NEWS AND EVENTS
The new Judges Competency Framework starts in 2019, for an overview click here
2020 Events
5th-8th March - Discover Dogs at Crufts
15th March - S.V.S BAD/MCE
11th April - The SVS Open Show - POSTPONED - Schedule - Postal Entry - Online Entry
11th Oct- The SVS Championship Show - Schedule - Postal Entry - Online Entry
17th - 18th Oct - Discover Dogs ExCeL
2019 News
Spitz in the park 20-21 July 1019 - Spitz in the Park is a fun-packed weekend, with camping and caravan facilities for all fun loving friends, especially spitz breeds. The theme of the weekend is Fun, Fun, and more Fun. We are planning lots of activities for everyone, and hope to include a selection from fun agility, spitzlympics, KC Good Citizen Testing, grooming workshops, show handling workshops, general knowledge quiz, BBQ and more. For more info Click Here
News from the breeds homeland. The SKV/SKK (Swedish Vallhund Club of Sweden/Swedish Kennel Club) have announced some changes to the wording in their breed standard. Click here for the updated FCI Standard
2018 News
In memory of Jacqui Bayliss
Jacqui Bayliss passed away
She lost a battle, fought till the end
On the 22nd of January 2018, yesterday
I lost a dear friend, the Swedish Vallhund breed lost a legend
Her family will miss her every day
Jacqui will be with me by Hurstfield kennels is my lines
I will remember her laugh, her singing in the car being on the way
Memories of our friendship will stay and be mine
Au revoir my friend
I will miss our discussions about the breed
A precious friendship till the end
I miss you already…. indeed
Jacqui Bayliss passed away
Much too early, yesterday
*******
23th January 2018
Poem by Janetta van Iperen-Hoevens
DISCOVER DOGS
Discover Dogs is held by The Kennel Club twice a year in March and November.
In March it is held at the NEC, Birmingham at Crufts and in October at ExCel, London.
Breed clubs are asked to provide volunteers to bring along their dogs and promote their breed. We have manned the stand since 2007, at both venues and it is a brilliant place to come and meet Swedish Vallhunds “in the flesh”.
The dogs really enjoy being the centre of attention and many people have chosen Vallhunds as their breed after meeting them for the first time at Discover Dogs. The people who man the stand really enjoy talking about our lovely dogs, so please come along and say “Hello”. Our Discover Dogs coordinator Sharon Sibley is always looking for volunteers, so if you’d like to help out on one of the days please contact her.
2017 News
KC Contact - Eye Testing
The Eye Panel Working Party of the British Veterinary Association (BVA)/Kennel Club (KC)/International Sheep Dog Society (ISDS) Eye Scheme has decided that the Swedish Vallhund should move to Schedule A for Retinopathy from 1st January 2018. Breeds move to Schedule A (indicating that the condition is inherited in the breed) based on scientific evidence including a prevalence of at least 1% over a minimum three-year period and/or peer-reviewed scientific literature.
Recent research by Dr Sally Ricketts and Dr Cathryn Mellersh and her team at the Animal Health Trust has revealed a relatively high prevalence of retinopathy in the Swedish Vallhund in the UK and clear evidence that the condition is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. Your breed’s enthusiastic participation in this research is to be applauded. A paper describing the mutation is in press; I would be happy to send you a copy when it becomes available if you wish.
Regular eye examinations of dogs of the breed may be helpful, however it is DNA testing for the mutation responsible for the condition that is the essential strategy. Swedish Vallhunds which have a DNA test result of clear or carrier for the POAG mutation will not develop this condition but would still benefit from participating in the Eye Scheme as clinical examination may detect other ocular conditions of relevance.
Please contact me or the Health Team on mateselect@thekennelclub.org.uk if you need further information or for specific Eye Scheme information please contact the Canine Health Scheme on 020 7908 6380 or chs@bva.co.uk .
Yours sincerely
Katy
Dr. Katy M. Evans BVSc MSc PhD CertVA MRCVS
KC Approve New DNA Test
The Kennel Club has now approved the new DNA test for Retinopathy for Swedish Vallhunds. This means from now on when a dog is tested by an approved lab (such as the AHT) the results will be sent to the KC and recoded on the dog’s registration and can be checked on the KC Health Test Finder. Dogs that have been tested previously may need to send in a copy of their certificate to have their results recorded.
New DNA Test
The Animal Health Trust has now released the new DNA test for the mutation associated with Retinopathy in the Swedish Vallhund.
The Society would like to thanks all the people at the AHT for their hard work and to thank all the owners who's dogs were part of the research.
For more infomation on the mutation found click here.
The test is simple to use, requiring only a cheek swab and can be ordered directly from the AHT.
To order a test kit click here.