History of lappies in Australia
There are unsubstantiated stories of Finnish Lapphunds arriving earlier than the 1990's. One such story is of a man coming into Tasmania by ship bringing his Lapphund with him. How true this is? Well I have heard it from 2 different sources although this dog was never registered with the canine controls so is really unproven in his existence.
We will give a brief summary of the first registered dogs and their owners which then shows the development of the breed in Australia.
Kylikki Eronen born in Finland imported the first registered Lapphund from England in 1995. Plans to breed Sulkya Sisko were thwarted when semen was lost in transit. This proved to be a blessing in disguise as most of this Sulkya litter was affected PRA dogs. Kylikki then imported a male from Staalon kennels and soon after a female from Lecibsin kennels. So by 2000, we had our first pregnancy with a successful litter born in April 2001.
We will give a brief summary of the first registered dogs and their owners which then shows the development of the breed in Australia.
Kylikki Eronen born in Finland imported the first registered Lapphund from England in 1995. Plans to breed Sulkya Sisko were thwarted when semen was lost in transit. This proved to be a blessing in disguise as most of this Sulkya litter was affected PRA dogs. Kylikki then imported a male from Staalon kennels and soon after a female from Lecibsin kennels. So by 2000, we had our first pregnancy with a successful litter born in April 2001.
At the same time as this pregnancy was being confirmed, Ros & Col Seare of Theldaroy Kennels in Qld had begun negotiations to import a compatible pair from Staalon Kennels in Finland. They arrived in Ausgust of 2001.
After a scare with a paralysis tick, it was decided to breed this pair quickly and this was done with the first litter arriving in December 2001.
From this litter successes in the ring were quick to occur. Puppies from this litter were sold to show homes in Victoria to Janoby and Articmal, to Far North Qld to Sibermoon, Miavig took a female to enable them to breed, and another female went to Watersedge also then in Qld.
No further litters were had by Kylikki.
But the mystique of the Lapphunds was already out there for all to view.
Theldaroy's second litter was in March 2003. Puppies going to Magpielane, Armahani both in Victoria, and Shuyak in SA.
From this very humble beginning, the breed in Australia has grown from strength to strength.
Breeding practices that were established back then are maintained by all breeders ie hip and elbow testing, screening of eyes by vet ophthalmologists, DNA screening for then PRA and now for many other diseases that are developed for screening, including DM and Pompes.
We here at Theldaroy are extremely proud of our input to the development and establishing of this beautiful and gentle breed in Australia. We are honoured to have had this recognised at the inaugural Finnish Lapphund club show in Victoria. We now have 2 affiliated breed clubs and the start of another 2 states beginning to form a social club.
It will be interesting to see where we stand with the breed in another 15 years.
After a scare with a paralysis tick, it was decided to breed this pair quickly and this was done with the first litter arriving in December 2001.
From this litter successes in the ring were quick to occur. Puppies from this litter were sold to show homes in Victoria to Janoby and Articmal, to Far North Qld to Sibermoon, Miavig took a female to enable them to breed, and another female went to Watersedge also then in Qld.
No further litters were had by Kylikki.
But the mystique of the Lapphunds was already out there for all to view.
Theldaroy's second litter was in March 2003. Puppies going to Magpielane, Armahani both in Victoria, and Shuyak in SA.
From this very humble beginning, the breed in Australia has grown from strength to strength.
Breeding practices that were established back then are maintained by all breeders ie hip and elbow testing, screening of eyes by vet ophthalmologists, DNA screening for then PRA and now for many other diseases that are developed for screening, including DM and Pompes.
We here at Theldaroy are extremely proud of our input to the development and establishing of this beautiful and gentle breed in Australia. We are honoured to have had this recognised at the inaugural Finnish Lapphund club show in Victoria. We now have 2 affiliated breed clubs and the start of another 2 states beginning to form a social club.
It will be interesting to see where we stand with the breed in another 15 years.
