The Swedish Vallhund is a distinguished National dog breed of Sweden, with origins tracing back to the 8th or 9th century in the province of Västergötland.

Renowned for its capabilities in guarding, and herding, the breed's name translates to "herding dog" in English. Although the Swedish Vallhund faced near extinction in 1942, dedicated breeding efforts led by Björn von Rosen and K. G. Zettersten successfully revitalized its popularity.  In 1943, the Swedish Kennel Club officially recognized the breed categorizing it as the "Västgötaspets."

The Swedish Vallhund In New Zealand

 The First Wave

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In 1975, the inaugural Swedish Vallhund, Ryslip Fabian, affectionately known as Puffin, arrived in New Zealand, imported by Mrs. Liz Cartledge from the United Kingdom. Inspired by her daughter's passion for the breed, Mrs. Cartledge welcomed Puffin, who was soon joined by a female counterpart, Maiden of Duncliffe, affectionately called Margot, in 1976. Together, they produced the first litter of Swedish Vallhunds born in New Zealand under the kennel name Shan-Shao. Unfortunately, despite Puffin becoming the first New Zealand Champion, the breeding lines did not progress, and all three puppies from this litter became beloved pets, marking the end of the breed's initial introduction to the country until its resurgence in 1984.

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    The Second Wave

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In 1982, Ian and Lesley Grey encountered the captivating Swedish Vallhund breed via an introduction to Puffin here in New Zealand.  Subsequently they reached out to Mrs. Nicky Gascoigne, the esteemed secretary of the Swedish Vallhund Society of the UK and owner of Rosern Kennels. This connection led to the importation of two exceptional dogs from Britain in 1984, Santa of Rosern and Rosern Vancy, marking the inception of Valdemar Kennels. 

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Ian's dedication to obedience training paved the way for his passion for agility, ignited during a transformative trip to the UK with Lesley. Upon returning to New Zealand, he fully immersed himself in the sport, leading both Santa and Vancy to secure their New Zealand Championship titles while also excelling in Companion Dog (CDX), Scent Work, Obedience, Agility, and Working Trials (ADX, UDX, WDX, TDX). The Greys proudly produced three litters with Santa and Vancy, with Valdemar Bella being the sole puppy to journey to Australia, where she joined the Kendoss Kennels owned by Mr. and Mrs. Erickson.  Sadly, the Greys decided to wind up their breeding program and the breed again lost any footing gained in New Zealand. 

Despite this Ian remains a strong supporter, friend and mentor of the breed, recently celebrating his 100th Birthday with memories of a special time in the breeds NZ history.

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The 3rd Wave

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​Rose and Hans of Valkrista Swedish Vallhunds have been pivotal in the establishment of the breed here in New Zealand since the mid-1990s. Continuing the legacy of Ian and Lesley, they imported notable bloodlines such as Wynrik Christa and Steppenwolf Zip, reconnecting lost lines from Australia. Throughout her breeding career, Rose enriched the Swedish Vallhund gene pool by importing new bloodlines from the UK and exporting to Australia, Japan, and America. An ardent advocate for the breed, Rose actively participated in events like Pet Expo and organized annual gatherings, fostering a community for Swedish Vallhund enthusiasts.

It is therefore not surprising that Rose became known at the

New Zealand Kennel Club ( DogsNZ) as 

* Mrs Swedish Vallhund New Zealand* 

and is credited as firmly establishing the breed here in New Zealand.

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Rose sadly passed in 2010 and will always be remembered as a friend and mentor to many of us in this amazing breed.

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​In 2001 Dr Beverly Trowbridge became the second active kennel to be breeding under her Murivall prefix, having purchased her foundation girl Valkrista Santa Fe from Rose.  Later that year the handsome Ausled Platypus imported from Sharon Donaldson's Ausled Kennels in Australia joined the family bringing the rare Tjappo line to New Zealand. 

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​The Future

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 Throughout the years, several aspiring breeders have established registered kennels, but unfortunately, many have discontinued their efforts. In contrast, the following kennels have made significant contributions to the breed, having imported exceptional lines from overseas and remain active today. We aim to provide an accurate account of the modern history of the Swedish Vallhund in New Zealand, with all dates sourced from the New Zealand Kennel Club (DogsNZ) to ensure the information presented is both reliable and informative.​

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Vanaheim Swedish Vallhunds:  In 2003, I had the privilege of visiting Dr. Beverly Trowbridge at her picturesque farm in Muriwai. Shortly thereafter, I brought home a remarkable Vallhund male puppy, who would go on to become NZ CH Murivall Antares, the foundation sire for Vanaheim Swedish Vallhunds, formerly known as Rustibust. This experience marked a significant milestone in my journey with this exceptional breed and a lasting friendship with my very first mentor in the breed.

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Barahwolfe Swedish Vallhunds: That same year Valkrista Silver Possum joined Peta Dowel and became the foundation for Barahwolfe Swedish Vallhunds. While a number of Vallhunds have become New Zealand and Australian Champions, Barahwolfe is credited as being the only breeder to breed a

 NZ, Australian, American triple titled Champion.

Torvall Swedish Vallhunds: In 2004, Greg and Kathy Sloane welcomed Valkrista Maid Marion their breeding program, establishing her as the foundational female for Torvall Swedish Valls. Her exceptional lineage and qualities have significantly contributed to the development and reputation of the breed under careful stewardship. The Sloane's commitment to excellence in breeding continues to thrive, rooted in the legacy of Valkrista Maid Marion.

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Vallarity Swedish Vallhunds: Dlarah Ruby Tuesday, imported in 2006 from Leonie Darlings Dlarah Kennels in Australia, marked a significant milestone as the foundation female for Lynne Henry's Vallarity Swedish Vallhunds. Ruby's exceptional lineage and qualities have contributed to shaping the future of the breed both here and in Trendams Australia Kennel.

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Rahkantra Swedish Vallhunds: In 2010, Candyce and Keith Orchard of Rahkantra Kennels partnered with me when Vanaheim Pirates Codex joined their family. This collaboration has blossomed into a profound commitment to the Swedish Vallhund breed, fostering not only a productive professional relationship but also a lasting friendship. The exceptional NZ CH Vanaheim Making Mischief became not only the foundation of their breeding program but also one of NZ's top bitches in the show ring.  Together, we have nurtured generations of exceptional Rahkantra & Vanaheim Swedish Vallhunds, showcasing our shared passion and dedication to this remarkable breed. 

Osuno Swedish Vallhunds: Osuno Swedish Vallhunds was established under the guidance of Pamela Wrench, who acquired the last bitch bred by Rose Madsen, Valkrista Margreta, in 2010. Margreta became the cornerstone of their breeding program, building on a legacy that began with their involvement in various breeds, most notably Chow Chows. In 2013, Andy Lawrie joined forces with his grandmother in the breeding of Swedish Vallhunds, taking full ownership of the Osuno Prefix in subsequent years. 

Rosenval Swedish Vallhunds: Rosenval Swedish Vallhunds, owned by Rachel Marshel, began their journey with the acquisition of their foundation female, Osuno Visions of Vivi in 2014. 

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