SVCA Update to  AKC   9/00

Submitted by Gail Smyka, SVCA Secretary

  While  the SVCA  continues  to work toward our goal of full AKC recognition for our Breed, we understand that it is a process.  Per the AKC Gazette of February 2000, we noted that Board’s approval of the concept of  a type of FSS conformation event. Currently there are 44 FSS breeds listed. In hopes of having the Swedish Vallhund as one of the initially chosen Breeds for this arena, the SVCA submitted this information asking that it be included in our folder, on file with the AKC. Much of this information was already with AKC; however, here it was systematically arranged with included graphs and charts.  It is presented so that all members may have the information.

The SVCA

Our Club, the Swedish Vallhund Club of America, was reorganized in 2/98. From a start of 13 listed members, we have grown to 107 members, as of June 2000. While most of our members are from the USA, seven are from other countries. Our USA members range from Maine to California and Alaska and Hawaii to Florida.  We have increased from 10 USA households to 87 USA households. We continue to have applicants to be considered for membership to the SVCA.

Swedish Vallhund Numbers

Our Breed, the Swedish Vallhund, has also shown much growth since its beginning in the USA.  The following data was extrapolated and interpreted  from our International and National SV databases.  From 2 SV’s in 1984, we have grown to 317 SV’s in the  USA, and four special registration SV’s who were rescued. We have SV’s in all states now except:  Arkansas, Delaware, Idaho, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, South Dakota, and West Virginia.  The following chart and graph illustrate the yearly growth of the SV in the USA.  The year 2000 totals are only listed through June 2000. As noted in the next section, seven more litters are planned for this year.

Interesting Fact: SV’s per Owner

As our Breed has been introduced to new owners, it is interesting how many SV owners have more than one SV. There are currently about 187 owners of Swedish Vallhunds in the USA. Of these, 49 owners have more than one SV Thus, because of the SV’s excellent temperament, companionship, and task readiness,  26% of owners already have more than one SV.

Swedish Vallhund Activities

Many of our SV’s participate in obedience and agility events and ever more are involved in their original work of herding. Others are training for rescue work and even more are working as therapy dogs. All are our wonderful companions.

What our Breed & Club have to offer

We believe our Breed and our Club have much to offer to the AKC.

The Swedish Vallhund presents as an amazing dog with a wonderful temperament, adaptability to varied conditions, flexibility in working at herding and other events and trials as well as a marvelous companion dog in a compact form. He is a healthy dog, muscular and agile, alert and watchful, and loving and friendly to all. He is now spreading throughout this country with members and dogs also grouped in major metropolitan areas. A good number of SV owners also travel throughout the country to have their SV’s compete in canine events.

 

Our goal is first and foremost to preserve, protect, and promote our wonderful Breed. We also want to have the Breed and Club recognized by AKC. While we are a young Club and newer to FSS than other FSS Breeds, we have already established our constitution, bylaws, code of ethics, Breed standard, and some policies. We have elected to regulate ourselves to follow AKC rules and guidelines in our endeavors as a means to reach our goals.  We have had an election and have also  put into place an Interim Rescue Policy while we work out details of the full policy.  We have developed a handout sheet of information for the general public, which includes a history of the Breed and Club and our Breed Standard.  We are growing and learning.  We understand that review and changes will occur through the AKC process.  We continue to build Club membership as well as dog numbers in the USA. We participate in what dog shows and events we can to educate the public regarding our Breed.

 

Our Education Committee has cooperated with authors to get information about the Breed into books and magazines for the general public. We have developed and regularly updated our website (http://www.swedishvallhund.org) and respond to email inquiries, phone calls, and letters. We have a quarterly SVCA newsletter. The SVCA newsletter editor recently received an invitation to the Dog Writers’ Awards Ceremony for the quality of the SVCA Newsletter.

 

Summary

In summary, the SVCA

$             has in place its organizational structure with major documents, website, and newsletter

$             is open to review and change in this process

$            is committed to preserve, protect, and promote our Breed and our Club

$             has grown in number of members and USA households and continues to grow

$             has very good  distribution across the states in the  USA

$             has groupings of dogs and members in major metropolitan areas

$             has owners with SV’s who travel around the country to canine events

 

Our Swedish Vallhunds

$             have increased in number from 2 in 1984 to 317 in June, 2000. This does not include the 5 SV’s who have been exported and the 3 Special Registration SV’s.

$             have shown a steady , sustained growth in  litter numbers

$             are involved in their original work of herding as well as other canine events

$             are becoming more familiar to the public at large

$             have excellent distribution across the states in the USA

 

We hope that the information we have presented to the AKC will allow them to look favorably upon our wonderful breed in considering them to be chosen for the first FSS special class.