Henkka – The Giant with a Garden, a Groove, and a Goal

Meet Henkka, a bold and bearded Giant Schnauzer with a heart full of humor and drive. Equal parts determined search dog and playful ball fanatic, he’s also a devoted sidekick with a surprising soft side. This Rock’n’Roll Gardener brings chaos, charm, and connection wherever he goes. Now, his story has become a song.

DOG PROFILE

Name: Henkka (Stablemaster’s Prince Charming)
Also known as: Helkkarin kotitalkkari, Henksu
Age: 2 years
Breed: Giant Schnauzer
From: Salo, Finland

SLAM BOOK Q&A

  • Three words that describe me: Goofy, handsome, heartthrob
  • Favorite hobby: Ball games (the kind where I activate the humans), pulling weeds, amputating plush limbs, running like the wind, chasing playmates, and inventing complex object-moving games like putting a ball into an empty thread cone (a.k.a. “ball cone!”).
  • Best treat ever: Liver steak… or a ball. It’s a tie.
  • Other things I love most in life: Being included, meeting new dog friends, car rides, forest adventures, our neighbor Hilla… and BALLS.
  • What have I come here to teach my human? Persistence, a positive mindset, patience—and how to lean in and just be together.
  • Life motto: A rolling ball gathers no moss. 
  • If I were a music style, I’d be: Suomirock! Finnish rock—no question.

A Note from his Human

How and why did you choose this dog?

"I’ve often wondered how I ended up with this dog—and I think there must’ve been a secret conspiracy at play. The breeder called several times to tell me about a puppy, Prince Charming, who would be “wasted” if I didn’t come get him. We finally went to visit the litter, and I made a toy out of an empty soda bottle filled with little stones. One puppy held onto that thing for four hours straight, dragging the rest of the litter behind him across a big grassy field.

I said, “Definitely not that one—he never stops!”

Later, the pups were herded into a pen for a break, and the breeder brought over a table to introduce them one by one. The last pup placed on the table—the unstoppable one—was scanned for his chip… and there it was: our Prince Charming.”

"I almost didn’t take him. At the time, our family already had Merry, a 7 kg senior dog over 17 years old. But I’m so glad I did. Merry turned out to be the best mentor imaginable. He had already raised two Giant Schnauzer puppies in his lifetime. On Henkka’s first night home, he curled up in a perfect spoon next to Merry—and no one could believe their eyes.

That old man gave Henkka a start full of love, clarity, and safety. Merry passed away at 17 years and 8 months. Luckily, Henkka still has his buddy Nicke, an English Greyhound, to keep him company."

"Thanks to Katja and the SmartDOG tests, I’ve learned to see Henkka’s special qualities—like his remarkable patience and his determination to repeat what he’s learned, even without a reward. With Katja I have also returned to search & rescue work, and rediscovered a love for learning and doing things thoughtfully."

So, Henkka, I wrote a song for you...

Song details & links

Song Title: 

Henkka

Lyrics & music: Katja Kontu with Suno


Lyrics

Mä oon suursnautseri Henkka
Pallopelejä rakastan
Vierivä pallo ei sammaloidu
Se on mun motto ja elämänohje

Mä rakastan puutarhahommia
Ja naapurin Hillaa
Rakastan metsässä juoksemista
Sitäkään ei voita mikään

Etsin kadonneita mummoja
Mä en koskaan luovuta
Etsin kadonneita mummoja
Mä en koskaan luovuta

Sinnikäs
Jaksan yrittää

Sinnikäs
Jaksan yrittää

Etsin kadonneita mummoja
Mä en koskaan luovuta
Etsin kadonneita mummoja
Mä en koskaan luovuta

Sinnikäs
Jaksan yrittää

...