ABOUT ME 

I am Piia Serguskin from Suonenjoki, Finland. I got involved with this hobby for the first time in 1990, when I was 11 years of age. A dream came true, when a longhaired collie Little Black, petname Pepe joined our family. Pepe was owned by the whole family and served mainly as a couchpotato and also as a guardian (this is what he thought himself).

Pepe was spending his life as a loved familypet and followed us everywhere during the 8 years he was with us. I really got involved with this hobby and especially with the golden retriever in 1999, when that charming gentleman Romeo arrived to my life. I had been admiring golden retrievers for a long time and once I moved to my own home, acquiring a dog, was a must. Romi joined me just as a pet, but already the same summer I found myself, thanks to my friend Riikka, in trainingclasses and this is how it all began...

As a puppy, Romi was quite a rascal and I think I made every possible mistake in training what one can do with a dog! Luckily Romi had very good instincts and got to the huntingfields for the first time when he was 8 months old. Romi surprised us all by fetching the birds like that is all he had been doing all his life! Romi passed the hunting ability test with excellent critiques when he was 6 years old, struggling first two years with returning the birds and then with the crows.

By then I was really hooked into this breed and retrievers in general, when the big dogfever hit me again in the autumn 2000 - I had to get a friend for Romi! My friend Minna told me about this promising litter and off we went to see the puppies to Laukaa and Kennel Gladtail.  The litter only had bitches and when Anne promised me a puppy, it was time for Wilma to step into my world.  Gladtail Fabulous Twist "Wilma" moved to us in february 2001 and has with her happy tail and especially positive attitude to the life brought us a lot of joy every day :). Wilma is my 'once in a lifetime dog' - absolutely. She is like a mind of a person.

From then on my leisure time has been filled with this doghobby. During the years I have had some quieter moments with the hobby and then again times when every weekend has been spent with different kinds of activities. I work daytime as an accountant, so luckily I have plenty of time in the evening and weekends for this hobby.

My family consists of me, my husband Petteri and our 8 dogs. We live in the peaceful countryside, where the dogs have plenty of space to run free. At the moment we have 6 goldens living with us and also charming flatcoated retriever and welsh springergirls. I also co-own 3 goldens, that live in lovely homes nearby.

We participate to shows with our dogs as well as hunting tests. I have also been to some obedience tests, but it has not been that active anymore, although basic training is naturally always in picture. We have also every autumn helped the hunters with our dogs in real hunting.

I have passed the Finnish Kennel Club breeders course in 2004 and my prefix Goldspell was granted in 2006. My first litter was born in 2008.

Last but not least, I want to thank Anne and Minna. Thanks to Minna, I am now involved with this golden breed. Thank you for your guidance and that you always took me 'under your wings' where ever you went. To Anne, a big thank you for all your help, faith and lovely dogs!
 

-Piia-