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FINLAND
HISTORY | CLUB | BREEDER | EVENTS

1960s and 1970s

The breed was brought to Finland in 1963 by Mrs Laila Birgers, who imported a dog, Gay Donald of Kitewood and a bitch, Heatherdell Lucky Charm, from Britain. These were the first Dandies seen in show rings in Finland, and both of them became Finnish and Swedish champions, Gay Donald additionally Nordic champion. With these dogs, under the affix of Biri, Mrs Birgers also started the breeding of Dandies in Finland.

Later Mrs Birgers also imported more Dandies. She brought a bitch called Ivanhoe Dorrit from Sweden, from Mary and Ewa Walldie in 1965. In 1968 she imported again both a dog and a bitch from Britain. Both of them, Dryfewater Muichkin and Ragged Tweed of Kitewood, were successfully shown.

Up to 1975 Mrs Birgers bred some litters, and exported some of the puppies to Sweden. In addition, Mr Heikki Rahikainen also bred a couple of litters, under the affix Ritakummun. The number of Dandies did not, however, increase greatly.

It was in 1975 that Mrs Marja Tenho imported a mustard bitch from Mrs Ewa Walldie-Hedlund in Sweden. This bitch, called Ivanhoe Ie, was frequently shown and received the title of Finnish Winner altogether five times, last time at the age of seven in 1981. She still was shown at the age of ten in 1985.

In 1976, the Tenhos imported a pepper dog called Senacre Beachcomber from Britain. With these two, Mrs Tenho bred two litters in the late1970s under the affix Old House.

It is unfortunate that traces of these first Finnish Dandies cannot be found in the current Dandie population. Only one dog, a male called Quidde of Biri, exported to Sweden to Mrs Ewa Walldie-Hedlund, can be seen in the pedigrees of the current Finnish Dandies, several generations back.

1980s

In 1982 Mr Jarmo and Mrs Kyllikki Aho imported a Swedish mustard male called Big-Gobbler. "Helge" was the son of a Swedish show star of the time, Ivanhoe Ice Air, and from the paternal side goes back to the Finnish of Biri -Dandies. Helge was frequently shown, and often also placed in the Terrier Group finals. For two years Helge was also place among the Top Terriers of the Finnish Terrier Association, being 10th in 1983 and 7th in 1984.

In 1985 the Ahos brought company for Helge, again from Sweden, from Mr Jonas Wiborg. The pepper bitch Mary-Eardley also had a successful show career. In 1987 the first Dandie puppies were born for her and under the affix Weggelvius. This can be considered the beginning of current Dandie breeding in Finland.

Mrs Marja and Ms Nunnu Talvitie imported in 1986 another bitch from Sweden, mustard coloured Tomells Such A Mayflower from Ms Ulla Wolter. "Möttönen" is behind a great number of Finnish Dandies of the present.

Still at the end of 1987, with the first litter of Mayflower, the Talvities started Dandie breeding under their affix Winterway's. In 1989, Terhi Helske, affix Noella's, joined the ranks of Dandie breeders. With several imports as well, the number of Dandies increased remarkably at the end of the 1980s. While 1987, eight Dandies were registered -- this being more than the number in past seven years altogether -- two years later the number of registrations had risen to 22.

1990s

In the 1990s, the number of both breeders and litters grew rather rapidly: in 1990, four litters were born, and three out of these from new breeders. After that, new breeders have entered the scene almost every year. The number of litters has not risen at the same rate, however, but remained at about eight for the past five years. In the 1990s, an average of 35 Dandies were registered annually. There have been altogether 23 breeders, eight of whom have bred four litters or more: kennels Dunadan, Galbaras, Marfidal, Noella's, Tuuling, Weggelvius, Winterway's and Zimyrs.

Visits in shows have naturally increased with the growing Dandie population in the 1990s. Finnish Dandies visited shows on an average 158 times a year, while in the previous decade the average was 23 a year.

Of all Finnish Dandie Dinmont terriers so far, 103 have become Champions, and 24 of them are International Champions.

© Finish Dandie Dinmont Terrier Club, Eija Makkonen,
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