I have been dreaming of a dog since early childhood. And in 1980 my dream came true: unexpectedly even for us, a small dog appeared at home — a toy terrier Zita (02/01/1980-12/18/1994).
Like all children, I was incredibly happy about this event, but all the burden of caring for the dog fell, of course, on my parents` shoulders. Being free from school and sports activities, I was training Zita, as I really wanted to participate in dog-shows, but Zita had no pedigree, and consequently, we began taking part in circus training competitions. For 7 years Zita received 7 third-degree and one second-degree diplomas in training. She could jump through obstacles, did a figure eight between my legs, “counted”, but our star performance, for which she received applause from the audience, was playing a toy piano.
Our neighbor, who was also my mother’s older friend and employee, Kendzerskaya Margarita Sergeevna, imported the first party-coloured Cocker Spaniel from East Germany (DDR). It was a red-white Hella fon der Klafterzaile.
I don’t remember her well, but her great-granddaughter, red-white Chansi by Gall from Litomyshl, (owner Rusinov) and Cholly (owner M.Ya. Malchevskaya), grew up with me. That’s when I fell in love with this breed and together with Margarita Sergeevna and Chanci began to attend Hunting dog shows.
Later on I spent much time with Kasya (Dake Kainline), that used to be not a rare guest with Margarita Sergeevna.
Her owner was Istratova N.I., and I was even thinking about taking her daughter, Hellwood Magri, for myself, but my parents didn’t let me have a second dog. Magri stayed with Margarita Sergeevna, but I thought of her almost as about my Cocker. Sometimes I went out for a walk with Zita and the first Cockers I knew and fell in love with forever.
I could get my own Cocker only when I entered the higher school. A litter was born in the house next to ours, by Wedelta’s Golddigger, popular sire in those years (owner L.M. Polegaiko). There I found my Dabi (Hichcock Candlelight), a pretty blue roan and tan bitch puppy. My very first breeder was Elena Savenkova.
A couple of years later, I kept Debi`s puppy from my first litter, a rare chocolate roan with tan, Amochka (Vivat Amarilis Irinal), who was a favorite of our family.
At first, my kennel prefix was “Irinal”, and a bit later, in 1997, in RKF-FCI system, my kennel was reregistered under the name “Iriski’s” — IRISKI’S.
The exterior level of my first Cockers did not let me win much in the ring, and my experience wasn`t rich. Therefore, I was thinking of getting a higher quality Cocker.
At Marina Yakovlevna Malchevskaya’s kennel Fil Maris I bought a black white bitch Phil Maris Domino, by the outstanding brood bitch Uni Feliche.
My first victories and show travels became the essence of my life. The interest to shows and breeding was growing.
I will always be grateful to Marina Malchevskaya and Evgeniy Rodionov for comprehensive help and support, for unforgettable grooming and handling lessons, for interesting stories over a cup of tea, and the most important — for the wonderful dogs that lived in my house.
Over the years, gaining experience and establishing contacts with famous breeders from Europe and homeland of the breed – England- I brought (and continue to bring) dogs with interesting blood. Basing from the very beginning on the English type and lines, I have brought 7 dogs from the UK`s oldest famous kennels, many of which have already stopped functioning. Most of these dogs have already passed away, but their descendants, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren currently live with us.
My thanks to:
Linda & Angela MacLaren — kennel Bencleuch, UK
Angela Hackett – Kennel Lindridge, UK
Sarah Amos-Jones – kennel Cassom, UK
Elizabeth Maclean – Kennel Lynwater, UK
Catherine Jacquier-Graveleau — kennel Vaccares, France
Antonio Plaza – kennel Los Ombues, Spain
Maria Josefa Rosell Sabate, kennel Gessa D’Aran, Spain
Valeria Milana, kennel Black Delja’s, Italy
At present, my husband and I are running the kennel together, which is a great support for me in all endeavors and ideas.
The graduate of the Moscow Veterinary Academy, Vlad worked before the USSR`s collapse in a laboratory of o vaccines testing and production. Now he runs the kennel with the same interest, attends all births, cares for puppies, builds enclosures and in general — the whole house is his responsibility. Well, many of our dogs love and obey “dad” more than myself.
I can’t say how long we will continue to breed, because
every kennel sooner or later stops working. But as long as we have enthusiasm, health, desire, plans for the future, we will breed wonderful, beautiful, healthy, with true breed characters English Cocker Spaniels.