Where were the pics shot? Who took them? Name of the dog? Didi you feel difficult to be a model for the pics?
The pictures were taken at Kaunas Botanical Garden in Lithuania by very talented photographer Sandra Štabokaitė– Nikodema Photography. The girl I am holding is bred by us – Kentauro Alfa Roll Of A Dice, she is sired by Multi Ch. Gatsby Le Magnifique De La Pam’Pommeraie and out of Multi Ch. Kentauro Alfa Laffy Taffy.
From my nature I am very artistic so to pose for some pictures is not a mission impossible, but still quite hard as I was not sure about the final result – and, in my opinion, they came just as we expected! When Pekka asked me to participate in this project I asked Sandra to take pictures of me and a puppy because we are long time friends and it is very easy to work with someone you know and can trust!
Why dogs?
I was born in a “dog family” so since I was born I was surrounded by many dogs. They are the most devoted animals I know and they have no boundaries to love. The best memories I have from my childhood includes the dogs! I don’t mind the breed – I love them all! I find it hard to pass a dog in a street without going to talk and pet it! I am so happy and thankful for my parents who introduced me to this life of pedigree dogs and I hope one day to introduce it to my own children.
I work as Sales Manager for four years now and sometimes I have to manage very stressful and difficult situations and environment but once I am at home all stress is vanishing as I am greeted by many wagging and happy tails. You can’t be stressed or angry around them as they require a lot of love and attention, some of my co-workers says they are my therapy and in a way I think they are right!
You have been breeding with your mom. What have you learnt from her? Do you ever disagree and how do you solve that?
She basically taught me everything I needed to know and was advising and she is still doing it! To breed with your family member is not easy as sometimes you have to accept really harsh (but right!) critique and yes sometimes we do not agree which male to use or which puppy to keep for ourselves or even to which show should we go and which dog should be entered! Now when I write this it is really funny but it is actually happening! We try to keep our minds opened and we are always trying to find a solution to every problem or disagreement we have. We share same ideas about the breeding so the rest are just details. I always “give” a chance to young males who maybe still do not have any progeny yet, usually with “checked” female.
When breeding dogs you are continuously learning and with each combination and litter, with each show you learn something new and it is a great experience. And I am not talking about great litters and shows you are winning at – you always learn from your mistakes and failures more. It is so important to take what is necessary from that and to move on and the next time try to correct what was wrong.
How is Yorkie to breed? When you look at a pedigree of a stud, where do you pay attention to.
Breeding every breed is not easy but what comes to Yorkies – together with type, balance, character and head you have to add also coat structure and color and this is what makes it more difficult. You have to add one extra thing – which is essential and unique for this breed. If you will not pay attention to coat color and structure you will loose it, so black and woolly Yorkies are really not breeding material.
Through the years of taking care of their nutrition and exercise I had noticed that they give birth naturally easier and puppies are stronger and more vital. Yorkie moms are good moms and they take excellent care of their puppies. We keep moms with puppies as long as moms can tolerate them.
When I look at a pedigree I want to see excellent specimens of this breed through all generations. It is not always easy or possible but I like to see all the photos of the dogs which are behind so I can have a clear idea.
Champion titles are really great but I am more interested who are mom and dad of that superstar! Mother is everything in breeding so I prefer to use males which have strong and excellent producing moms behind.
If you fail, how do you analyze it?
First of all you have to accept it even if it is not always easy. Then I think “ok what can I learn from this?” You take the necessary lesson because you can’t get stucked with it, and you have to move on with your breeding. Where the Mother Nature is involved there might be many surprises and disappointments but this is something what shapes us also as humans. I try to be positive and think if you got any good experiense from this failure you actually won! The more you breed the more failures and surprises you will get but when you know exactly where you are going no one can stop you. The goal is to breed better and better generation with every litter you make and you have to understand that there will be ups and downs and the most important thing is not to loose they way.
Why is important to show your breeding results?
First of all it is important to see where the breed is going and if you are still going to the right direction. It is also a chance to show to the world the work you are doing with the breed and to see the work of others. Of course now with all Facebook and Internet you can see pictures and videos of the dogs in Australia or United States and can compare them with yours without travelling long distances to the shows but that doesn’t make it any less special. I always try to look at it as a little celebration of our passion and devotion and always try to keep calm and just enjoy with my dog in the ring.
Your happiest moments with your dogs?
All those moments – all of them (!!!) in our daily life from the morning when I wake up and let them out to when I come back after long day in the office… Our evenings and weekends together, trips to the dog shows and back… I just love watching them playing outside and being happy. Everyone has different character so it is nice to see how they act all together in the garden.
I am happy to see mothers delivering beautiful and healthy litters and later puppies making first steps. Each and every litter is so special, it is something you look forward and you look so much forward to how they will develop. To be happy in life you don’t need many fancy things and actually happiness happens when you live your life doing meaningful things and I am so blessed to be a part of this “life of purebred dogs” and to do something I love to do!
Not many people has this privilege and I want to say thank you to mom and dad who are always encouraging me to go after what I want and to all people I had already met on my way – some for lessons and some for being there for me when I need you the most! And most of all – thank you to my dogs for keeping me “on track” and loving me no matter what!
