About Me  Glamorly Gasablanca and I at Pori Int All Breeds Summer 2010, photocopyright Showlink My name is Antti Hokkanen - I am 23 year-old medical student from Turku at the southwestren coast of Finland. I come from Petäjävesi, which is a small county in Central Finland, in july 2008 I packed Pamela with me and moved here to Turku to start my studies at the university. But often during the holidays and most weekends I use to travel home to enjoy the countryside life, which is nice for the dogs too. My parents live at the countryside literally surrounded by lakes, forests and fields. I think our place is ideal for Springers - at summer time they can swim when ever they want, and in winter they enjoy our daily walks running free in the forests and on ice. Actually it's not a big difference to Turku either - there are lovely footpaths by the river Aurajoki, where my dogs can have their daily free running flushing pheasants and hares.. And our ice walks take also place here towards the city centre - all this in a big city! So we have settled well in Turku - the Paris of Finland - as I use to call it =) I've been interested in dogs since I was only a little boy, and having a dog of my own has been my dream as long as I can remember. My dad used to take me to watch the annual Int Show in Jyväskylä, and quite early I found myself sitting beside the ESS ring. I was very determined to get a dog, and finally when I was twelve my parents said 'yes'. In May 2000 Romi FIN CH & TR CH Satumetsän Armas-Aatu came to us, rest is history as they say! All my dogs are living in the house with us as family pets, and that is how I want it to be. Even though I enjoy showing and attending tracking tests etc, the best moments with the dogs are the daily routines at home. As we all know, Springers make lovely little helpers in the kitchen and in dark evenings it's nice to lie in the sofa with a Springer or two warming my feet - small things like that make life with the dogs a joy. In the course of years I've been very fortunate to make lots of friends through this hobby. I'm grateful for all the help and guidance I've been given as a newcomer. I think that the best way to learn about the breed and breeding is to discuss with experienced long-term breeders and people who 'have been there'. I hope that one day I have something to give back. 
Antti and the dogs in January 2009 
Doris and I at the junior of the year 2010 all breeds grand prix finals - photocopyright Tiina Saarinen 
A sunny summer afternoon at the terrace just before leaving to Denmark in June 2010 
Lake Karikko - our winter wonder land in Central Finland... Here's part of the Glam team pictured at Christmas 2010 | 
