Since I was a little girl, I have been fascinated by sighthounds. However, it took many years for me to realize my dream of having my own dog. In 2005, a Saluki entered my home, marking the beginning of my adventure with these beautiful and creative creatures. Today, I can’t imagine life without them.
My first Saluki, Whisky (Noor Inca Alfa Romeo Visconti), came from the Noor Inca kennel in Norway. He introduced me to the secrets of this breed, and owning a Saluki has become a way of life. Daily long walks in the forest have become a routine. The convertible car I used to drive was soon replaced with a larger and more functional one. We even bought a motorhome for use during lure coursing competitions and dog shows. Whisky has competed in lure coursing events in Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the Netherlands. In 2008, he was part of the Norwegian national team in the European Championship held in Sweden.
I imported my next Saluki, Ice (Aziz Ihsan), from the Aziz kennel in Finland. Ice was a Saluki that fulfilled my ‘dream come true’ expectations. With Ice, I also ventured into lure coursing. However, after he sustained an injury during coursing training, followed by orthopedic surgery and rehabilitation, my interest in coursing waned a bit. Nevertheless, we traveled across Europe to participate in dog shows, and it was a lot of fun.
Next came Qaiser (Dabka’s Qaiser) from the Dabka kennel in Sweden. He is a wonderful and cuddly boy; we fell in love with each other when he was just 4.5 weeks old during our visit to Liz-Mari and Anders to see the puppies.
Afterward, Tony (Qirmizi Quinnton) joined us from the Qirmizi kennel in Sweden. His pedigree particularly interested me, with a father from the US who had passed away several years before. I invested a lot of effort into socializing Tony, and we developed a strong bond. In 2018, at just two years old, he won Best in Show at the Svenska Salukiringen’s 50-year anniversary Skokloster Show. It was a dream-like win that came true! Tony was professionally shown by his breeder Ingunn at this event. Unfortunately, just two months later, Tony tragically died after being hit by a car. It was a devastating experience, and Ingunn kindly lent us Tarah (Aziz Qitarah) to provide some comfort and fill the void left by Tony. Tarah stayed with us for almost two years before returning to Ingunn after she bred her. Her Famerelle litter was born and raised in our house and it was a wonderful experience to have a bunch of puppies around. This sparked my interest in starting my own breeding. From that litter, I kept Rino (Famerelle Alvarinho Quinntara), and now his sister Alba (Famerelle Arneis), owned and loved by Linn Rønne, will hopefully become the mother of my own first litter.
Kennel Quinntara has been registered with both the FCI and The Norwegian Kennel Club since August 30, 2019.
The name «Quinntara» is a blend of the names of two Salukis, Qirmizi Quinnton and Aziz Qitarah, who I was lucky enough to share my life with for a short period of time, and they left a lasting impression on me. These two dogs were remarkable for their personalities, exceptional beauty, and embodied all the qualities I associate with the Saluki breed.
Their influence profoundly shapes the vision of Quinntara Kennel, and my goal is to perpetuate their legacy through my breeding efforts.
I am a member of the Norwegian Kennel Club and the Norwegian Sighthound Club. My involvement in club activities dates back to 2005 when I got my first Saluki, and over the years, I have gained valuable experience. Initially, I served as a member of the Saluki Committee and as the webmaster of the website. Later, I took on the role of deputy chairman of the Norwegian Sighthound Club for six years, and was a leader of the Saluki committee in Norway.
I find it both interesting and educational to participate in breed conferences and courses, experiences I’ve had on multiple occasions in Sweden, Norway and Finland. In 2022, I took part in the Norwegian Kennel Club’s Breeding Council conference, and in 2023, I attended the European Saluki Congress in Sweden.
However, the most crucial knowledge I’ve acquired over the years comes from my mentors, Elisabeth Espedal Hoogstrate (De Lunduki Salukis) and Ingunn Solberg Eriksson (Kennel Qirmizi, and now Famerelle).
I eagerly anticipate continuing this journey in the Saluki world!
Qaiser, Alba and Rino on the way to the forest