I´ve been grazy about dogs all my life. As a little girl despite of persistent whining I didn´t get a dog of my own. With congenial friend of mine, we took all the possible dogs of neighbourhood for a walk.

"Jimmy" of Taipe David 1981-1994

In 1981 my family got our first dog - a rough collie of Taipe David- our beloved "Jimmy". With him I started my actual hobby. We went obedience training and even to couple of dog shows (with weak success). But in all cases I was very happy being dog owner at last, even though I hadn´t chosen the breed...

I noted the Welsh springer spaniel for the first time in 1983, when I got acquainted with very good friend of mine and her two Welsh Springers. In the very beginning I was charmed by their glad and friendly temperament - their red and white beauty I learned to appreciate a little later. It didn´t take long before I knew I HAD to have a Welsh! As you can guess, it was more difficult to convince my parents - it had been hard work to get Jimmy to our family! So I had to go to dog shows and all possible dog events dreaming o a Welsh of my own.

Me (dreaming already of the Welsh of my own) with the dam of my first Welsh, Int&Fin&N Ch Springhtly Ruby Red aka "Donna" at summerdays of Springer Spaniel Club in Padasjoki in 1984...

My dream came true in october 1986 when I got my very first Welsh Springer "Popa" FIN CH Rocbee Kernel Goldheart (sire:INT&FIN&NORW CH,NORDW-85-86,W-87-88 Delkens Turul - dam:INT&FIN&NORW CH Sprightly Ruby Red). I would have liked to have a bitchpuppy, but because of Jimmy, male puppy felt a wiser choice. And so it was: these two gentlemen lived as the best of friends for the rest of their lives magnificently completing each other even though they were complete opposities.

Because my dog show career had been short and spiky with Jimmy, I anxiously waited for Popa to grow up so I could show him up. He was 10 months old when I took him to his first show ( Joensuu Int Ch Show, judged by Mrs Ritva Raita), in which he got his first CC and was the 5th best of breed class (those days males and bitches were still together in BOB-class). It shouldn´t be hard to quess that my enthusiasm spurted! And it was joy showing Popa up (even thought he didn´t like it much; I think he though dog shows were abore). He had 10 CC´s before he a two-year-old - passing working test at first try - became a champion. We even took a shot at the tracking tests after diligent trainining in the neighbourhood forest - with a "honorable 0" as a result. My being so busy was the reason for this remaining just one try, not Popa´s enthusiasm.

Unforgettable friends, Jimmy and Popa

Traveling with Popa increased my interest with the breed and I started dreaming of a female Welsh Springer...