Hilde-Marie Fredriksson

Finland

I have had the honour of judging the Finnish Championship Final this year. I am already looking forward to December with great excitement.
I got my first dog when I was seven years old, and I started competing in junior handling as soon as I turned ten. Dogs and dog hobbies are not “in my blood”; I found my way to dog shows by chance. Junior handling quickly stole my heart, and I found myself at shows almost every weekend somewhere in Finland or abroad. I feel that a large part of my skill has come from the courage to try and compete with different dogs. I am grateful to every single dog owner who has trusted their dog in my hands and guided me forward.
Over the eight Junior Handling years, I competed with all kinds of dogs and won, among other things, the Finnish, Nordic and World Championships. I competed in the Finnish Championship Final four times, so I know how you competitors feel. Winning a qualifying heat in Finland is no given. Our level is extremely high, so every heat winner can be proud when stepping into the big ring at Messukeskus.
Junior handling gave me so much: friends who are still by my side to this day, self-confidence, dog handling and reading skills, like-minded friends around the world, interaction with all kinds of people, and a sense of responsibility. I would not trade a single moment of it away.
When I aged out of junior handling, I could not bear to let go of the sport, so I joined the Finnish Kennel Club’s junior handling committee, the Youth Committee, the youth committees of the FCI and the NKU, and became youth coordinator for the Helsinki Kennel District. I served as chairman of the junior handling working group for seven years, and nowadays I am involved as a member. Volunteer work has always been close to my heart.
For the past ten years, I have presented almost exclusively Scottish Terriers. The highlight of my handling career was when the Scottish Terrier I trained and presented placed first in the Dog of the Year competition in 2024. In earlier years, I was often seen with, for example, Bearded Collies, Australian Shepherds, Norwegian Buhunds, Havanese, Salukis and Pharaoh Hounds. At home I have had three Kleinspitz. Now there is a pause in my dog hobby, as I have moved to the Czech Republic.
When I judge junior handlers, the most important things are the cooperation between the handler and the dog, and the beautiful presentation of the dog. The handler’s task is to make the dog feel as comfortable as possible and to have fun together. At its best, a ring performance is a smooth partnership between dog and handler. Breed knowledge is also extremely important, as each breed and individual has its own characteristics and temperament. I appreciate handlers who do not draw attention to themselves but instead let the dog shine. Genuine enjoyment and joy are easy to see, and a pleasure to watch.
The highest-placed finalists in the Finnish Championship Final earn spots to represent Finland at world-famous competitions. In these, calm nerves, solid skills, the ability to create contact with an unfamiliar dog, and passion for the work are all essential. These are the qualities I will be looking for when I judge.
I hope everyone enjoys the day, stays as relaxed as possible, takes good care of their dogs, and encourages one another.
See you in December!