FinnishSpitzUpClose A special site where we can share our knowledge and love of Finnish Spitz. |
Interview With a Breeder #3 Til Niquidet Pikkinokka Kennels (Reg'd.) Finnish Spitz and Duck Tollers "Home of Canada's 1st,2nd,3rd,4th,and 5th Best in Show-winning Finnish Spitz "Proud breeder of "Prints" America's top-winning Finnish Spitz of all time--2 Best in Shows, 2 national BISS, and 114 Group Placements |
1. When and where did you see your first FS? What attracted you to the breed? The first Finnish Spitz I met were Jayenn's Cullabine Kerri and Jayenn's Cullabine Kotka. I was a shy pre-teenager who had been corresponding by mail with Joan Grant, with the hopes of eventually buying a Pom puppy. I went to several dog shows and quietly visited with Joan's dogs before I ever worked up the courage to introduce myself. I remember so clearly having Kerri kiss and lick my fingers through the bars of the cage at the shows. I thought she would suck my birthstone ring right off of my finger. Joan finally asked her daughters to keep their eyes out for me and they "caught" me visiting with the dogs and made me introduce myself. (Seems funny after knowing me that I was ever that shy!) I was so taken with the Finnish Spitz, first because of their gentleness and acceptance of me and also because I loved the idea of owning a rare breed. |
2.What are the most important breed characteristics to keep in mind for anyone wanting to become a good FS judge? Many breeders and judges will tell you it is that overall alertness, that feeling of almost electrical energy that a Finnish Spitz can show you in the ring. However, I also warn judges that Finnish Spitz are also stubborn and independent and don't always show alertness when we want them to. In a forest, the Finnish Spitz is on the look-out for game but should only show that "electric" look when they have found it. Before that point, ears are mobile and the dog has its eyes and ears focussed on everything around it, not necessarily the bait. To me, because of the problems I have seen in the breed I place a great deal of emphasis on clean, efficient movement with no wasted effort. All Finnish Spitz will give you "electic moments" -- even housepets -- however few will show you that they can float around the ring. |
3.Do you feel the current AKC. CKC, breed standard is adequate? If not what changes would you like to see? My main concern is that the CKC standard has weights that are too heavy. 4.How would you compare FS in the USA and Canada to the FS in Finland? I think that they are more alike than we have been led to believe over the years--there are good ones and bad ones on both sides of the ocean. I don't believe that the dogs here are too heavy or too big as we have been led to believe. I do know that we have some awfully good fronts, I haven't seen a lot of good fronts coming out of Finland. They may be there but they are not being exported. |
5.Please mention at least one FS not owned or bred by you which you particulary admired. And one bred or owned by you. I was blown away by the Finnish Spitz which is used as a good example of the breed in the Finnish breed club's standard video. I believe this is the same dog who is shown on the cover page of the Finnish Illustrated standard book. When the video was first shown it was to a group of Canadian breeders, with many years experience in the breed. The dog was brought onto the screen and a gasp went through the room and I noticed we were all looking at each other in amazment. This dog had substance, he was not fine boned, he had beautiful feet, straight legs, a short body, a beautiful head and a good tail. He looked like he could move. My thought was he looked every bit as good as the in Canada or the US and that not only was he outstanding but he made our good ones look like they could win in Finland. This was a wonderful revelation to me! |
A dog of my own that I particularly admired is my AM/Can Ch. Jayenn's Tophunter. Bred by Joa Grant, "Hunter" taught us a lot about how long it can take a dog with potential to mature into what we saw in him as a puppy. Slow to start winning he flew into the winner's circle at the age of 4 and was #1 in Canada for the next 4 years, winning many group placings and breed specialties aloong the way. At the age of 7, "Hunter" was rated "Excellent" in Helsinki. My feeling is that he is higher-stationed with a shorter back than a lot of our dogs and this made his movement a little more awkward until he "found his centre" as an older dog. The higher station is a valuable characteristic though because it brought elegance to many of the bitches he was bred to. Many of them could move efficiently but were longer and lower than what we want to see in our breed. Line-breeding on him has proved to be successful over and over again. Sometimes I see dogs descended from him, especially males, who look a bit "off-centre" when they are moving but because of my experience of watching him grow up I am not as quick to judge a young male as unworthy. I often go back to the advice I received from my mentor, Joan Grant, that what we see as a puppy we will see again in the adult. |
AM/Can Ch. Jayenn's Tophunter age 11 Veteran's class FSCA National |
Hunter age 7 at the World Show in Helsinki |
