with VESA TOIVANEN
Connection Papillons, Finland
1. WHAT BREED CHARAC- TERISTICS ARE MOST IM- PORTANT TO YOU WHEN YOU PLAN A MATING? They have to have the silhouette, I mean a nice side picture. This includes topline and neck and tail. I am quite a fanatic about rears and angulation. Size is also strongly in my mind since it’s an issue over here and the breed has become bigger. 2. WHICH DOG THAT YOU HAVE BRED DO YOU FEEL COMES CLOSEST TO THE STANDARD IDEAL? After going through some old and new pictures, I must mention a dog called INT WORLD CH BISS Connec- tion I Know Nothing, “Noah”. He is a true Papillon for me. Full of style and elegance with perfect proportions. Dainty head while still masculine and a melting expression. His temperament and movement is something I never get tired of seeing. I am very proud to be the breeder of this dog. 3. PAPILLONS ARE AN INTERNATIONAL BREED. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON IMPORTING AND EXPORTING? Being an active breeder, traveller and having lots of international friends and contacts, we have exported and imported dogs throughout the years. It is not easy to import and, to be honest, I feel it is quite difficult to build a bridge with someone who has been long in the breed. It takes years to understand each other and trust that both are wanting to improve the breed. We need to co- operate more globally. 4. TO DATE, WHICH DOGS DO YOU FEEL HAVE CON- TRIBUTED MOST TO YOUR BREEDING PROGRAM? I want to name two of our imports and one of our own who have had an influence for our breeding program. In 1998, we leased a tri-colour male from the US and his name was AM CAN INT FIN SWED ITALY EST CH Joco’s Tuinluv Connection, “Conner” (CH Tuinluv-N- Marquis Burn Em Up x CH Joco’s Try A Sunray). I felt we needed to improve
forbidden by the KC and we don’t have experience. Of course when we have imported something, it has been outcross. When we imported our first American Papillon we were very lucky that outcross breedings produced a lovely type for us. We still enjoy the results.
the fronts and I loved the American look. For me that look still is a flashy tri-colour with perfect markings and blaze, straight front legs, nice body balance and strong, outgoing tempera- ment. Conner was like a match made in heaven. He produced outstanding pup- pies with our bitches and we could see his stamp two and three generations later. He was a dominant sire. Forever grateful to his breeder Joan Cowan for trusting him to visit us. Another great dog we imported for breeding just only a few years ago was ENG FIN CH Paparottsie Painted Lord, “Jan” (Gray- caz Take The Michael x ENG CH Papa- rottsie Painted Lady). Jan is owned and bred by Pat Urwin from UK. Another lovely bred British Papillon with clas- sic English pedigree. We have been very pleased with results. My own, now already 12 years old “Luka”, AM CAN INT FIN SWED EST CH SOM Connec- tion Rolls Royce (INT NORD WORLD CH BIS BISS Connection Mac Memory x Ringlands Gold Florin) has produced more than 30 champions world wide. Many of our current bitches are his I would have to say the internet and experts created by the internet. People are only looking for test results, photos and commenting on texts anonymously. No need to see the dogs anymore live and to meet the people and talk face to face. It makes me very sad indeed. 6. HOW IMPORTANT DO YOU CONSIDER GROOMING WHEN YOU ARE SHOWING A DOG? daughters or grand daughters. 5. WHAT IS YOUR PET PEEVE IN THE SHOW/ BREEDING WORLD? I am fanatic about the coats and for me they have to be in top condition. I use a lot of time, energy and money to keep them in show condition. With good quality products and techniques, you can make them look fabulous. 7. DO YOU HAVE A FOR- MULA FOR BREEDING? DO YOU INBREED, LINEBREED OR OUTCROSS AND WHY? We here in Connection and Sil- jans linebreed mostly. Inbreeding is
8. DO YOU THINK THE CURRENT STANDARD IS ADEQUATE?
Absolutely not! In our FCI European standard it says about the size that Papil- lons are about 28 cm. It should be maxi- mum 28 cm. Now breeders and judges tend to go over 28 cm and we can see 29 cm, 30 cm and 31 cm sized cham- pions. This has also made many of the dogs heavy boned. But like Ulla from Sil- jans always says to me to look back and remember how small they were. I also want to mention the coats. In Europe and Scandinavia, we have way too much coat with wrong quality. 9. WHERE DO YOU HOUSE YOUR DOGS AND WHELP YOUR BITCHES? All our dogs live in the house with us. We do have some of our bedrooms used as doggy rooms and bitches with puppies have their own room. 10. AT WHAT AGE DO YOU DETERMINE A PUPPY TO BE SHOW QUALITY? With my experience, I think the age between 12 to 16 weeks is the best to evaluate puppies. I feel I see more about the type, size and proportions and espe- cially the character. If I import a puppy, I would prefer to buy that age. 11. WHAT IS THE GREAT- EST HEALTH CONCERN FOR YOUR BREED TODAY? I see Papillons as a very healthy breed. I think many Toys have bigger problems and am afraid that the new genetic testing is creating more prob- lems. I feel that laboratory business might destroy some breeds. Don’t get me wrong, I test our dogs too, but I see lack of information in common people and that creates some wrong images and information for the breed.
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