I am Mr Esa Ruotsalainen and live in southern Finland with my family and dogs. I am very active both in judging and breeding dogs. I became an authorized judge in 2010 and have since been appointed to over 120 shows in 10 different European countries. Spitz breeds are very close to my heart and I am involved in training both breeders and new judges for them in several breed clubs so practically all of my weekends are spent with canine activities. 

I have grown up with hunting Spitz breeds which we had at my childhood home. Later after moving to the city I acquired German Spitz Klein and had my first litter in 1997. Together with my wife we breed German Spitz Klein and Mittel, Pomeranian and Finnish Lapphund under Tirhan & Tempore prefixes.

The Finnish Kennel Club awards Vuolasvirta Prize for distinguished breeders and we have received it 4 different times. We also love dog shows and have gained over 120 International Champion titles to dogs bred or owned by us. Though, lately I've been more focused on judging.

I was born into the dog showing world in the mid 90s with my parents breeding, both German Shepherds and Bearded Collies, under the Hashima prefix.

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In the late 90s my parents helped recognise the Portuguese Water Dog in Australia, owning/campaigning the 2000 Best of Breed (BoB) winner, Ch. Bluegrace Aunty Tess, at the Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Adelaide Royals.

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I started competing in Junior Handlers as soon as I was old enough, in 2001, making the ACT & NSW state finals most years and the National Final (representing ACT) at 14 years of age in 2008.

I started campaigning a pug in the conformation ring in 2004, where we won multiple Best In Groups (BIG) and my first Runner Up Best In Show (RuBIS).

Since then, I have helped campaign multiple top, winning dogs in various groups, including MBIS BISS Ch. Oakcrest Rum Runner, who was the first ever, brown Bearded Collie to win BIS at the NSW Bearded Collie Specialty Show.

Currently I help campaign 4 dogs, in both the Working Dog and Gundog rings including:

Ch. Hillmagic Purple Haze AZ BsCl1 (GSD LSC)

Ch. Hillmagic Platinum Rain (GSD LSC)

Sup. Ch. Kabova The Wolf Among Us (Chesapeake Bay Retriever)

Ch. Kabova Dances With Wolves (Chesapeake Bay Retriever)

My involvement with Finnish Lapphunds only started in 2017, when I helped in and won a BOB run off at a Yass Kennel and Training Club show. I continued to help with more BOB & group run offs, with my best achievement being winning Bitch Challenge at the Spring Fair in 2017 with a Janoby bitch over much older competition.

In January 2019, I got my first Lapphund when Fiona, Royce & Kat Holtkamp offered me Nukka (Aust Ch. Ausvarg Dixie), which I gladly accepted, having loved her since I first ran her in a BOB run off.

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I am still learning about the Finnish Lapphund as a breed but my love for them is growing more and more everyday.

Thank you to our 2019 Photographer, Deryck Long.

To view all official photographs from the 2019 Show, please head to the following page: