I stepped off the plane in Helsinki, Finland.  I am the dog courier, bringing a puppy of my breeding to a Krista Riihela (Reimin Kennels) and returning a week later to the US with a puppy from a Black Back kennels for Pamela Levy.  But now I am here, and I don’t know a soul.  I have navigated through Germany and now the Helsinki airport without difficulty; everything is labeled in English.  The puppy has traveled without incident, and slept in the carrier under the seat in front of me.  But the flight is very long, and we are happy to have arrived.

Then I hear happy chatter, and Krista has arrived to pick me up.  She speaks good English, as do many Finnish people.  She is delighted with little Julia (the puppy I have brought).  We drive about an hour to my host’s home, which is near Krista’s.  There I am introduced to Irma Harden and her husband, Jussi.  She has invited me to stay with her, and makes me feel very welcome.  It is late, and soon time for Krista to return to her family, taking my little Julia with her.  Julia tugs at her lead, wanting to come to me.  I pick her up firmly and hand her to Krista.  This is part of the reason I have come, and I will keep my promise to her.  But I will worry that Julia will find life very different in Finland, and I am sad to let her go.

Friday is taken up with shopping and visiting.  I discover that not only has some of my money disappeared with the exchange (the dollar is not strong against the Euro) but that things are very expensive in Finland.  For example, a large bottle of Eucerin hand lotion is 19.50 Euro, or almost $25.  I find some very nice handmade souvenirs, but realize that my purchases will have to be small.  Later I go to visit Krista and her family.    

Both Krista and Irma live in small towns.  It is very wooded, the pines very tall.  They have acreages, so there is much room for the dogs to run, and both keep more dogs than I.  The dogs are like Aussies anywhere, happy and friendly.  They greet me with enthusiasm, long tails wagging.  Julia is happy to see me, but seems to be comfortable with Krista’s dogs.  Over the next several days I am able to see Krista’s, Irma’s (Tehill Kls) and Satu’s (Surely Kls) dogs.  I am pleased to meet my little Katie’s relatives, and find several nice dogs that I would be happy to take home as souvenirs.   

Saturday we are off to the Winner show in Helsinki.  It is a huge show, with 8500 dogs shown over two days.  Several large buildings are used to house the 59 rings.  We enter the building and I see a small cafeteria with the name “Tex Mex”.  Sure enough, the fare is pseudo Mexican, as it would be here.  We find our way to the Aussie ring.  Rings are matted entirely in indoor-outdoor type carpeting.  Benches line the ring and provide a barrier of sorts.  Spectators have a very good view of the dogs, and the size of the rings allows the dogs much room in which to move.  The judging moves swiftly in spite of the written critique.  The 29 Aussies are judged, with veteran dog Bluepepper’s Golden Cap going BOB and Jaskarin Besser Wisser BOS. 

Much of my time in Finland is taken up in lengthy conversations that are a fountainhead of new information.  There are no puppy mills or puppy stores here, and potential buyers look to the Aussie club for breeder information.  A breeder can breed only two litters before applying for a kennel name.  Before the kennel name is granted, they must attend two days of lectures, complete reading assignments and pass a written test.  Before puppies can be listed for sale on the Aussie club's website, parents must be checked for patellas and eyes, and have show results.  The show results may be from Finland (undocked tails) or Estonia, Latvia or Sweden (docked tails).  Most buyers do not spay or neuter their pets.  From the breeding standpoint this is good, as it gives breeders a much larger pool of dogs to select from as breeding stock.  And the intact dogs seem to cause few problems.  I ask whether males are difficult to sell and am told that many people prefer males to avoid bitches' seasons. 

The Finnish Aussie club has been tracking health for about 15 years.  Data from individual dogs has been collected, a voluntary open registry.  At first I am horrified by the data, but realizing that the data I see comes from roughly 3500 dogs puts the results into perspective.  They seem to recognize that given enough litters most dogs will eventually produce some health problem, and having the data allows them to avoid breedings that are likely to repeat problems.  There seems to be little finger pointing, and their attitudes foster working together for the health of the breed.

My last two days are taken up with shopping, shopping and more shopping.  Satu is my tour guide, and she drives me to Helsinki.  Some things are the same (department stores) and some things are different (trolleys running on cables, cobblestone streets).  I find wonderful treasures from local Christmas markets, and sample reindeer meatballs with lingonberry sauce. 

Soon it is time for me to go.  Julia barely notices me when I say my goodbyes, having found a new family in Finland.  I've made wonderful new friends.  Their kindness and hospitality has been beyond compare.  I've seen many worthy dogs, and have a new understanding of the Finnish Aussie club and the breeders in Finland.   I have a new appreciation for the problems we share, and applaud them for the the steps they've taken.    I will miss them, and the Aussies with their wagging tails.  So for my Finnish friends, a little snow for Christmas.