"To accomplish great things, we must not only act,
but also dream; not only plan, but also believe"

- Anatole France

My name is Katariina Lahikainen and I have been a dog lover all my life. When I was a child my uncle's shetland sheepdog visited me often and I got my first experiences what's it like to own a dog. But I had to wait many years before I finally got my first own dog at summer 2004 when I moved on my own. My first big breed love was Afghan Hounds but my first choice was Finnish Lapphunds.

At the same time I found American Akitas. This big bear-like breed stole my heart and I got my first female Pinja. Since then American Akitas has been a big part of my life. I was very active with the breed; we brought two imports from UK and one from Greek and I had my first litters in 2008 and 2009. After those litters I knew I wasn't a breeder. I'm very interested in breeding this amazing breed but I will leave the breeding for other people and just focus on helping and supporting my friends. One this is for sure though, there will be always American Akitas in my life.

I got to know the world of dog shows soon after I got my first dogs and I was hooked. Not only I show my dogs in Finland but also abroad and in one of those trips I met the Pyrenean Mountain Dog breeder Marion-Silvia Diener from Estonia and I fell for the breed. To make the long story short, my first Pyrenean Emily came to me at spring 2011. Emily is very beautiful girl with right kind of attitude for the rings and I have enjoyed my time with her in the rings. She has started her show career very well and she got her JUN-CAC's for Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian & Baltic Junior Champion titles easily.

Not only I have been handling my own dogs but others as well. My favorite American Akita girl is Midian's Zumba, owned by her breeder Katri Laitila from Midian's American Akitas. She has visited me three times and from those trips she got wonderful results. She was 5 x BOB, 3rd Best Junior In Show, 2 x BIG4, BIG5 and Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian & Baltic Junior Champion. Thank you Katri for trusting this beauty in my care! She will always be The American Akita for me.

The best part of this hobby is great friends. I have met truly wonderful people and got amazing new friends. Thank You all for being there for me! Life is not always so easy but with good friends it's easier to get through. We all have one common passion: dogs.


 

 

"Success is a journey, not a destination"

- Ben Sweetland