Tiina Illukka

I am working and showing my dogs. All my dogs have achieved at least the FCI working certificate. I go shooting in autumn with the dogs. Many Curlies that I have bred or own have also prize awards at cold game working tests and at WT - dummy tests. I think it is very important to keep the breed fit for dual purpose.

Caballus Iron Lion, beauty and brains.

We live on a small farm in Harvaluoto island, by the sea. The dogs have great opportunity for excercise and swimming.

All my dogs, and most of the dogs I've bred, are hip X-rayed and eye checked and gene tested for EIC, GSD and Cord1 PRA.

I have imported Curlies from England (Darelyn Tamara, Gladrags Commander), Australia (Blazeaway Out Foraduck and Blazeaway Winna Takesall), New Zealand (Fernland All Black) and USA (Summerwind's Nordic Delight and Podunk's Card Trick). I have imported frozen semen from all possible blood lines of Curlies in the world.

I have exported Curlies to Sweden, Norway, Denmark, England, Holland, Belgium, Germany, Italy, France, Switzerland, Russia, Ucraine, Poland, United States and Australia.

I was the chairman of the organizing committee for the first Curly World Seminar 8-10.6.1998 in Finland, and the judge for the 3rd Curly World Seminar and British Curly Coated Retriever Club Championship show in 2010.

I have been FCI-licenced judge since -93.
Today I am qualified to judge all breeds in FCI Group 7, Group 8 (all Gundogs) and Group 6. From Group 3 I have several terrier breeds. I have been judging in all Scandinavian countries, Netherlands, Great Britain (CCRC A-list), Ireland, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Russia, Czech, Australia and United States (ACCRC National Speciality in Memphis 2006) .

My husband Tuomas and I are veterinarians, now partially retired small animal practitioners at Pet-Vet Small Animal Clinic in Turku.

I manage a canine semen bank under VetMasters and have specialized in dog reproduction and artificial insemination. From my 25 litters of Curlies born since 2000 15 have been produced from frozen semen.

There is frozen semen available of most of my dogs.

My other interests are outdoor life, cross country skiing and hiking in Lapland.
I love travelling, especially Australia.

And my joy of life is my little grandson Aimo born in September 2016.