Three generations of passion
Kennel Ikurin
We have been breeding English bloodline Keeshonds on a small scale in our family homes since 1983. Originally, the kennel name was owned by Pia and Martti Vatanen, but over the years there have been two changes in ownership. First, Martti stepped down, and their daughter, Katariina Saarilahti, became a co-owner. The most recent change came in 2012 when Katariina's daughter, Ida Saarilahti, joined as the third owner. Our families also play an essential role in the daily lives of our dogs and breeding programme, and even our small-scale breeding would not be possible without their invaluable support and involvement.
We intentionally keep only a small number of dogs at home, as they are first and foremost beloved members of our families. Alongside breeding and long walks in the forest, we especially enjoy going to dog shows. For our own enjoyment, we also do rally obedience and everyday obedience training.
Many of our homebred dogs have achieved excellent results not only in the show rings but also in agility and obedience. While our goal is to breed keeshonds whose health and temperament enable them to succeed in any activity, the credit for Ikurin dogs' achievements belongs above all to their dedicated owners. We are sincerely grateful for everything they do and have done during the years.
The first Ikurin keeshond puppies were born in 1983. However, our breeding programme truly gained momentum after we began collaborating with the English Gavimir Kennel. Over the years, we have imported four different Keeshonds from kennel Gavimir, all of whom became International Champions and have had a significant influence on the Finnish Keeshond population.
Our breeding programme is firmly based on our own bloodlines. For example, our F2 litter born in 2016 descends through seven generations of Ikurin dogs. We have carefully complemented these lines with selected bloodlines from around the world, including Sweden, England, Australia, and the United States.
We breed only occasionally — not even every year — as we want to devote plenty of time and attention to every puppy and provide them with the best possible start in life. We do not have kennel facilities; our puppies are raised in our homes as part of everyday family life. They become accustomed to handling, household sounds, and daily routines from an early age. They also spend plenty of time outdoors, enjoying free exercise in our fenced gardens. We invest a great deal of time in teaching the basics of house training, socialising each puppy, and getting to know their individual personalities and characteristics. Our goal is always to find each puppy a loving home that is the best possible match for its temperament and qualities.
Although we are active in a variety of dog sports and are always happy to support and encourage our puppy owners to try different activities, our greatest priority is finding homes where our puppies will be deeply loved, well cared for, and enjoy an active, enriching everyday life. As the health of the breed is the foundation of our breeding programme, we hope that all of our dogs will undergo the recommended health examinations around the age of two years. We also provide a small financial contribution towards these health screenings.
We are actively involved in breed club and kennel club activities and strongly believe that cooperation between breeders benefits both the breed and its future. Pia has served several terms as Chair of the Breeding Committee of the Finnish Keeshond Club and as Editor-in-Chief of the club magazine. She has also been a long-serving member of the Finnish Kennel Club Council and has worked as both Chief Steward and Chairperson on the organizing committees of numerous dog shows. Kata has also served on the board of the Finnish Keeshond Club, and today Ida is the club's Vice President and represents the club on the Finnish Kennel Club Council. We all are members of the Finnish Kennel Club and have signed its Breeder's Commitment. We are also members of the Finnish Keeshond Club and the Finnish Dog Breeders' Association (SuKoKa).
We are fortunate to have many active puppy owners with whom we stay in close contact well beyond the show ring. Events such as our annual Ikurin Summer or Autumn Days bring together both two-legged and four-legged members of our Ikurin family from all over Finland. We take a genuine interest in every dog we have bred throughout its lifetime, celebrating successes together with their owners and offering our support whenever challenges arise.
You are warmly welcome to visit us, meet our dogs, and learn more about our breeding programme in Jyväskylä, Vilppula, or Helsinki.
Warm regards,
Pia, Kata & Ida
