Lycklig Farm

Sire: CH Ausled Ellcrys Wil Ohmsford (Wil)

Dam: CH Valkyrie's You Have My Surrender (Celine)

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Kate is a gorgeous red girl with a long tail. She is DNA tested though UC Davis with results on BetterBred. Kate is a carrier for retinopathy, tested through Animal Genetics. 

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Choosing to keep Kate over her sister Fara (Lycklig Water and a Flame) was extremely difficult for me. The final decision was made after my mentor Pam Abrath evaluated the litter at eight weeks old. I knew that Pam liked Kate from a young age. What surprised us both was that Pam then also really liked Fara! Both girls have excellent conformation and temperaments, but Kate was already strongly bonded to me whereas Fara was more independent, with higher working drive. We agreed Fara would excel in a home with less competition for my time, where Fara could be shown in conformation and performance to satisfy her higher working drive. Fara picked up an OH Group 2 at her second show, at 10 months old.

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All four puppies from this litter were very confident, highly intelligent and extroverted individuals. Kate has a short loin, excellent hind end, great drive, nice level topline, beautiful head, and extremely fun personality. Celine's nickname has long been "Rotten Red," and Kate is our "Baby Rotten." Kate grew into her unique nickname "Baby Dragon." She has a focused, no nonsense expression and loves to be occasionally held so she can look down upon surrounding peasants. Despite being the smallest puppy at birth, Kate was the second largest puppy as the group approached their first birthday.

Sire: GR CH KingsCrest Star of the New Year (Grayson)

Dam: CH Valkyrie's When Doves Cry (Dove)

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Female, gray sable full tail, born December 1, 2022 in our home. Blossom is genetically tested through UC Davis VGL with results on BetterBred. She is clear for SV retinopathy, tested by Animal Genetics.

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Blossom was the firstborn puppy in her litter, born shortly before 10 am, just a few minutes after Dove's first contraction. Blossom was the second largest puppy in the litter. The largest was her brother Mario, a short stub male born twenty minutes later. 

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Blossom is a lovely mover and has a willing, happy personality. She is highly food motivated and quickly learns new skills. Blossom follows her mother's shadow in that she is extremely affectionate and unquestioningly does everything asked of her, her tail wagging the entire time. Blossom loves to join Andy on the couch when he sits down to read. She is also like her mother in that as soon as we are outside, she turns into a high drive working dog that loves to fetch and is one of the last that wants to go back inside the house. Blossom did well at her first show with professional handler Laura King in February 2024 at the Renaissance Cluster in Madison, Wisconsin. Blossom earned her first major win in Maquoketa, Iowa in March 2024 with professional handler Robin Novack. Blossom picked up a few more points in Davenport, Iowa in May 2024, including a Best Opposite going over two specials with Andy handling her in breed. Blossom showed with Team Daybreak during the first Belvedere Summer Cluster in July 2024, earning her second major win, again going over specials. 

 

As of February 2025, Blossom needs just three individual points to finish her AKC Champion title.  

Sire: Tridents Frodo (Teddy, champion in France, Sweden and Belgium)

Dam: Kopparås Lin (Lin, champion in France)

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Male, brown-gray stub tail, born November 21, 2020 in Sweden. Prins is genetically clear for retinopathy, diversity tested through UC Davis VGL, with results posted on BetterBred. OFA Hips Good, elbows normal. 

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Prins has attended only a few shows as he finds shows rather boring. He earned a Group 2 OH placement in May 2022. Prins earned a regular Group 3 placement in May 2023. Prins absolutely loves to take the pontoon boat to Bikini Beach, an island on the Mississippi River near Fairport, Iowa. Prins has several dog friends that regularly visit the island, and he is very popular with other boaters. 

 

We are so thankful to breeders Wendy Sharman (Naraena Kennel) and Lucia Wikmark (Kopparås Kennel) for allowing Prins to join us in Iowa.

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Many of the people that have met Prins use the same word to describe him: delightful! Prins is a clever boy who learns quickly. He has a fantastic temperament and everyone is a friend, human and canine alike!

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We hope to have a litter from Prins in the future. He is entered in the AKC DNA program, Profile #V40006721. Prints is clear from all known genetic diseases tested through AKC Health. 

Sire: GR CH Fantasi's Epic (Epic)

Dam: CH Pavon Take It Or Leave It (Adele)

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Female, red stub tail, born May 8, 2019 in the United States. Celine is genetically clear for retinopathy, diversity tested through UC Davis VGL, with results posted on BetterBred. Celine has OFA hips Good, normal elbows, and a normal CERF exam in March 2022. 

 

Celine is a nicely boned girl with trim adult weight of 28 pounds. Celine is a true diva. Celine has a heart of gold and not a mean bone in her body. She loves every person and dog that she meets. 

 

Celine finished her AKC championship on June 27, 2021 at the Waterloo Kennel Club dog show in Waverly, Iowa. 

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Celine is a social butterfly that loves to accompany me wherever I go. One of Celine's favorite activities is to cruise on our pontoon boat, especially when we anchor and indulge in a few snacks. Celine enjoys trips to restaurants with outdoor patios that allow dogs. She is a great athlete and will happily walk for miles at parks. 

 

Celine began training for therapy work as a puppy, which was paused due to covid-19. Celine restarted therapy work in early 2022 and excels in this area. She still shows occasionally to help teach new handlers the ropes, and has a few points towards her Grand Champion title. 

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Celine had a lovely litter of four puppies on July 23, 2023, sired by Ch Ausled Ellcrys Wil Ohmsford. Wil is owned by Pam and Nicole Abrath. Celine whelped naturally at home and was an excellent mother. There were three girls and one boy puppy. Kate stayed with us as a future show and breeding prospect.

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Celine had a second litter, The Fabulous Five, on November 26, 2024, sired by our very good boy Egon. The two stub tailed parents produced three full tailed puppies and two stub tailed boys. Beatrix and Dolk will stay with us to evaluate as future show and breeding prospects. Celine will be spayed soon and start attending classes to refresh obedience work and maybe dabble in rally. 

Sire: CH Pavon Charlie Bird Parker Greenhollow (Birdie)

Dam: CH Minikota's Round Midnight at Pavon (Hailey)

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Spayed companion female, gray stub tail, born December 21, 2014 in Wisconsin, US.

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Skadi is our first Vallhund. Andy spent nearly two years on Pavon's waitlist and Skadi became available last minute, as her breeder felt she would be better suited as a companion than show/breeding prospect. Skadi's sister, JoJo, is Dove's dam. Skadi's other sister, from a subsequent litter, Adele, is Celine's dam.

 

Skadi was a high drive puppy that seemingly never slept and took a long time to learn that peeing in the house is frowned upon. Skadi had a relatively normal life until June 2020, when she started having vision loss and then quickly went completely blind. We took Skadi to our local vet as soon as we noticed she was bumping into things. Skadi was referred on an emergency basis to UW Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, where she had an MRI and CSF tap. The results were totally normal, and the neurologists were stumped.

 

To this day we don't know what kind of neurological event happened, with the best guess being a small stroke or multiple really tiny strokes. Skadi did not regain vision, though she is in every sense recovered. Skadi loves to play with the younger dogs and boss them around. The youngsters are all deferential to Skadi, particularly Dove.

Sire: GR CH KingsCrest Star of the New Year (Grayson)

Dam: CH Valkyrie's When Doves Cry (Dove)

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Male, gray stub tail, born December 1, 2022 in our home. Mario is genetically tested through UC Davis VGL with results on BetterBred. He is clear for retinopathy, tested by Animal Genetics.

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Mario was the largest puppy in his litter and had an enormous personality from the start. He was my conformation pick beginning at four weeks old. Though I tried to talk myself out of keeping two puppies, multiple breed knowledgeable friends pushed me to keep Mario. I never once regretted following their advice! 

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Mario is a total clown and mischievous prankster. One of my friends dubbed Mario as, "Diabolically intelligent." He has excellent conformation and is a lovely mover. He is a blast to train, highly task focused and loves one on one time with me. He has the same enormous personality and reckless confidence in new environments as he does at home. Mario enjoys conformation class tremendously and has yet to be in a situation that shakes his fearless attitude. 

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Mario made a big splash at his first shows, Jefferson Kennel Club and Badger Kennel Club in Beginner Puppy (BPUP). He won breed three out of the four days that he showed, and placed second in herding group all three of those days. Mario loved the show atmosphere and made many friends. In mid June, at the Waterloo Kennel Club dog show, Mario won breed (a major win) and placed that day in both the owner handled and regular herding groups. This was just two weeks after he turned six months old! Mario picked up a second major win in September at the Amanas Dog Show Cluster, which concluded our shows for 2023.

Sire: Kongaälvans Master

Dam: Ebba-Gusseröd

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Male, gray sable short stub tail, born June 3, 2022 in Sweden. Egon is a carrier for retinopathy. Genetic testing results from UC Davis VGL available on BetterBred. OFA Hips Good, elbows Normal. 

 

I saw a picture of Egon when he was three days old, posted by his breeder Sonja Nettby. Sonja agreed to sell Egon to me on the condition that I pick him up in person and I did not hesitate to agree. In just over two weeks, I updated my passport and planned my trip to Sweden. 

 

Egon is a wonderful boy in every way. He is confident and eager to please, making every activity fun. He gets along well with all of our dogs, loves to meet new new people, and is confident in every setting he has been exposed to, from the Stockholm Airport to assisted care centers. Egon attended his first show on April 8, 2023, earning Winner's Dog over two other males. Egon won breed twice showing in Wisconsin in early May. He exceeded my wildest dreams when he won the owner handled herding group on May 11 on the first day of the Mississippi Valley Cluster, then was awarded Reserve Best in Show OH! In June, Egon received OH Group 3 and regular Group 4 placements after his first major win. Egon loves everything about showing: car rides, walking the grounds, meeting new people, and strutting in the ring for the judge. Egon finished his first season of showing as the #7 owner handled Swedish Vallhund in the United States. 

 

Egon finished his championship on May 10, 2024 with professional handler Laura King. I was injured after I entered the show and was extremely fortunate that Laura was able to take Egon in the ring for me. Their first time together, Egon was awarded Best of Winners. WB was Best Opposite, going over a special, and that created the second major Egon needed! I wasn't able to attend the show due to a doctor's appointment, but Andy took videos for me. Egon looked incredible with Laura, so relaxed and happy! 

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Egon is a proven sire, AKC DNA Profile V40006744. Egon is clear from all known genetic diseases tested by AKC Health. 

Sire: GR CH Hideaway's Mr McDreamy (Hawk)

Dam: CH Pavon Pride and Joy (JoJo)

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Female, gray stub tail, born February 24, 2020 in the United States. Spayed companion, retired show dog and mum to "The Magnificent Seven."

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Dove was a total professional at shows. She never tired out from showing. Dove was highly food motivated and laser focused on the task at hand when competing. Unlike Celine, Dove never dreamed of acting naughty or try to race around the ring like a bronco. Dove has nearly ideal conformation and is one of the best moving Vallhunds you will ever meet. 

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Dove had a gorgeous litter of seven puppies on December 1, 2022. We kept two puppies from the litter (Mario and Blossom). We followed our vet's recommendation and had Dove spayed when it was safe to do so. Dove had very long seasons (nearly a month each heat) and we did not foresee the need to breed her again in the future. 

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Unfortunately, Celine always held a grudge against Dove, likely in part because they were so close in age. We made the difficult decision in mid 2024 to place Dove with one of our puppy families that had one of her daughters. The family wanted a second Vallhund and I knew their current Vallhund would be a great temperament fit. Dove is much happier living in a house of two Vallhunds, without Celine trying to micromanage her life. We did not charge a placement fee for Dove and will always make space at our home if she needs to be rehomed back for any reason. 

Benji is now watching over us from the Rainbow Bridge. He passed away in October 2021, a few months short of his 15th birthday. 

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Sire: CH Lövsjökärrs Filip (Flip)

Dam: CH Genesis Bad Bad Britta (Britta)

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Neutered companion male, red full tail, born December 10, 2007 in Wisconsin, US. Benji crossed the Rainbow Bridge on October 5, 2021, just two months shy of his fifteenth birthday. We love you so much Benji and will miss you every day until we join you across the Bridge.

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Benji was our second Vallhund. We contacted Skadi's breeder when she was a year old about adding a second Vallhund to our family. There was a nine year old Vallhund just a few hours from our house who needed a new home. Benji was a successful agility dog with his first owner, who adored him but had some health problems that necessitated Benji find a new family. I was extremely hesitant to add a senior dog to our family, but Andy insisted that we go meet Benji. Benji came home with us and not one day has passed that I regretted adding "Ben" to our family. He and Skadi were best friends in less than twelve hours; remarkable since Skadi was fearful of new dogs as a youngster. The very next day, the two were playing with toys and chasing each other around the house.

 

Benji was our undisputed king and leader until the day that he passed away. Everyone deferred to him, though he was never in a fight and never exerted force to gain or maintain his status. He was a lion, an eagle, a unicorn, and a leviathan all wrapped up in a sweet furry package that enjoyed giving Andy leg baths while we ate our meals at the dining room table. Benji expected to be included in everything. He passed his herding aptitude test with his first owner and enjoyed barking at our farm geese until two days before his spirit left his earthly body. 

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Andy wrote a tribute page to Benji here, with videos from puppyhood to his older days.