The Australian – Breed History - The Swedish Vallhund Down Under The Swedish Vallhund Australian history began in January 1981 when Sheila and Dennis Haddon (Norsled Kennel), migrated to Western Australia from England. The first dogs to arrive were Norsled Foxy and Norsled Balzac spending three months in quarantine. They were shortly followed by Norsled Maisey and Mildane Blue Wind also from England. Six months after the Haddon’s arrived in Western Australia they moved to South Australia, this was when the breed debuted in the show ring, later they were to move to Victoria where they remained until moving to Ireland in 1996. The first litter born in Australia was on the 10 April 1983 by Foxy out of Maisey and consisting of Norsled Archie, Arbie, Alfie, Amy and Annie a further fourteen litters were produced in Australia under the Norsled prefix, a total of 53 puppies. At the Melbourne Royal Show in 1985, Norsled Dinkum made bred history when she became the first Swedish Vallhund to win Puppy in Working Group. Prior to the Haddon’s leaving Australia, in 1993 they imported a dog from Sweden, Kärradalens Bruno Björnbuse who produced one litter, 6 puppies in total. Only one puppy from this litter was bred from in Australia. What dogs, the Haddon’s did not take to Ireland with them were transferred into the ownership of Sharon Donaldson (Ausled Kennels) of Victoria. Sharon Donaldson daughter Ebony Wright at 12 years of age, trained Norsled Sonny to become the breeds first Australian Obedience titled dog. In 1992, 11 years after the first dogs arrived here Mrs Pat Gowland (Anduin Kennels) in NSW, imported a bitch and a dog from New Zealand, sadly both were ill fated with the dog drowning in a swimming pool and not used at stud and the bitch Valdemar Bella producing two litters, a total of 10 puppies, before being killed in an accident. That same year Margaret and Brian Stevens (Bronwylfa Kennels) in NSW imported a bitch from Sweden, Chatka Nora, producing 2 litters consisting of 8 puppies in total. Lynette (Mandy) Lees (Leesway Kennels) in NSW imported a bitch in 1993 from the United Kingdom, Svedala Lilla Gunborg of Hildrek, (Gunni) who too was ill fated and died seven months, after producing one litter of five puppies, from paralysis tick poisoning, Christmas time 1994. In 1994 Leonie Darling (Dlarah Kennels) and Mandy Lees, felt, importations of further blood lines were necessary to increase genetic diversification of the breed in Australia. After some investigation it was decide to take the plunge into technology with the imporation of Frozen Semen from the USA from a Canadian registered, Swedish bred dog Vastgota Rudolf Valentino. The Frozen semen arrived in 1997; Leesway AnnaVersary owned by Leonie Darling produced the first ai litter in Australia on 13th January 1998. This historic litter consisted of Ch Dlarah Reet Petite, Dlarah Jesse James and Dlarah Leroy Brown, this litter was followed by a second Dlarah (ai) litter in June 1999 consisting of 2 puppies. Bronwylfa Evening Star produced the third (ai) litter in late 1999 under the Leesway prefix, a total of 6 puppies. Since then a further dogs have arrived in Australia from New Zealand. One a grandson of Vastgota Rudolf Valentino, Valkrista Kiwi Konnection, imported by Christine Robertson (Kloval Kennels) in SA who has produced 2 litters to date under the Kloval prefix and a total of 4 offspring. Kallstrom Magnusson from NZ, was brought in by Roslyn Kildeys Kennel in Northern Queensland, he was not used at stud in Australia. These dogs were then followed by the return of Leesway Man About Town on a short term lease to Ausled Kennels in Victoria producing four litters, a total of 10 puppies under the Ausled prefix. In 2002, Dlarah Kennels sort to import a puppy from Finland, Bodeneis Benjamin Brego from Kirsi Hotenan. Sadly this was not to be, Benny died of Parvo Virus at 12 weeks. After much deliberation, taking into consideration the Australian quarantine constraints and unable to find anything that I felt suitable technology was once again pursued as an option with Dlarah Kennels importing frozen semen from three Finnish dogs, Fennican Lännen Lokari, Hackenspetts Mr Benz and Karjakon Huikanpoika. Disappointingly this semen has proved unsuccessful to date. In August 2004 two more puppies arrived on our shores from Sweden, they were imported by Lisa Jönsson (Akka Kennels) and (Ausled Kennels), a dog Sänningegårdens Elof Rönn (11 offspring) and a bitch Boeråsens Eira (8 offspring), these dogs are to be followed in September 2005 by Konnunkodon Draco Malfoy from Finland (15 offspring produced to date) to (Dlarah Kennels). In 2007 (Ausled Kennels) imported Valkrista Paddy's Envoy both Valkrista kennel, NZ. It is the understanding of the writer that this dog died due to suspected snake bite. In 2008 he was followed by Barahwolfe Blackberry Jazz, from Peta Dowle (Barawolfe Kennels) also (Ausled Kennels). In addition from the same litter came Barahwolfe Blackberry Skye to Cassie Howard (Ausvarg Kennel). In mid 2009 the sire of the other Barawolfe imports, Valkrista Greg Murphy, was imported to Wes Field in the NT (Northernsun Kennels) The later part of 2008 saw the arrival of Vallarity Twist and Shout to Fran Russ in WA (Vallking Kennels) and Vallarity Harlem Shuffle to (Dlarah Kennels) from Lynne Henry’s Vallarity, New Zealand Kennel. In 2009 frozen semen from PaVon Maurice Chevalier (bred in the USA but residing in the UK), was then brought in to Australia from the UK by Akka Kennels and Ausled Kennels. Asvarg Kennels was also involved in this collaboration but has since withdrawn their interests. To date this semen has produced one puppy under the Akka prefix. 2010 has seen the arrival of another two dogs to Dlarah Kennel in partnership with Amanda McKee, the first to arrive was Bodeneis Foxy Folkmar from Kirsi Hotanen in Finland closely followed by Mill Creek's Chyna Design from Debra Tapp in the USA. The later part of 2010 will see another import to Ausled kennels in partnership with Barawolfe Kennels, UK import Candace Valkrista Voyager. A few Swedish Vallhunds are being trained in agility but to date none have gained any official agility titles. The following dog though have gained performance titles these are: Norsled Sonny (first of the breed to gain this title), Leesway Viking have gained their Companion Dog obedience title and Leesway Middle C (owned and handled by Heather Martyn) and Ausled Summer Romance (owned and handled by W, Louwrier) have both gained their CDX and TDX titles; Leesway Viking (owned and handled by Heather Martyn) also gained a TD, tracking title. Leesway Valle Girl (owned and handled by Maureen Wright) gained her Endurance Title and is owned and handled by Maureen Wright and the first of the breed to gain this title. Dogs in Australia to our knowledge who have gained their Herding Instinct Test certifications are: Leesway What a Player, Dlarah Reet Petite (ai), Vallarity Harlem Shuffle, Vallarity Twist and Shout and Konnunodon Draco Malfoy (imp Fin) Other significant Swedish Vallhund achievements include: Bronwylfa Desirea bred by Margaret and Brian Stevens and owned by Ian and Vickie Millar was the first Swedish Vallhund to win a Best in Group. Leesway Swedish Echo bred by Lynette (Mandy Lees) and owned by Leonie Darling became the first of the breed to gain and Australian Grand Championship. This title has now been gained by 3 other dogs; Dlarah Puta Spell on You (Dlarah Kennels), Konnunkodon Draco Malfoy, bred by Halla Seppala (Finland), owned by (Dlarah Kennels) and Dlarah Witchcraft owned by Sharon Morris. On the 29 August 2005 saw the very first all breeds Best in Show awarded to Dlarah Puta Spell on You owned by Dlarah Kennels it took another 5 years for the next all breeds best in show to be awarded to Konnunkodon Draco Malfoy, owned by Dlarah Kennels on the 4 September 2010. The first Swedish Vallhund to gain a dual conformation title was Leesway Man about Town, gaining his New Zealand and Australian Championship titles. Dlarah Ghostbuster is the most multi conformation titled Australian bred Swedish Vallhund and the first to be exported to Scandinavia. Owned & bred by Dlarah Kennels, this dog gained his Australian Championship and at the age of 4 years, was sold and exported to Kirsi Hotanen and Halla Seppala in Finland. Since his arrival in Finland this dog is the first Australian bred dog to gain not only his Swedish and Finnish Championship titles, he has also gained, Latvian, Estonian, Norwegian, Nordic and International Championship titles. Since the breed’s arrival to Australia some five hundred and eighty six dogs have been registered from 1981 until October 2010. Leonie Darling Dlarah Swedish Vallhunds PS: I hope that I have covered all the imports and significant historic events that have occurred in the breed, if there is any missing data or notable errors, please don’t hesitate to contact me so corrections or additions can be made.