Gabi Vannini
1. My name is Gabi Vannini and I breed Norrbottenspets and Icelandic Sheepdogs under the prefix Red Cedar. I’ve been in dogs for 14 years or so and had my first litter in 2018. I live in the Dallas, Texas, area and I am a dog trainer at a local facility where I teach private behavior lessons and sports classes. I compete in a variety of events with my dogs, including Agility, Obedience, Rally, Conformation, Scent Work, Barn Hunt, and others. I am a Bronze Breeder of Merit for Icelandic Sheepdogs and a Breeder of Merit for Norrbottenspets.
2. Norrbottenspets are very rare in the US and North America, but they are still used for their original function and relatively populous in Sweden and Finland. In general, throughout the world, breeders are very cognizant of health issues (including seizures) and keeping a low COI in the breed. Recent restrictions on importing puppies to the US are definitely a concern with maintaining genetic diversity in the US population. It is not a breed where AI is common, so convincing people overseas to ship semen rather than dogs will be important moving forward. There are less than 300 dogs in the US and only a handful of breeders. We have done a good job of cooperating between the US and Canada in particular with maintaining a sound and healthy population in North America, but we definitely need more good breeders coming into the breed.
3. At this point in time, showing our dogs is more about introducing them to new people and educating judges and exhibitors on the breed than it is about truly competing among others in the breed. With the small numbers we have, we all have to work together and focus on dog quality and pedigrees when making breeding selections, rather than considering show success as a factor in breeding. We appreciate judges who ask questions and take their time to go over the dogs they are presented so that they can absorb as much information as possible during their assignment. A couple of years ago, we did a judge’s education seminar in Orlando during the Royal Canin shows and had a number of great judges come who were interested in meeting and learning more about the breed. With the Norrbottenspets, we have to coordinate with other exhibitors to even have more than one dog of the breed at a show. So, shows that are centrally located where multiple people can come from different areas are always appreciated. I look for multi-day clusters that also offer Open Shows and/or performance events, so I can take advantage of multiple opportunities while at one show since we usually have to travel.
4. The biggest challenges for us on the road to full recognition have been the numbers. At this point, the breed just doesn’t have enough interest to maintain the number of litters AKC would like within a five-year span. Some frustration comes from people not being interested in the breed because they do not yet have full recognition, but we won’t be able to reach full recognition without more people interested in the breed! We do our best to get our dogs out as much as possible to Open Shows, regular Miscellaneous Classes, and Meet the Breeds.
5. Social media has been great for the Norrbottenspets in particular, and I think for dog showing and the sport in general. Most of my puppy people are people I’ve met through social media. Places like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok have introduced people to the breed who wouldn’t have otherwise been exposed to them. It allows us to network with other exhibitors with Miscellaneous breeds as well, so we have competition at shows. Everyone is generally supportive of each other—all of us have to earn a certain number of Certificates of Merit in each breed in order to progress to regular status, so we are all rooting for each other.
6. I think accessibility is a big issue, whether it’s financial, distance, or just not knowing the “right” people. We need new people coming into the sport, and these new people deserve good dogs and pleasant experiences when showing their dogs. Many of my puppy owners are people who are getting their first dog of this breed, or their first show dog. I do what I can to support them and set them up with people in their area who can do the same. I try to help people, whether they are my puppy owners or not, to be able to show by transporting people to shows, showing them how to enter and guiding them when they are there, or coordinating group Airbnbs to make lodging more affordable, etc. This goes for new exhibitors whether they are a puppy owner of mine or not. I have many first-time show homes that have done amazing things with their dogs, and I encourage other breeders to give “new” people a chance. It’s the only way the sport will continue to exist at all.
7. In general, I think I am seeing an increased understanding of breeding truly functional dogs—not just dogs that are good show dogs. Understanding that genetic diversity, COI, temperament, longevity, etc., are all important and should be factors. Health testing and show titles are not what makes a great breeding dog or breeding program. We need dogs that can live well and adapt to the world as it is. In my circles, I am seeing dogs that are capable of being great pets, great show dogs, and great working dogs, and they can hold all of those things in balance. I’m also seeing an increase in diversity in the dog sport world, though there are still a lot of road blocks and people who are resistant to change. I see a lot of new breeders and exhibitors who are kind to people and their dogs, and surrounding myself with these people is important to me and gives me hope for the future.
