Our story
Our love for animals is deeply rooted in our earliest childhood memories. Even though we didn’t grow up in a family dedicated to dog breeding, our parents imparted in us a deep respect and affinity for our furry companions. We knew dogs and cats by name throughout our neighborhood, and I still vividly remember the immense joy we felt with our first female German boxer. As time went on, our family expanded to include other breeds, with the golden retriever holding a special place in our hearts.
But why did we ultimately gravitate towards the Tibetan Terrier, a breed not as commonly seen in our area?
After completing college, I traveled to the USA to improve my English skills. In the family where I lived and worked, there were a couple of these exceptional dogs – Lucy and Luke. Always brimming with happiness, their faces seemed to wear a perpetual smile, and they exuded an unmatched level of empathy and intelligence. While they were energetic during playtime, they transformed into tranquil companions when at rest. Like any Tibetan Terrier, they greeted everyone with boundless enthusiasm, whether it was after a long absence or a quick trip to take out the trash. It was during this time that I realized, upon my return home, this breed would undoubtedly become an integral part of our lives.
However, the perfect moment didn’t arrive immediately. Work, relocating to a new city, finding housing, and other significant life changes delayed the expansion of our family until 2015. That’s when my sister and I began scouring kennels in Slovakia and neighboring regions. Despite the rarity of Tibetan Terriers today, back then, there were merely three kennels in Slovakia and a handful more in the Czech Republic. Luckily for us, two new litters were planned in Slovakia during that time. As fate would have it, on our very first visit to the breeders, I fell hopelessly in love with our Rocky. Despite all the puppies being delightful and playful, he was the one who stole our hearts. Despite the breeder’s initial preference for another puppy, I persisted, and on August 2, 2015, we welcomed Rocky into our family.
Rocky was a bundle of energy, eager to explore the vast world around him. He quickly adapted to the challenges of city life, as well as the new experiences in the countryside and during hikes. The Tibetan Terrier is known for its independent nature—everything we thought we knew about training from our experiences with the retriever went out the window! No command was taken for granted, yet even now, his facial expressions make me laugh as he contemplates whether to obey.
Despite the challenges, we embarked on various training sessions in obedience, showing, agility, and other activities. What mattered most to us wasn’t just mastering commands with perfect precision but rather the joy we experienced in each moment spent together—and that was always the case.
Another chapter unfolded for us when we stepped into the world of dog exhibitions. Back then, terms like grooming and the ins and outs of shows were entirely foreign to us. Nevertheless, with our first taste of success and the warm reception from the exhibition community, we decided to dive in. Together with Rocky, we embarked on a journey of learning and growth, accumulating victories not just domestically but internationally as well. The experiences we’ve shared, traversing different countries and cities, meeting countless wonderful people and their canine companions, have been truly remarkable.
It was Rocky who introduced another significant figure into our lives – our mentor and Arya’s godfather, Radek Blažo. Their partnership led to memorable triumphs, including clinching the adult champion title and Best of Breed in Denmark, where they competed against a formidable field even larger than that year’s World Dog Show in Brno!
Over time, the decision came to get another 4 legged partner. The first choice was another dog. But there is only one king, and after a long wait the choice fell on a female after an exceptional connection from a Finnish breeder. 6 bitches were born and there was really a lot to choose from 🙂 The first time our team went to see the puppies in their 6 weeks and again it was love at first sight! As soon as Radek put “our” girl on the table, I knew it was her – a beautifully balanced puppy with an excellent temperament and the right attitude. A few weeks later, on July 19, 2023, the moment came when I could take Arya home.
Arya is our next dream come true – born for shows, full of love, energy and joy from every little thing. She immediately won over not only us, but conquers every person she meets. She started reaping successes right from the first shows – from Best in Show Minor Puppy 2, through Junior Best in Show, World and European Junior Winner to successes in adult competitions.
It is truly amazing what a person can experience just because of these pure souls. Whether good or bad, they are always there for us and their laughing faces will recharge any drained batteries 🙂