We are a small kennel that raises Australian Labradoodles in a home environment in Uusimaa (Finland). We live in a setting where the city meets the landscapes and nature reserves. Forest walks are our favourite pastime, and we spend a lot of time in nature. Since childhood, I have dreamt of having my own dog, but due to severe allergies, I was forced to suppress the thought of getting one. When I had my first child, I discovered that they had inherited my allergy. The second child made me a full-time carer mother (funkis morsa mamma). Their special needs turned life upside down. Previously, I had worked in child education and encountered support and therapy dogs. I knew how much dogs could do for the whole family. I noticed that I still secretly dreamt of having a dog and began to dream of having my own paw-therapist. I considered allergy treatment for both myself and my child because now there was a compelling reason to seek help for the skin allergy. During my child’s annual check-up at the allergy hospital, I discussed the possibility of a therapy dog for our family with the doctor. To my surprise, the doctors’ attitude towards animals had changed significantly since the 80s. Many years ago, I myself had received a definitive “no” regarding contact with animals. The doctor suggested I should look for a breed that caused as few symptoms as possible and that the dog should move in without prior hyposensitisation. The treatment would be given later if it proved necessary. The dream of owning a dog was now possible, and I started searching for a breed that would be suitable for an allergic family with special needs. My dream became a reality when I came across the Australian Labradoodle. After we tested spending time near these dogs, I realised that this breed was exactly as if created for our needs. The idea was a therapy dog that would bring joy and support to our challenging everyday life. Today, our family consists of three wonderful paw-therapists.
