PAULA HEIKKINNEN-LEHKONEN

I got my first dog, a Wire Fox Terrier, in the year 1961. I began to take part in club activities, shows, obedience and hunting training from the beginning. My first dog was not a star, so I purchased soon another, a bitch, who became Champion. My first litter of Wire Fox Terriers was born in 1968, and since that I have bred over 200 litters, of Wire and Smooth Fox Terriers, English Springer Spaniels and Longhaired Standard Dachshunds, under Wolfheart prefix. I have never counted how many champions and group winners I have owned or bred, (well over 200) but we have had over 100 International (FCI) champions. I have exported dogs to about 20 different countries and many of them have become champions in their new home countries. There has been also several hunting trial and dual champions. One of our most successful dogs has been the Smooth Fox Terrier Int Ch Wolfheart Nutcracker, who was Terrier of the Year in -76. Our successes include winning the European Champion title in –98 with Int Ch Wolfheart Moritz and World Champion title in 2001 with Ch Wolfheart Diamond Lil.

At the moment I have only Smooth and Wire Fox Terriers, about 20 dogs (and two cats, but they are not for showing or breeding). Showing and breeding nowadays is limited because of many judging appointments.

I was a professional groomer for about 20 years, doing all breeds, and at that time I also handled different breeds in shows, like German Shepherds, Beagles, Cockers, American Cockers, Poodles etc.

First I became a judge in -76. I was qualified as an all-breed judge in - 96. (in the FCI countries that means: qualified to award CCs in all the about 350 breeds recognized by the FCI.). I have awarded CCs in UK  in 15 breeds: Smooth and Wire Fox Terriers, Airedale Terrier, Norwich and Norfolk Terriers, Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier,  West Highland White Terriers, English Toy Terriers, Miniature Schnauzers, Giant Schnauzers, Shar Pei, Tibetan Terrier, Finnish Spitz, Keeshond and Bouvier des Flandres.

Besides Finland, I have judged in 50 different countries: Austria, Australia, Argentina, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Canada, China, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakshtan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Thailand, Ukraine and USA.

I have been in the judging panel of the Champion of Champions, Veteran of Veterans contests in Finland, Sweden and Norway. In 2002 I’ve judged the Pup of the Year Contest in Ireland and the Champion of Champions Contest in the UK 2008 and twice the Golden Collar Show in Russia. I have judged many times in the FCI European and World Shows, various breeds and also group finals, and in Australian Royal Shows.

I have been  also Terrier & Dachshund underground hunting trial judge for 30 years, but decided to give that up because lack of time. We used to keep foxes and train dogs for hunting trials, but nowadays there is no time for that.

I have been a board member of the regional Kennel Club for 50 years, being the Vice-President for about 15 years and for the last 15 years and at present the President. I was a board member of the Terrier Club of Finland for 15 years, being the President for seven years, and editor of the bulletin for 11 years. I have been a board member of the local Dachshund Club for about 15 years, and member of the breeding committee of the Springer Spaniel Club and the Spaniel Club of Finland.. I have been the secretary of the Lahti International Show (nowadays regularly over 4000 dogs) for 30 years, and last eleven years the President of the organising committee. At the moment I am the President of the Finnish Dog Show Judges' Society and for ten years I was the President of the Fox Terrier Club of Finland. I was several years also a board member of the World Dog Press Association. I am in charge of new judges’ education and exams for several breed clubs, and have held seminars in several other coutries.

After joining the staff of the Finnish Kennel Club in -89 I had to limit the club activities. I was editor of the Kennel Club magazine (circulation over 100 000) for five years, but all the travelling and judging was difficult to combine with regular office hours, and so I started as a freelance journalist and photographer in -95. My articles and photos have been published in many dog magazines, newspapers, books and calendars in Finland and abroad. Besides the Finnish Kennel Club magazine Koiramme, I’m a regular correspondent of the Dog World (UK), Purebred Dogs in Review (USA) and many other canine magazines published in various coutries. I have also translated several dog books into Finnish and have been member of a group which made several TV programs about dogs.

I have given lectures for many different clubs about breeding, shows, etc.

I have been member of several Finnish Kennel Club committees: the Breeding Committee, the Standard Committee, the Show and Judges’ Committee and the Editorial Committee. At the moment I am a member of the Standard Committee.

I have been decorated by the Finnish Kennel Club (golden medal and honorary membership), the regional Kennel Club, the Finnish Terrier Club (golden medal) and the Finnish Dachshund Club (bronze medal). I have been awarded the Vuolasvirta Breeders’ Plaque of the Finnish Kennel Club and the Breeders’ Plaque of the Finnish Terrier Club and the Golden Pin of Breeders (nr.1) of the Fox Terrier Club of Finland.