Irina Poletaeva

Finland

Irina got her first show dog, an Airedale Terrier, in 1973. However, the Miniature Schnauzer became her own breed of choice, and she has bred them for a long time under the kennel name Tmavi Knir. Among her breeding achievements are over 100 conformation champions, World Winners, as well as Best in Show winners at both all‑breed shows and specialty shows. In 1999, a book on Miniature Schnauzers written by Irina was published. In 2013, the Finnish Kennel Club awarded her the Vuolasvirta Prize, and in 2021 the kennel celebrated its 45th anniversary. In addition to Miniature Schnauzers, the family has also had the following breeds: German Shepherd, East European Shepherd, Dobermann, Schnauzer, Giant Schnauzer, Black Russian Terrier, Cocker Spaniel, Russian Toy, and Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka. Irina qualified as both a conformation and working trial judge in 1980 and is now an all‑round judge. She is a specialist judge for the Schnauzer–Pinscher breeds, working breeds, and Russian breeds, as well as an instructor judge. She has judged in approximately 40 different countries.