©Leonie Darling

Leonie Darling

1/9/56 - 14/7/11

Tragically killed in motor vehicle accident.

Friend, mentor and breeder of Swedish Vallhunds in Australia.

Leonies achievements in the dog world span over 35 years.  Judge, BIS winner, established SV Breeder, importing and exporting to every corner of the globe.  Breeder of multi titled International SV's, author, just to name a few of her many achievements.

Her passion and knowledge of the breed never failed to impress.

The dog world, and particularly the Swedish Vallhund world, has lost a great lady.

Leonies sudden death has left the dog world reeling - I, personally, have lost a dear and much cherished friend.

Her legacy will live on through her dogs.

Leonie with her much loved Aust. Gr Ch Konnunkoden Draco Malfoy (Draco) - Imp Finland

AUS FIN EST SWE LV NORD N INT LVW06 Ch Dlarah Ghostbuster
"Casper"

Swedish Vallhund litters bred by Dlarah

How I started in the breed

In late 1994 my sister Jan rang me, whilst I was working in Bourke, remote NSW, and asked if I was interested in helping a friend of hers, Mandy (Lynette) Lees of Leesway Kennels to promote a rare breed called a Swedish Vallhund. My response was, what is a Swedish Vallhund, never heard of it I thought. A look costs nothing so when I arrived back home at Christmas 1994 I contacted Mandy and asked to have a look at the dogs and see what sort of help she expected. I arrived at Mandys on Boxing Day, which is the 26 December in Australia, we hit it off and discussed each others expectations, I looked at the dogs and left Mandys home with three Swedish Vallhunds. They were Swede, Anna and Abba (who was later re-homed with Maureen Wright).

After owning two breeds, English Setters and Border Collies, which are often referred to as glamorous and flashy due to their long coats and colour markings, my initial thoughts when seeing the Swedish Vallhund for the first time was; plain but attractive with something very appealing about them. After the dogs and I had our initial settling in period, I started to discover their personality, wonderful nature and intelligence and have not looked back since.

My love of the breed has become a great passion I am thankful for the Swedish Vallhund coming into my life and giving me many great pleasures and happiness in the past eleven years. Forever grateful to my dogs for the joy, fulfilment and companionship that they give me everyday, there is nothing more rewarding than to observe and be apart of their humour and devotion. Medical experts say that laughter is one of the greatest medicines; well own a Swedish Vallhund and you have a dose of laughter everyday.

· Breeder of quality Swedish Vallhunds from English, Swedish, Canadian, Finnish and Australian bloodlines.

· Importer of quality Swedish Vallhunds from Finland, New Zealand and USA.

· Breeder & Handler of Australia's first Best in Show All Breeds Winner Aus Gr Ch Dlarah Puta Spell on You. Owner of Australia's only other Best in Show winner Aus Gr Ch Konnunkodon Draco Malfoy (imp Fin).

· Swedish Vallhund Breed lecturer for Dogs NSW judges training scheme and group five & three licensed judge. Judge the Finnish Breed Specialty in 2008.

· Breeder of Australia's first Frozen Semen AI litter - Importer and exporter of frozen semen.

· Owner & Handler of Australia's first Swedish Vallhund Male & Female Grand Champions - Leesway Swedish Echo & Dlarah Puta Spell on You

· Dlarah Swedish Vallhunds have gained consistent recognition at breed and group level, including; Multiple group one, two, class in group, in show awards, puppy sweepstakes wins and placings and multiple Royal Best of Breeds under Australian, International and Breed Specialist Judges including the Late Mr Ove Germundson (Swe).

· First Australian breeder to export the breed back to Scandinavia. Dlarah Swedish Vallhunds have been exported to Finland, Canada, New Zealand and UK.

· First Australian Swedish Vallhund breeder whose breeding has gained multiple international Championship titles including Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian, Lativan, Estonian, Nordic and the prestigious International Championship.

· Australia's top Swedish Vallhund Kennel for the past 10 years

Illustrations by Margaret Davidson - Commissioned by Leonie for The Swedish Vallhund: A Legacy of the Vikings, Leonie Darling) ©Leonie Darling

More About Leonie
In 2004 Leonie achieved another long term ambition by passing her Working Dog Group 5 exams qualifying her as a judge. 

Leonie commenced exhibiting and breeding English Setters in 1976 under the Genteel prefix. In the 1980's she became involved in the obedience field with Border Collie's titling a number of dogs. Leonie gained her Group 5 licence in 2004, then followed 2 years later with group 3.

Under the Dlarah prefix Leonie has bred a number of Swedish Vallhund Champions, class in group, group 2 & 1 winners, the first Australian male and female Grand Champions and Best in Show all breeds winner. In addition to showing Leonie is an accomplished author having self published and written 'The Swedish Vallhund (Vastgotaspets): A Legacy of the Vikings which has sold throughout the world. She also has the distinction of being the first Swedish Vallhund breeder in Australia to export the breed back to Scandinavia with Dlarah dogs being campaigned in Finland, Sweden, UK, Canada, USA and NZ. Dlarah dogs have gained Australian, New Zealand, Swedish, Finnish, Latvia, Estonian, Norwegian, Nordic and International championships. 

Leonie had the honour of attending the World Dog Show in Stockholm, Sweden 2008 and judging the Finnish Swedish Vallhund Specialty in Helsinki that same year. Club administration includes English Setter Club NSW; founder, holder of all executive positions and life member. Dogs NSW; Public relations committee member and chairperson, organisation of Sydney Pet and Animal Expo dog section 5 years, Chairperson Dogs NSW Disability Working Party 1 year, Swedish Vallhund Breed lecturer Judges Training Scheme Dogs NSW for past 14 years and Breed Lecturer for the Australian Shepherd Association of NSW 2011. Current involvement includes; the World Wide Swedish Vallhund database and development of the World Wide Swedish Vallhund Alliance, President of Western Region Working Dog Club NSW and member Working Dog Club NSW. 

Leonie enjoys the opportunity to travel, met and communicating with dog enthusiasts throughout the world, having travelled to NZ, USA, Canada, UK, Singapore, Thailand, Slovakia, Austria, Finland and Sweden. * Denotes breeds of interest. Breed specialist: Swedish Vallhund (Vastgotaspets), Border Collie and English Setter.

Toy Group 1

Affenpincher
Australian Silky Terrier
Bichon Frise
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Chihuahua (Long Coat)
Chihuahua (Smooth Coat)
Chinese Crested Dog
English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan)
Griffon Bruxellois
Harvanese
Italian Greyhound
Japanese Chin
King Charles Spaniel
Lowchen (Little Lion Dog)
Maltese
Miniature Pincher
Papillon
Pekingese
Pomeranian
Pug
Tibetan Spaniel
Yorkshire Terrier
  Aspiring - Non sporting Group 7

Boston Terrier 
British Bulldog 
Canaan Dog 
Chow Chow 
Dalmatian 
Eurasier 
French Bulldog 
German Spitz (Mittel & Klein) 
Great Dane 
Japanese Spitz 
Keeshond 
Lhasa Apso 
Peruvian Hairless Dog 
Peruvian Hairless Dog (Medium) 
Peruvian Hairless Dog (Small) 
Poodle (Miniature)
Poodle (Standard) 
Poodle (Toy) 
Schipperke 
Shar Pei 
Shih Tzu 
Tibetan Terrier 
Xoloitzcuintle 

Bracco Italiano
Brittany
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Clumber Spaniel
Cocker Spaniel
Cocker Spaniel (American)
Curly Coated Retriever
English Setter*
English Springer Spaniel
Field Spaniel
Flat Coated Retriever
German Shorthaired Pointer
German Wirehaired Pointer
Golden Retriever
Gordon Setter
Hungarian Vizsla
Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla
Irish Red and White Setter
Irish Setter
Irish Water Spaniel
Italian Pointing Dog
Italian Spinone
Labrador Retreiver*
Lagotto Romagnolo
Large Munsterlander
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Pointer
Sussex Spaniel
Weimaraner
Weimaraner Longhair
Welsh Springer Spaniel

Afghan Hound
Australian Dingo
Basenji
Basset Fauve De Bretagne
Basset Hound
Beagle
Bloodhound
Bluetick Coonhound
Borzoi
Dachshund (Long, Miniature Long, Smooth, Miniature Smooth, Wire, Miniature Wire)
Deerhound
Finnish Spitz
Foxhound
Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen
Greyhound
Hamiltonstovare
Harrier
Ibizan Hound
Irish Wolfhound
Norwegian Elkhound
Otterhound
Petite Basset Griffon Vendeen
Pharaoh Hound
Rhodesian Ridgeback
Saluki
Sloughi
Whippet

Working Group 5

Australian Cattle Dog 
Australian Kelpie*
Australian Shepherd 
Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog 
Bearded Collie 
Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) 
Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) 
Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois) 
Belgian Shepherd Dog (Tervueren) 
Bergamasco Shepherd Dog 
Border Collie* 
Bouvier des Flandres 
Briard 
Collie (Rough) 
Collie (Smooth) 
Dutch Shepherd 
Finnish Lapphund 
German Shepherd Dog*
Komondor 
Kuvasz 
Maremma Sheepdog 
Norwegian Buhund 
Old English Sheepdog 
Polish Lowland Sheepdog 
Puli 
Pumi 
Shetland Sheepdog 
Swedish Lapphund 
Swedish Vallhund*
Welsh Corgi (Cardigan) 
Welsh Corgi (Pembroke) 
White Swiss Shepherd Dog 

Copyright Vallarity 2005 All Rights Reserved

©Leonie Darling