About Us
I am an AKC Bronze Breeder of Merit of Icelandic Sheepdogs and Norrbottenspets located in the Dallas, TX area. You can contact me by emailing [email protected] or reaching out on Facebook!
You can fill out a puppy application by clicking here.
I am a CPDT-KA, full-time dog trainer, active dog sport competitor, pet owner, and occasional breeder. Our dogs, purebred and not, live with us in the house (myself, Gabi, and my husband Chris), take up room in our bed, travel with us, and would be happy to meet you if you are interested in learning more about our breeds! I worked in marketing for multiple high volume animal shelters for years, and got bit by the dog training/competing bug while working with our first shelter dog. I have since made dog training my full time job, and I teach agility, obedience, rally, barn hunt and more in addition to competing myself. I am a Canine Good Citizen, tricks, temperament test, and farm dog evaluator for the AKC, and an all levels rally judge for WCRL (Cynosport rally). In addition to breeding and raising Icelandic Sheepdogs and Norrbottenspets, we have continued our work with shelters and rescues and foster frequently. Chris is a full time sports journalist, and helps care for the dogs and raise puppies though he does not compete or train himself.
I am President of the American Norrbottenspets Association, and have served on the board of both the Icelandic Sheepdog Association of America and the National Icelandic Sheepdog Rescue Association. My interest in preserving these breeds started with our first Icelandic Sheepdog, Jeni. I had been interested in the Icelandic Sheepdog and had met several breeders and their dogs, considering a puppy as a future competition prospect. In the fall of 2012, I was contacted by a local breeder, asking if I could help with a rescue situation. There were several adult Icelandics needing placement - they had generally been kept in crates in the basement and had been poorly socialized and neglected. We took Jeni home, and despite her challenges (she was noisephobic, dog reactive, and knew nothing about training or how to interact with humans), we quickly fell in love with her and got to know the wonderful Icelandic Sheepdog community. While she'd had a poor start, with some training, she went on to compete and title in rally and agility, to earn her trick dog championship and advanced canine good citizen titles, and a herding title! Her resilience impressed me, and the welcoming attitudes of others with the breed was hard to resist.
You can fill out a puppy application by clicking here.
I am a CPDT-KA, full-time dog trainer, active dog sport competitor, pet owner, and occasional breeder. Our dogs, purebred and not, live with us in the house (myself, Gabi, and my husband Chris), take up room in our bed, travel with us, and would be happy to meet you if you are interested in learning more about our breeds! I worked in marketing for multiple high volume animal shelters for years, and got bit by the dog training/competing bug while working with our first shelter dog. I have since made dog training my full time job, and I teach agility, obedience, rally, barn hunt and more in addition to competing myself. I am a Canine Good Citizen, tricks, temperament test, and farm dog evaluator for the AKC, and an all levels rally judge for WCRL (Cynosport rally). In addition to breeding and raising Icelandic Sheepdogs and Norrbottenspets, we have continued our work with shelters and rescues and foster frequently. Chris is a full time sports journalist, and helps care for the dogs and raise puppies though he does not compete or train himself.
I am President of the American Norrbottenspets Association, and have served on the board of both the Icelandic Sheepdog Association of America and the National Icelandic Sheepdog Rescue Association. My interest in preserving these breeds started with our first Icelandic Sheepdog, Jeni. I had been interested in the Icelandic Sheepdog and had met several breeders and their dogs, considering a puppy as a future competition prospect. In the fall of 2012, I was contacted by a local breeder, asking if I could help with a rescue situation. There were several adult Icelandics needing placement - they had generally been kept in crates in the basement and had been poorly socialized and neglected. We took Jeni home, and despite her challenges (she was noisephobic, dog reactive, and knew nothing about training or how to interact with humans), we quickly fell in love with her and got to know the wonderful Icelandic Sheepdog community. While she'd had a poor start, with some training, she went on to compete and title in rally and agility, to earn her trick dog championship and advanced canine good citizen titles, and a herding title! Her resilience impressed me, and the welcoming attitudes of others with the breed was hard to resist.
While there are a large number of Icelandic Sheepdog and Norrbottenspets breeders I consider mentors and owe for my success as a competitor and breeder, I have to acknowledge Sheryl Thelen with Tri-Star Icelandics, for giving me a foot in the door to showing and breeding Icelandics. She sent puppies to be socialized at our house, which expanded into sending dogs for training and showing. I have had the pleasure of sharing my home with and titling with many Tri-Star dogs. They really cemented my love for the breed, and gave me the chance to get practical experience competing with them. After a couple of years working with Jeni and Sheryl's dogs, I had the opportunity to bring Link into my life, and the rest is history. Sheryl also fostered the relationship with Cathy Lallemand at Thrymheim Icelandics that allowed for my first litter.
My introduction to the Norrbottenspets was a bit more unorthodox. You can read how Pirate came into our lives here. I am grateful to Pam Cleary of Afloat Norrbottenspets for allowing to Pirate to stay with us, Susan Lundebjerg for welcoming me onto the ANA board, and Karen Riggin of Hrafna Icelandics for going on this new adventure with me.
My introduction to the Norrbottenspets was a bit more unorthodox. You can read how Pirate came into our lives here. I am grateful to Pam Cleary of Afloat Norrbottenspets for allowing to Pirate to stay with us, Susan Lundebjerg for welcoming me onto the ANA board, and Karen Riggin of Hrafna Icelandics for going on this new adventure with me.