Exploring Dog Showing, Traveling, and Cultural Differences

Speaker 2 (00:00.842) Nothing. Hi, I'm Karen. And I'm Elise. Welcome back to Poodle People, where we talk about all things poodles. Mm-hmm. My guest today is Tina Koshkin. She's a dog show enthusiast and an amateur owner handler. And I think the first time I met her was at the Bluegrass Cluster, either one or two years ago, when she was showing her dog Dino and I was showing Alfred. She got her first show dog, a wire fox terrier, over 20 years ago, and that's when she learned how to groom and show dogs. She now has two standard poodles, Dino, Dino, sorry, and Daisy. Dino totally stole my heart, partly because he has wonderful bone, but also because of his wonderful temperament. Tina's from Finland, and she and her husband and Dino and Daisy have lived in the US for the past two years. They've been to many different countries for work purposes, and Dino and Daisy are usually with them no matter where they go. The dogs have seen 11 countries and 27 states in the US so far. Speaker 1 (01:11.074) You might know Tina from her Instagram where she posts regularly about her pretty fantastic traveling schedule. She's had the chance to travel the world and show her dogs in two continents, showing in both FCI and AKC and in multiple countries. Her amazing poodles have been the inspiration for her brand Om Gosh Petwear, and she considers herself a bit of a crazy poodle lady, which makes her just perfect and I can't wait to introduce you to her. Speaker 1 (01:45.614) It's so good to have you with me today to talk about your journey in the US and your dogs. Would you mind introducing yourself to the audience and telling us a little bit about yourself? So hi everyone, my name is Tina, and I'm a huge show dog, dog show enthusiastic and I own two standard poodles that I'm showing. and yeah, I've had my first dog twenty years ago. It was wired fox terrier and That's that's when I started to take interest in rock shows and and grooming and at the moment I have Dino and Daisy. Dino is six years old and and Daisy's three years old, so they're both both standards in show code. And I'm showing them in AKC and F C I both. So yeah. and do you wanna talk a little bit about where you're from? Yeah, so I'm from Finland and we have traveled all over the world with our dogs. With Dino we lived in Spain for a while and now we lived in US for a few years mm because of my husband's work. So and we travel a around the US as well, so Speaker 1 (03:29.858) Yeah, I think it gives us a really fabulous opportunity to learn a little bit more about Finland and also to hear your dog showing experiences in different countries because I know from staying in touch with you that you show in other countries as well. Yeah, well Dino is f champion in four countries. So three F yeah, yeah. Yeah, and three FCI countries and and also US champion. And Daisy Daisy is champion in two countries. So yeah. It's it's pretty different showing in in Europe and and than it is in US. So Talk a little bit about what the differences are. I know some of them because you've told me the differences, which I did not know, but I think it's fascinating and people will be interested in hearing your perspective. Yes, there's quite a lot of differences. But I I think the the Most remarkable is that we don't have professionals in in Europe. Okay, we have some, but not as much as you do in in in US. So that's it's it's more like a hobby in Europe. Okay. But everyone's kind of showing their own dogs. yeah, and also Speaker 1 (05:04.172) That's We compete under under FCI rules. So in Scandinavia it's it's it's very strict that we use no products. But on the rest of the Europe it's it's not so strict. They compete with the same rules but everyone's using spray and and a lot of other things. And differences, well we don't allow docking. that's that's bad. Right. That that's if I would buy a show dog from US I couldn't show it in Europe or use it for breeding as well, 'cause it's it's not allowed. Right. Dogging dogging is not allowed and or cropping. So that's banned. yeah, I think those are the biggest differences that I You do show in different trims, right? Yeah, we have more more trims that we can show. Basically you can show your pool in any kind of trim. in FCI. Speaker 1 (06:20.598) And what do most people show in? It's it's called Scandinavian cut I think. So yeah. It's it's the one with the leg hair but with the the huge head hair. So So the Scandinavian cut is I think most usual and for the standards it's it's continental. Like in US you suppose. But you rarely, rarely see minis or or Toys in continental. And of course we have four different sizes in in poodles. That AKT only has three. So we have four. We have toys Toy Miniature and we have the regular one and then standard. wait, what's the regular one? Moyenne? yeah, it's it's like moyen but it's medium. Yeah. But it's basically yeah. Speaker 1 (07:24.63) What is the w what is a moyenne or a medium? what size is that? Since we don't Yeah, you you don't have it in FCI, but it's it's fourteen to eighteen inch. It's it's medium. And media miniatures are eleven to fourteen inch and toys are nine and a half to eleven inch. So basically you could show medium sized poodle as a small standard or big miniature in AKC. Yeah. And you have for standard poodles, FCI has a height restriction, right? So is that twenty four inches? twenty four and a half, yeah. Speaker 1 (08:19.374) Twenty four and a half. I always find that really interesting because Alfred would not be allowed to show because he's too big. and I think my girls are pushing twenty five inches generally. yeah. Yeah. so that's quite restrictive for what we are used to in the US. Yes, you have way, way bigger standards here than than in Europe, but it's all about the proportions. So Europeans want to stick with the proportions. So Right. Speaker 1 (08:59.97) Right, right. Speaker 1 (09:05.036) When you were showing, were there w do a lot of people show up for shows or is it also like the US where it's kind of a small sport or is it very popular? Well I I think you have to remember that US is is huge country with with so many different states and right and and so many more people. So it's very popular sport in Finland and in Scandinavia but we have only shows only in in during the weekends, Saturdays, Sundays. and not even every weekend of the year. So of course during the summertime when we can show outdoors, there can be like three different shows around Finland at the same time and that's like a lot for us. But yeah. And and in US you have like five day clusters and in every state of that's more more than one, so Yeah, it's it's very different. It's it's a profession in here and it's it's a hobby around there, so Yeah. What a big difference because here, you know, if you can take off from work or, you know, are self-employed, you can go to a show anywhere, anytime, basically Wednesday through Sunday. Yeah, wow. I didn't realize that. I actually kind of wish that we just had Saturday and Sunday. It would be easier. Speaker 2 (10:50.84) Yeah, that's that would be, yeah. You can always sign up only for Saturday and Sunday. Yeah. yes, of course. that would be nice. And also there's there's a lot more lot less dogs in our shows than than here. Or at least in in my region where I'm showing in US at the moment. it's very popular. So does it take longer to finish a dog in Finland because there are fewer shows, or is that hard to really quantify? Well it's it's very different, but I would say it's a lot easier to get a champion in in Europe in general because we compete over CACs or SASIPs which are the internationals. So you need three CACs to become a champion. And one of them Speaker 2 (11:59.77) has to come when the dog is two years old. So you can't finish a dog before the your dog is two years old. And also from the three different judges. and yeah but basically if your dog is the only one in the show of that breed and it's the best of breed, it gets the C A C and yeah, it's easier way more easier if I like them. there than it is in in US because you have to have majors here and you have to actually win dogs to get the post. So it's it's very hard in here. Okay, so that's a very interesting perspective. Yeah. So so what countries are Dino and Daisy champions in? You probably said that at the beginning, but I've blanked already. Sorry. No, of course there are champions in Finland where we we are from and then our neighbor country Estonia which is only like a few hours away so it's easy. Easy to go there. Also we've been in in Latvia, so Din Dino is a Latvian champion and champion in US. That's it. And Daisy is champion in in Finland and in Estonia. So Okay. Speaker 1 (13:26.24) And she is in Finland being bred, right? Yeah, she's yeah, she's yeah, co owned by with the breeder and when we were in Finland this summer I thought it would be easier just to leave her there so the breeder can make the plans for breeding her and after that she will be back with us. So hopefully during this fall. But if it doesn't work then during During the spring, so let's see. Right. We're super excited. I mean it's gotta be hard to be separated from her, you know, a big adjustment to leave your dog behind. It is, it is. We miss her so much. She's our thunderstorm and Yeah. So energetic and we all miss her, but yeah, it's also easier with one dog because we travel so much around around the US and we drive everywhere. So now that we only have Dino it's it's just easier to go everywhere. Speaker 1 (14:38.178) So let's talk a little bit about traveling because you travel all the time. I mean, I'm surprised you're home this weekend and delighted, but I know that you travel constantly. How how do you manage like do you try to groom when you're back home or do you groom on the road? How do you handle that? I grow them on the road. It's it's funny 'cause when I know we're on the road for like four weeks and and or a month or something, I take everything with me. And then I even have my I even carry my own shower with me, shower head, because it's it's it's impossible to wash dogs in a hotel shower head. You have a shower head that you put on the bathtub in your hotel room? Okay. So I have everything and I have the dryer and table and everything with me when we when we are on the road. That's gotta be challenging though. I mean it's not ideal. It's much easier to be stationary and to know where all of your stuff is and all of that. Speaker 2 (15:39.294) Yeah. Speaker 2 (15:47.254) Yeah. And it's not nice to spread the hair all over the hotel room, but I I try to pick I always clean after yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So it's it's not ideal, but that's what you have to do if you're on the road all the time. So and it's it's super it's super important for me to keep my dogs in a good good trim. How big is your car? Or do you have a minivan or something? Because that seems like a you would need a quite a big l car. Yeah, we have the biggest possible truck available, so yeah, we have room. Yeah. And the dogs have the whole whole backspace but for themselves, so I comfy. Yeah. Because I have packed my car for dog shows and it's quite a bit. how do the dogs enjoy traveling? Speaker 2 (16:47.55) They they're excited always when we leave, when we pack, they make sure they are not left behind wa waiting their turn to get in the car and do not forget us. Yeah, it's also difficult p because we change places all the time, I understand it can be stressful, but Dino is more relaxed. Daisy can be sometimes a bit more stressed, but I try to make it Okay. Speaker 2 (17:17.356) the as easy as possible for them. And we have we're their own beds with us and of course their toys and we have the same routines on the road as well. So Okay. And you travel enough that they are used to it even though it's cheap. So Yeah, they're used to it and and they're really nice dogs, well behaved, right everywhere we go I can just leave them at the hotel room. I don't I don't have to think about if they eat anything or or open their doors or bark or anything. So they're they're really behaving nicely. So it's it's so easy to travel with them. I have to say that my dogs bark so it's not always the easiest to travel with them because they alert if someone is coming down a hotel room or something like that, which makes it challenging. They do love to travel, they love to be in the car and go places, but they do bark a bit. Yeah, it's it's kind of unusual. I I know that they that my d dogs don't bark and even at if we're in a hotel or in a in a strange place, they just don't. So Speaker 1 (18:32.386) That's fantastic. Yeah. it's it's very nice. I'm happy. Happy to that they're so easy. And also mm when we're traveling by plane, I I'm at ease 'cause they're used to travelling, they're used to loud noises, used to different vehicles and moving moving in their crates and everything like that. So I'm not stressed at all. I know they can manage and And they're always calm and happy, so Yeah. that's wonderful. Yeah. And how often do you travel with them by plane? Do you go to Finland every year? Yes. Yeah, we try we try to go once a year. But in US we don't fly with them. y we usually drive everywhere. Right. So because it's it's not so easy to fly with that big dog. Yeah. But to Finland we go every year. Okay. Speaker 1 (19:34.284) No. Speaker 1 (19:41.774) How far west have you travelled with the dogs? Have you made it to California? No not yet. We've only seen the basically the whole eastern side. Everything's that that's east from Mississippi. but yeah. our dream is to go to California. But it takes time to drive there though. Hopefully, hopefully someday. Yes. Yeah. So do you have plans to stay in the US or will you be going back to Finland at some point? We'll be staying here for a few years, at this point and who knows what's after that, but yeah, we have plans to go back to Finland at some point. So Speaker 1 (20:23.576) Okay, but you're staying here for a while. Yeah, yeah, we'll be here for a while. Yeah. And w we hopefully have the time to go to the west side as well. So Will you keep a puppy if Daisy has a litter? Speaker 2 (20:41.808) the litter is is the breeder's litter. So so it's it's not my litter. breeder owns the litter and every rights for that. So the whole litter will stay in Finland and and I haven't made any any plans for a puppy new puppy yet, so so we'll see. And it will make your travelling that much harder if you have a third dog with you. It actually it actually would make it very hard. Some hotels in US have a rule that you can only have two pets. and it's also hard already when you have big dogs because some hotels only take small dogs. And now that you have two big dogs it's well but and also flying because the airline we use is usually Finair and or KLM, they take only two dogs down below when we fly so so somebody wouldn't be able to be on the plane. that would be terrible. Speaker 2 (21:54.686) Yeah. Usually they always say they have a rule of taking do two dogs reservations, but when they're loading the dogs there's always more than two going inside. So I don't know how it works, but they always say they can it only take two. It makes things difficult. 'Cause they're so heavy they cannot go into the same crate. So Right, right. are there any other differences that you've noticed between the US and Finland that really stick with you in owning a dog? In owning a dog, yeah. I think we as we discussed earlier, there's some differences in in c the culture of keeping dogs between Europe or or in Scandinavia and and in US. I would think that in here when when people are are getting a puppy, they usually send it to a trainer. or or at least expect it's already trained and or send the puppy to a trainer. but in in Scandinavia people train their own dogs always so we don't have that culture. and we cannot crater as Americans do. Th some dogs here live in crates and are with their families just a part of the day or or have kennel spaces or things like that. And in in Scandinavia it's there with families all the time and Speaker 1 (23:35.758) that's interesting. Creating culture is not something we we have there. And now that you've been here, is it appealing or is it not something that appeals to you at all? Well, I've my dogs are learned to be in their crates because of because they're show dogs. They have to they're when they were puppies they were learning how to stay in the crate and things like that like that. But we have laws in Scandinavia that are more strict about animal welfare. So Yeah. So it's it's it's very different. So maybe maybe I'm Okay. Speaker 2 (24:18.208) more grown into that Scandinavian culture. Yeah, I mean I do use crates but obviously try to use them very limited. I'm my dogs have kennels in the basement, but they are like their own rooms basically. Yeah. Not a kennel. Yeah. and in in Finland there's a new animal welfare law that even in shows you have to have a crate that's big enough and you cannot leave the dog alone there. It's against the law. So always guarded and yeah. Right. that is interesting how, you know, the different cultures approach Dog ownership. Speaker 2 (25:08.75) Yeah, and we don't we don't have like spike colours or electric colours or things like that at all. So that part of the culture is is is w very weird to me, yes. I is it that in Finland there is a stronger culture of dog training where people actually have skills? Mm maybe and maybe it's just because they're considered as as how do you torture? It's against the law. So so yeah, yeah. It's yeah. People are more maybe more aware of training their own dogs and then it's easier here because you have more services. Dog training services here. Right. You can buy it as a service. And it's the the cultures. so that everyone's expected to buy that service. But we don't have we have dog trainers of course, but it's not so popular to let someone else train your dog than yourself. That is interesting. I think in the US I wonder if it's because I don't wanna say you're not busy in Finland, but maybe you prioritize time differently. And here we don't think that we need to devote part of our week to dog training. Does that make sense? Speaker 2 (26:45.826) Yeah, it makes sense. It makes sense. Yeah. I wonder if part of it is that I I I'm not the best trainer, but I like training my dogs. But I also like taking them to training classes where they can work with other dogs and I can pick up tips. You know, since I have five, I can't really take them all to classes. it would just take up too much time and too much money. But I will kind of regularly take a class and see what skills I learn that I can translate to all of them. Yeah, that's fun. That's very fun. Yeah, it is. Do you i in Finland are fast cat and coursing ability big sports or is that kind of an American thing? I have no idea. Speaker 2 (27:35.48) That's an American thing. I've never even heard of Fast Cat before I came here. So and l lower coursing as well. doctor diving is new to me as well. Of course we have agility and obedience, things like that. And yeah, but I think that's for Diving is pretty new here too. I don't know how Looks like fun sport. Even but my dogs hate water, so Yeah, I I can't see my dogs really being being interested in it because they're not that motivated by toys in that way. Like that they would jump out after it. I don't really see that happening for mine, but mine love coursing ability and fast cats. Yeah, I have to try that as well. Daisy would love Fascat, I I mean she's a runner. Speaker 1 (28:35.018) Yeah. my dogs just love to run and it gives them an excuse and a reason and you know, they can go as fast as they want. Yeah, yeah. It looks like fun sports. It is. any other differences in ownership do most businesses in Finland you know, are they more welcoming to dogs or is the US more welcoming? I think US is more welcoming. You can take your dog to stores and and restaurants. Maybe more here than than in in Finland. So yeah. So if you can't crate a dog, how do you actually do like obviously there's a way to train puppies, but since that's not how we train puppies, I'm kind of stumbling. Like when it's in the destructive phase, how do you how do you train puppies not to be destructive? Speaker 2 (29:43.742) That's a good question. I don't know. I guess. It's a face. Okay. Yeah, everyone has their own ways, but yeah, personally I did create my puppies be because they were learning how to be a showdog and they they have to learn being crater and Yeah. Speaker 2 (30:12.642) But I also had the opportunity to be with them at home quite a lot, so when they were puppies. So Right, right. It does make a big difference being home with them. It's very usual that puppies destroy houses and and and things. It is. Speaker 1 (30:40.834) So I did just find out that you own a small business. Would you like to tell our audience about that? Yeah, I started my my small business om gosh petware. it was like a year ago or something because I kinda needed s something to do with my hands and my dogs inspired me to learn how to do biothane leeches and collars. They're very code friendly. And so That's how I started and and it's my my baby just learning every day how to do everything like on online selling and and things like that and doing creating new products and yeah it's fun. And the biothane, so with poodles, we would often use what you know is kind of called a coat saver, but basically it's a chain collar wrapped in like a fabric with padding. and the biothane looks like a great alternative to that. Yeah, I've used when my I had my first poodle I I bought the very very white satin collar as well because it was a cold saver, but it ended up moving those wraps around all the time and building mats between them. And so after that I switched to super super thin satin colours and then I found biothane. Speaker 2 (32:31.06) It's like leather but it's vegan material and it's very soft, very lightweight. And now that I've used it with my show poodles for over a year, it it seems a perfect option. Yeah. It's it's a coat saver as well. Yeah. I've always thought that just the action of pulling the satin collar over all of the bands creates friction that can't be good. You know? Yeah, yeah. And I I've created the elite colour that's attached only from the loops. So i that's for dogs that don't don't use color all the time. So there's no hair going between the loops or anything like that. So I use that for mine and it it fits right between the the two packages on the neck. So Saves the saves the go, yeah. So I was perfect material. would position it between her bands and then put the two loops together and put the clip. The Okay, I love that. Speaker 2 (33:44.536) Yeah. That's how I use it. Yeah. Yeah. and it's all forehand and waterproof and just washable, very nice material. And beautiful. Yeah. Is rose gold I think the ones that I saw look like they were all rose gold finish to the metal. I love that finish. I think it's really beautiful and very fashionable. Yeah, I did the research and before I started and I noticed that there's not that much rose gold accessories available. So that's why I chose it. So obviously I'm I'm planning to do more colours. But right now it's the rose gold and and black one it's gonna is going to be the next next that I'm introducing soon, so Speaker 1 (34:45.55) Fabulous. if anyone wants to look at your website, what is the website? It's different. Speaker 2 (34:52.83) It's omgoshbedware dot com. And it's it's wear like warehouse, not wear like wearing things. So Yeah. Excellent. And do you just sell online or do you have any physical locations that you sell at? I don't have any physical locations at the moment. It's just online sales. Okay, super. Well, I am excited to learn that because I I literally have some fabric out and I was going to sew another collar and see if it works better for Mary, but I think I'm going to be checking out your website and looking at the bio thane because that would be a better option for me. Yeah, we can discuss about that. Yeah. What would be the perfect solution for your dog? Speaker 1 (35:43.022) Right, right, yeah. And I like biothane a lot. and I've never really loved the chain. It just never seemed to work that well. for me it's important that also that the dogs are comfortable with it. So Right. Right. By your thing is nice and soft material. Speaker 1 (36:07.788) Well, Tina, it has been lovely spending the afternoon talking to you and learning a little bit more about the differences between dog showing and dog ownership in Finland and the US. I am really, really pleased that you had some time to join us. Yeah, thank you. Thank you. I bet there's a lot more differences that we didn't ha have a chance to discuss about, but but in b in both continents there are there are good ways and bad ways and and I feel comfortable in both, so so it's it's very It it really has been a joy to have met you at a show and I have stayed in touch with you on Instagram and it's just been really nice to look at your journeys because I feel like I am very homebound and don't get anywhere. So I live vicariously through you and Dino and your travels. Okay, that's very nice to hear here. And it it's been a pleasure to meet you as well, so yeah. Well, we are so grateful that you had some time. Take Speaker 2 (37:18.894) Of course, of course. Anytime. Take care, you two. Bye. Thank you Speaker 1 (37:34.488) Thanks for listening, and remember a poodle will change your life. Speaker 1 (37:41.614) Please remember to like us on your favorite platform or even better, leave a review. We really appreciate it and it helps us get new listeners. And if you have any questions you want me or Elise to answer, send us an email at poodlepeepodcast at gmail.com. If you're interested in my breeding program or are ready to be added to my waiting list, please visit my website at Scotch Corner Standardpoodles.com. where you will find all of the relevant information and links. Just a reminder, we're not licensed professionals or veterinarians or handlers. We're just poodle people. Speaker 1 (38:26.264) Thanks for listening to this episode of Poodle People. See you next week.