Int'l Ch, AKC GChG, BIS, RBIS, MBISS, ROM Mickywin's Mainio Skandia, CGC, ThDN, RATO
04/03/08 - 07/08/19
​R.I.P my beloved heart dog.

FLASH!  Mano became the 2nd Finnish Spitz to earn a GOLD GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP at the Flagstaff, AZ shows in July of 2016!

#1 ALL-BREED 2014 & 2015
(Canine Chronicle)

BEST OF BREED
at the
​2016 Westminster Kennel Club

RESERVE BEST IN SHOW
2015 South Bay Kennel Club

BEST IN SHOW
​2015 Cañada del Oro Kennel Club

Mano is now the proud sire of TWELVE champion get -- four of which are also Grand Champions:  
GrCh Skandia Toivo Impi, GrChB Skandia Keksi Chava of Timanti, GrCh Maru Skandia Lanttu, Ch Maru Pikku Papu, Ch Maru Kulta Maissi, Ch Ajuaq's Windz of Magic Rockz, GrChB Ajuaq's Windz Will Rockz U, CH Ajuaq's Rockz to Whimzical Winds, Ch Ajuaq's Mighty Mikko of Skandia, Ch Iceforest's Skandia Onnekas Nalle, Ch Skandia Ruska and Ch Skandia Marijaana.  

"Mano" was my very special boy.  He came to me at the age of 6 months from Susan Jones in Canada as a replacement for a puppy who died of parvo. Selected for me by Joan Grant and Leslie Carlson, he was scared and a bit nervous after his long journey to Arizona.  I took him to his first shows in Palm Springs, and judges immediately recognized his quality, placing him BOB over Specials.  He finished his championship easily in 2011 at the age of 17 months, ending the year with a #5 spot in Breed and All-Breed statistics, and moving to the #1 spot in both Breed and All-Breed through April 30, 2012. On May 27, 2011 he became the 5th Finnish Spitz to complete his Grand Championship.
Mano has sired many lovely, intelligent and affectionate puppies, twelve of whom have finished their championships.  He comes from an impressive background.  His father was Ch. Jayenn's Mansikka O'Royal Touch, and his mother was Ch. Jayenn's Dame Anastasia, both top producers.
Mano won an Award of Merit at the Finnish Spitz Club of America's National Specialty on Sept. 20, 2012 at Purina Farms in Gray Summit, MO, and the next day at the Red Dog Redux Specialty he took Best of Breed!  He earned his Bronze Grand Championship on July 6, 2012, achieved Silver status in June of 2013, and reached Gold on July 24, 2016, one of only two Finnish Spitz to do so.  He has been invited several times to Eukanuba, Westminster and Crufts.  In September of 2014 he took Best of Breed at the Finnish Spitz Club of America's National Specialty for his second BISS. To make that occasion even more special, his daughter, GrCh Skandia Keksi Chava of Timanti, went Best of Opposite Sex to her father!  Mano finally made to trip to New York for Westminister in December of 2014, where he won both Select Dog and the Award of Merit.  He returned in 2016 and won Best of Breed!  He has also won a Reserve Best in Show, and a Best in Show.
But Mano was not just handsome, he was intuitive and very intelligent.  Without any formal training, he easily earned his CGC (Canine Good Citizen) title on April 4, 2013.  He was also a certified Therapy Dog (THDN) who enjoys visiting various facilities in the Phoenix area to share his furry red love.  Mano thrilled to the chase in Barn Hunt.  He earned his RATN (Rat Novice) title in June of 2016 and his RATO (Rat Open) in November of 2016.  He LOVED using nose, ears and eyes to search for the little ratties!  He also turned his nose to Scentwork, where he methodically searched for hidden and buried scents..
Throughout his Specials career, Mano was masterfully handled by Ric Plaut, PHA.  
Words cannot express how very much I miss this once-in-a-lifetime dog -- my companion and my friend.

GrCh Skandia Toivo Impi
03/22/09 - 04/13/19

Impi was pick puppy from my first breeding of Ch. Skandia Pikku Sirkka and GrCh. Mickywin's Mainio Skandia.  Although I have come to regret the implications inherent in her name, it is actually a common name for a girl in Finland, and means maiden or virgin.  She is a lovely little girl -- very smart, agile and vocal.  She finished her championship easily at 18 months, and just 15 months later achieved her Grand Championship.  Impi retired from the show ring, and gleefully played the Scent Work game in her spare time.
I had to say goodbye to this very special girl recently, and her absence leaves a big hole in my heart.  Love you, Impi!

GrCh Maru Skandia Lanttu
04/25/11 - Present

This lovely young girl is called "Ruuti", a nickname in Finnish that means gunpowder, and it certainly suits her!  She is a ball of fire who loves everything about life.  Ruuti finished her championship in Palm Springs just four months shy of her second birthday.  Her sire is GrCh. Mickywin's Mainio Skandia, and her dam is GrCh. Maru's Three-Fifty Ziva.  Ruuti was bred by Anita Thomas of Chino Valley, AZ.






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Ch. Iceforest's Skandia Onnekas Nalle
01/11/14 - Present

This handsome young boy, known as "Teddy" to friends and family, was bred by Christa Romppanen of Yarnell, AZ.  Teddy's sire is GrCh Mickywin's Mainio Skandia, and his dam is Finkkila's Foxy Siren of Iceforest.  Teddy is owned by my son, Bobby Urton and his wife Victoria, and co-owned by me.  He earned his Championship with limited showing in November of 2016.  Teddy has a very special "joie de vivre" that brings a smile to everyone's face.  He lives with five cats, and wishes they would enjoy playing with him as much as he enjoys playing with other dogs!




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Ch. Ajuaq's Mighty Mikko of Skandia
​01/04/16 - Present

Mikko is a handsome young boy out of Mano (Int'l. Ch., AKC GCHG CH Mickywins Mainio Skandia THDN RATO CGC and Windy (GCH CH Ajuaq N' Snofire Rockz Windz of Fire.)  This was an outstanding litter, with two of Mikko's siblings finishing their championships at 10-11 months of age.  Mikko lives with and is co-owned by Sue Marshall.

Ch. Lakshmi (Helmi)
05/20/15 - Present

Helmi is a Russian Import, co-owned by Lori Langley, Sondra Langley, and Jenilind Langley.  She is out of a lovely English bitch, (Sukunimi's Miss Moneypenny,) and a Russian male, (Germes.)  She was bred by Natalia Morozova of St. Petersburg, Russia.  Helmi is a lovely, foxy little girl who brings valuable new English and Russian bloodlines into our breeding program.  Helmi took a break from showing in May, 2017 to whelp her first litter out of GCHG Mickywins Mainio Skandia, CGC, THDN, RATO.  She had four beautiful puppies - three boys and one girl.  Her second litter of two girls and one boy was born in November, 2018.  She is a wonderful mama, and will be bred next to Ch. Ajuaq's Mighty Mikko of Skandia.  Helmi recently finished her championship with back-to-back majors on the Mission Circuit in Pomona, CA.

Ch. Skandia Ruska
05/27/17 - Present

Ruska is the son of GCHG Mickywins Mainio Skandia, CGC, THDN, RATO and Lakshmi.  He is a very sweet, incredibly handsome young boy.  He won his first points in Palm Springs at 8 months of age, and followed that up with two BOB wins over a seasoned champion the next month.  Ruska shows a lot of promise, and I am excited about his future.  He completed his championship on the Mission Circuit in Pomona, CA, winning BOB all four days, and a wonderful Owner Handled Group 2 under prestigious judge Mrs. Jan Ritchie Gladstone. Ruska continues to excel in competition, earning an Owner Handled Group 4 under Ms. Elizabeth Muthard, an Owner Handled Group 1 under Mrs. Pam Peat, and another Owner Handled Group 1 under Mrs. Susan Godek in Show Low, AZ recently.  I think this young boy has an amazing future in store, following in the footsteps of papa Mano.  As of Sept. 30, 2019, he is ranked #4 in Owner Handled, #6 in Breed, and #10 in All-Breed. (Canine Chronicle)
Look for his first litter coming soon!  He has been bred to Ch. Icecaps Kira (GCHG CH DV9K9's Red Hot Star CA x Pikkinokka's Icecaps Snow Lily).  This should be a dynamite litter!
​FLASH!  Ruska took his first two Group placements in Tucson, AZ.   A Group 1 under esteemed judge Robert Frost on Nov. 8, 2019 at the Cañada del Oro show, and a Group 4 under respected judge Christine Calcinari on Nov. 10, 2019 at the Madera Canyon Kennel Club show.  He also garnered three Owner-Handled Group placements that weekend - Group 2 under Judge Gordon Hayburn on 11/08, Group 1 under Judge Helen Dorrance, on 11/10, and a Group 3 under Judge Eric Ringle on 11/11.  I was proud to be on the other end of the leash for all wins.

Ch. Skandia Marijaana
05/27/17 - Present

Mari is Ruska's sister.  Although a bit slower to mature, she is developing nicely.  She is a snuggler and an instigator - an interesting combination.  Mari recently completed her championship by defeating another champion and going Best of Breed.  She will be bred when she comes into season in 2020..