since added the Norwegian title to her achievements. She was the Nordic Junior Winner in 2003.

Other notable Finnish achievements at Crufts included the BOB and BOS for home-bred dogs in Border Terriers in an entry of 237 dogs, as well as the bitch C.C. and both reserve C.C.s in Skye Terriers. (March 2005)

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Championship Show on August 29, 2004

The Finnish Toy Dog Association's annual Championship Show in August  attracted an entry of 800 dogs, making it the largest toydog event in the Nordic region. The show was held in the historic Kaivopuisto Park in the diplomatic quarter of Finland's capital, Helsinki.

Besides toydogs, the show included all breeds in the FCI Group 9 (Companion and Toy Dogs). The largest entry was in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (79 dogs), followed by Chihuahuas (67), French Bulldogs (65) and the Havanese (57).

Best in Show under Mrs. Renée Sporre-Willes of Sweden was a Finnish-bred Tibetan Terrier, Ch. Sadi-Ya's Magic Perhaps, who was also the Best Veteran in Show under Mme Chantal Méry of France. The judging panel included toy and nonsporting specialists from Australia, Britain, France, Sweden, Switzerland and Finland.

The club offered reduced entry fees for all dogs with DNA profiles or DNA-certified parentage. It is also offered DNA testing for dogs at the show site in order to encourage breeders to obtain DNA profiles for their breeding stock.

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Urgent Action Requested on the Schipperke Standard

The Finnish Toy Dog Association has written to the President of the FCI Breed Standards Commission to express its concern over the latest FCI Schipperke standard and to urge the Commission to review and revise the standard's description of the undocked Schipperke tail urgently.

As the national breed club for the Schipperke, the Association pointed out that none of the Schipperke stock in Scandinavia confirm to the new standard which calls for the tail to be carried "preferably hanging down" in repose and not rise above the topline when the dog moves. According to the standard, a curled tail is tolerated but not desired.

The letter noted that Finland has had a tail docking ban for several years. Its Schipperke stock is based on imports from Sweden, England, South Africa, Australia and France. Their offspring all have a spitz-type tail curled neatly over the back rather than the tails of a miniature Belgian Shepherd as described in the FCI standard. If breeders were to comply with the new standard, the present Schipperke stock would be excluded from breeding, and, therefore, the club finds the present wording of the standard incomprehensible.

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Annual General Meeting 2004

The Finnish Toy Dog Association's annual general meeting was a routine affair. All decisions were taken unanimously. The AGM approved the annual report and the accounts for 2003. In view of last year's surplus of nearly 13,000.00 euros, the meeting decided to keep the membership fees unchanged in 2005.

The meeting elected the club's chair, Kirsti Lummelampi, as the club's delegate for the next three-year term on the Finnish Kennel Club's Council, its highest decision-making body. The membership also decided to invite Mrs. Gunnel Holm, Mrs. Ritva Raita, Mrs. Elina Tan- Hietalahti and Mr. Rainer Vuorinen as honorary members.

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