Who are we?

We are mother Erja and daughter Inka Luomanmäki from Helsinki, Finland. We have owned Cirneco dell'Etnas since 1997 and Italian Greyhounds since 1999. We breed both breeds on a small scale, and we usually have 0-2 litters per year. Our family & relatives have always had dogs.

Our first cirneco dell'Etna litter was born in 2000 and the first litter of Italian Greyhounds in 2007. Our prefix Iosono is Italian and it means "I am" in English. We have imported a few dogs to Finland and have done several mating trips to abroad because in both breeds - Cirnechi & IGs - we need new blood lines here in Finland as the genepool is small. Especially health, temperament and the correct type & construction are very important to us. Our breeding stock is officially health tested with eyes & knees. Most of our dogs live in their own families and are co-owned by us. We don't want to keep too many dogs at home because we want our dogs to have invidual attention and love. We both have only two dogs at home.

Inka has been very active in the breed club for the Cirnechi and the IGs (Finnish Italian Greyhound & Cirneco dell'Etna Club). She was one of the foundation members when the club was founded in 1999. Inka was member of board 2000-2007, and vice president 2004-2007. Nowadays Inka belongs to the breeding, show and racing committees. Erja belongs to the show committee.

How did it begin?

1997 Inka and Erja purchased their first Cirneco dell'Etna with the help of Christine Löfgren (the owner of Lansmarte who was the first male cirneco in Finland). A kangaroo-alike puppy Bambi (lately titled as INT & FIN & S & EST Ch FIN LCH FIN RCH EUJW-98 JWW-98 ESTW-00 VMM-03 VMR-04) aka "Jazi" arrived to Finland in the autumn of 1997. Jazi was bred by Domenico Tricomi (Bergamo, Italy). We have learnt a lot about the Cirnechi from Domenico Tricomi and Jane Moore (they are nowadays breeding Cirnechi together with affix "Hadranensis"). Inka has done several trips to Italy and has enjoyed the hospitality of Jane Moore and her family while staying in Italy. Also, we are very thankful for all Jane's and Domenico's help with assisting us with our breeding programme.

Jazi was the dog who introduced the dog world to us. We did lure coursing, track racing, agility and dog shows with her. Besides this, she is our foundation bitch and she is behind of all Iosono dogs at the moment. She has two litters, Iosono A and M litters and dogs such as Iosono Aida di Verdi (Iosono I and Q litters), Iosono Michelangelo (Iosono R litter, Vespinja's B, Bresar's C and Colisto's B litter), Iosono Mea della Mea (Iosono D litter), and Iosono Milla Magia (foundation bitch at kennel Colombian Friend's and Kimblewick) are continuing her legacy with many grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. Jazi lives a retired, happy and spoiled life at Inka's father.

Since Jazi's arrival we have enjoyed many happy moments with our Cirnechi. Inka has nowadays two Cirnechi at home, Multi Ch Iosono Michelangelo aka Miki. Thanks to Miki's exceptional temperament, many people have found themselves as the owners of Cirneco. Miki's niece Tosca (Ch Iosono Diamante) keeps company to Miki at the same household.

Seela the Italian Greyhound & Erja