Hi.
My name is Mia Virkki. I have been into dogs my whole life. Before I got my first dog I read everything about dogs, I was the neighborhood girl who knew all dogs, was asking to and asked to walk them. My wish was that one day I'll have my own dogs, and that I could be a breeder.
In 1992 I finally got my first dog. He was a Golden Retriever named Ian (Dinky Ian Isidore). With Ian I learned about training obedience and tracking. I also started to learn about dog shows and grooming. After Ian died at the age of 15.5 years. I got my second dog Wince (Woodchuck's Hurricane Wince) in 2007. He was also a Golden retriever and descendant from Ian through his maternal line.
Somewhere between these two Goldens I met and formed a family with a working dog handler. Through his work our family had a German Shepherd, and five Belgian Malinoises. During our years together I met many handlers and trainers, and learned a lot of new information on training obedience and tracking, and learned new things with scent working as well as protection. Years with working dogs strengthened my view that dogs that are from breeds that have a working purpose should be given the opportunity to work.
November 1st 2020. That was the day when Wince slept away. For the first time since 1992 I was dogless and lost. I had been thinking of getting a puppy for a while, but COVID mixed the plans. Also, what is the next dog I would get? What would I like to do with the dog? After months of searching and thinking I stumbled to VEO. I started inspecting more about the breed and it really hit me home. This is it. I started to get to know breeders and people. And then in early 2022 I contacted Szilvia Tasch. She had an older puppy at home that she believed would be fit for my needs. I saw pictures and videos of this female puppy. We had a long video call to make sure both felt good about each other. Kids suggested that this girl could be named Senja. What a lovely name! And in March we flew to Budapest to get her home with us. It was love at first sight.
Senja. She opened my heart and world again. We went to the first dog shows together. We started training obedience, tracking and protection. I participated in the Finnish Kennel Club's breeder course and got certified, and applied for my kennel name.
It took me a while to get here, but here I am. Finally! A wish come true!