Five dog shows at Koiramessut – Dog Fair Finland bring more than 19,000 dogs to Messukeskus, Expo and Convention Centre Helsinki on 2nd–4th December. At Dog Fair Finland, you can learn about different dog breeds and activities with dogs as well as do some Christmas shopping.

Over 5,000 dogs are seen at Helsinki Winner 2022, a Nordic Dog Show, held at the fair on Friday. On Saturday, more than 6,300 dogs participate in the Nordic Winner 2022 dog show and more than 800 dogs in the Helsinki Winner Puppy Show. On Sunday, more than 6,000 dogs participate in the international Voittaja Winner 2022 dog show and nearly 800 dogs in Voittaja Puppy Show 2022. You can see more than 300 different dog breeds in the rings.

Show schedules are published soon.

On Friday, Best in Show is chosen by Francesco Cochetti from Italy, on Saturday by Bo Skalin from Sweden, and on Sunday by Harto Stockmari, Finland.

Lots of programme for the whole family

40 different breed clubs are presenting their breeds at the Breed Plaza at Dog Fair Finland. At the Finnish Kennel Club’s HauLife stand, you can get tips on how to get a dog and on how to care for it. Presentations on different breeds are also held at the stand.

At the Activity Ring, you can learn more about different dog sports, such as AgiDance, Nosework, Flyball, Hoopers, and DogParkour. You can also get activation tips and listen to lectures about well-being of dogs.

The Finnish Kennel Club’s Care Dogs and Reading Dogs as well as the Finnish Kennel Club’s youth section also have their own stands at the fair. About 50 brands and sellers of dog supplies are at the fair.

On Friday 2nd December, a special event for the youth, Go Hau, takes place in hall 4. At Go Hau, you can for instance visit the Finnish Kennel Club’s youth section’s info stand to learn more about youth membership and to compete in a playful competition with your dog at four different non-stop points. The finalists of a crafts competition for youth are also presented at the event – come and vote for your favourite to win! The smallest ones in the family can show their toy dogs at a toy dog show held during the weekend.

More information about the programme is published later this week.

Hero Dogs and Government Working Dogs of the Year are awarded at Dog Fair Finland

Every year, the Finnish Kennel Club awards the title Sankarikoira, Hero Dog, to dogs that have significantly contributed to saving one or more human lives. This year, the title of Hero Dog is granted to 28 dogs. Hero Dogs are awarded at Dog Fair Finland at the Arena on Sunday at 12:30. Prizes are awarded by Pihla Keto-Huovinen, member of Parliament and vice chair of the Finnish Parliament's working group for animal-assisted activities, and Eeva Anttinen, chair of the Finnish Kennel Club’s Council.

The Finnish Kennel Club awards annually Government Working Dogs of the Year, which are chosen by the Police of Finland, The Finnish Defence Forces, Finnish Border Guard, Criminal Sanctions Agency, and Customs. The award ceremony takes place at the Arena on Friday at 14:30. Prizes are handed out to handlers of these dogs by Harri Lehkonen, chair of the Finnish Kennel Club’s Board, and Esa Kukkonen, chair of the Trial and Competition Committee.