Kirsi Sainio

Finland

I am Kirsi Sainio, during the time of the show 61 years old and live in Järvenpää. I have had dogs since 1968 andgot my first Skye Terrier in 1974 and breed under the kennel name Skyeline. My kennel was founded in 1965 and I inherited it from a famous Skye Terrier breeder Hjördis Westerholm. At the moment, I have one Skye Terrier at home and several dogs in co-ownership in Finland and in the USA. I became a judge in 1994 and now I am authorised to judge all breeds in group 3. I am expanding my judging authorities to groups 9, 5 and 7. I have judged at the most significant Skye Terrier Specialities: The British breed club’s main speciality in Scotland, the STCA main speciality in Montgomery County, USA, and the speciality show in Finland. I have also judged Skye Terriers at Crufts in 2016. In addition to these shows, I have judged in Estonia, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Mexico and Slovakia. In my civilian life, I work as a teacher and a researcher at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Helsinki. My own field is developmental biology. My work and hobbies are nicely combined through dog breeding. I am the chairperson of the Finnish Kennel Club’s Scientific Committee, member of the NKU Scientific Committee, board member of the International Partnership For Dogs (IPFD) and member of the board of the Finnish Kennel Club 12 years. My other hobbies include spectator sports, gardening and auctions.