My name is Jutta Sohlman and I live in Southern Finland, in a town named Salo, about 70 kms to Turku and 100 kms to Helsinki. My family includes in addition of myself one husband, three children, a couple of bichons frisés and - last but not least - two medium sized poodles.

I've had bichons since early nineties. A girl who studied in the same college with me had two of those "little poodles", as I thought then. I fell in love with the breed when I realized how they actually are big dogs in a small package. Already in the beginning it was clear for me that I wanted to show my bichons. I had dreamed about becoming a showdog breeder ever since I was a little girl . These days I have no idea where that came from as nobody else in our family shares my passion. First litter of Leaflet's bichons was born in 1994, when I was 19 years old.

At first I wasn't very ambitious, just enjoyed the occasional puppies and showed my own dogs. In 2003 I decided to purchase a new foundation bitch from Norway. INT & FIN & S & N & EST CH FINJW03 FINW03 Petit Ami's Starshine to Leaflet was not only a fabulous showdog but also a wonderful companion at home. I have to thank her breeder Ms Wivi-Anne Olsen for so many things.

With poodles I'm just a beginner, but I really feel privileged getting to learn the breed from a true professional. I'll always be grateful to Ms Tiina Taulos (Canmoy's poodles) for not only letting me have these gorgeous representatives of the breed but also all of her efforts teaching me so much about them! Just feel sorry if I've caused you a grey hair or two... ;)) So far I haven't bred from my poodles but that day will probably come in the future.

During the years I have made many friends (usually by the showring) in different countries. I have also imported more dogs from Norway, Sweden, UK and USA and gotten to know some really talented breeders. It is wonderful how these animals connect people who otherwise would never meet each other!

I have served in different positions in our Bichon Frisé Club and currently am the vice chairman of the board and the chairman of our breeding commitee. What once was called just a hobby has become a way of living that dominates nearly everything in my life. However,
my breeding programme is very small, typically there is one litter per year.

My goal is to produce sound and well-moving dogs with correct temperament and good health. These days I try to avoid linebreeding and combine different lines as much as I can, because I strongly believe it is possible to get beautiful showdogs with variety in their pedigrees. Health issues of the breed are very close to my heart, probably due to my profession as a nurse. I’m trying to keep it very small having only a few dogs at home at the same time.  I want them to live in my house being members of the family.

I only keep or co-own and show the most promising puppies out of each litter. My philosophy is that all of my breedings can never become showdogs, but they all - including the show prospects - should be happy and healthy companions.

Jutta

Updated 17.02.2010