A woman in athletic clothing and a baseball cap kneels outdoors next to a happy brown and white dog on a leash, holding an award ribbon and certificate.

Susanne Petrusson

My name is Susanne and I run Firewood’s kennel. I live on the west coast of Sweden, a bit north of Gothenburg, in the small town of Lilla Edet together with my two children – William, born in 2009, and Liam, born in 2015 – and of course our dogs.

I work as a preschool teacher and spend most of my free time with my family and different dog activities. My children have both grown up with Amstaffs and are very much involved in our dogs’ daily lives – and they are always found in the whelping box when we have puppies.

My passion for the breed started in 2001, and I have lived with Amstaffs since 2003. In 2006 I registered my FCI/FCI-approved kennel name Firewood’s. For me, the Amstaff is a complete dog – versatile, full of charisma, and with a temperament that perfectly matches what I want in a companion.

My breeding goal is to raise confident, stable, and beautiful dogs where health and mentality always come first. This is the foundation for producing sound puppies that work well in family life. All dogs in my breeding program are mentally stable, healthy, and able to thrive both at home and in an active society. I don’t focus only on producing show dogs – I want to raise dogs suitable for many kinds of activities – but my main goal is always to breed pleasant, healthy companions. To evaluate my breeding, I use mental descriptions (MH) or behavior and personality descriptions (BPH).

All dogs considered for breeding undergo hip and elbow X-rays (HD/ED), heart examinations, and are tested for ataxia status. I also encourage my puppy buyers to complete BPH and HD/ED X-rays with their dogs so that we can build a more complete picture of the whole litter.

Over the years, Firewood’s dogs have achieved many results I am very proud of:

  • USCH/GCH Firewood’s Miss Me When I’m Gone (“Kennedy”) – the first Swedish-bred Amstaff to become an American Champion with natural ears. She was also the first in Sweden to earn the title American Grand Champion, and in 2015 she became Best Bitch (BOS) at the prestigious Westminster show in New York – the only Swedish-bred Amstaff, maybe even the only Swedish-bred dog of any breed, to place there.

  • Firewood’s Gates Of Tomorrow (“Ice”) – the most titled agility Amstaff in Sweden. Ice was Terrier Agility Dog of the Year (Large) three years in a row (2015–2017), Working Amstaff of the Year 2016, and Agility & Jumping Amstaff of the Year 2017. In 2018 he earned AgD II, becoming the first and so far only Amstaff in Sweden with this title.

  • SE RALLYCH Firewood’s This Song Saved My Life (“Gyda”) – the first Amstaff in Sweden to earn the title Rally Obedience Champion, with 22 qualifying certificates in Master Class. She was Rally Amstaff of the Year 2017.

I am forever grateful to all my wonderful puppy buyers who care for their Firewood’s dogs in the best possible way and showcase the versatility of this breed all around the world.

Being part of Amstaff Legacy is an extension of that same passion. For me, it’s about sharing knowledge, preserving history, and honoring the dedication behind our breed. I hope that by contributing my own experiences, I can help inspire and support both new and experienced breeders, and together we can safeguard the future of the Amstaff.
Personal links;

Kennel: https://kennel-firewoods.se
Instagram: https://instagram.com/kennelfirewoods/