Bouvier des Flandres in Finland since 1970's
There are stories about single bouviers in Finland already during the 40's and 50's but the very first officially registered to the Finnish Kennel Club's Dog Register was an import from Norway, Snertins Tosca, in 1974. This female was never used to breeding but she introduced the breed to Finnish dog shows during 1974-1976.
In the end of 1975 two Finnish ladies - and well-known show judges - Mrs Gunnel Holm and Mrs Anita Lindroos imported two bouviers from Belgium: Zebu du Posty Arlequin and Zazi de la Thudinie. They were both excellent show bouviers and Zebu du Posty Arlequin was also the sire of the very first bouvierlitter born in Finland 1981.
During 1977 and 1978 we got one import from Norway and the very first ones from Sweden. One of those Swedish imports Ruthsborgs Jenny Doll was the first bouvier to succesfully take part in Obedience trials in Finland.
Mrs Katariina Taattola, kennel Kwispel imported her first bouviers from Sweden 1979: two females from kennel Manskarans. During the same year we got a malepuppy from Sweden, too: Hjertbratens Omir and during the next year five more. Now the breeding of bouviers started.
During 1981-1983 there were altogether seven litters born: Kwispel A-G -litters.
In 1984 came two new imports from Sweden, males Nybrukets Arcco and Ake and the very first import from the Netherlands, our Anka, Queen Anka v.d. Axmagal. During the same year there were two more litters born in Finland, Kwispel H-litter and the very first of kennel Stilles.
In 1985 came four imports, three from kennel Axmagal (Alex Gal, NL) and one from Sweden, kennel Dexona's. Those three Axmagal-bouviers have had a huge impact on our bouviers here in Finland. Zeb Hilde v.d. Axmagal was one of the most succesful show dogs in Finland, regardless of the breed, and even nominated as Show Dog of The Year 1986 and is a sire of numerous litters born in Finland. Littermates Dynamite and Duchess Ywina v.d. Axmagal, are both succesfully shown and used to breeding as well. Our Great-Great-GrandMa Tanja (Duchess Ywina v.d. Axmagal) passed away during late spring of 1998 at almost 13 years of age. Tanja is also dame both to the first Obedience Champion and to the first Working Champion bouviers in Finland. Actually, all the trial champion bouviers born in Finland are children of our Tanja!
Now the breeding of Bouviers expanded: kennels Cliffans, Bovenop, Morrimoykyn, Naavaparran and Karhukakaran started. And in a few years, were followed by some 10 more kennels breeding bouviers in Finland.
In 1988 we were lucky: a fox with rabies visited us from Russia... and the borders were open to the rest of Europe. Earlier an import was put to quaranteen cage for four months - it was hard for puppies and dull for adults, not to mention the owners eagerly waiting their new dog to come home! And of course - it was waste of money. Anyway after the year 1988 we have regularly got new imports from mainly the Netherlands but also from France and during last years from Belgium. And the quality of bouviers in Finland has risen amazingly in less than a decade!
Today (1996) there are
some 800 bouviers in Finland
some 350 members in Breed Club
some 25 breeders
some 100 puppies registrated yearly
some 500 visits to Dog Shows yearly
some 100 Working Dog trial visits yearly
some 30 bouviers character tested yearly
some 50 visits to Obedience Trials yearly
regulations forbitting the cropping of the ears (since 1968)
and - the most stupid and horrible and unorthodox - regulations forbitting the cutting of the tail
(in force on the 1st of July 1996)
