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Your Viking Dog for the Modern World
Ethical Stewardship in a Modern World
Ethical Stewardship in a Modern World
Odindisa’s mission is to raise well-bred, well-raised Little Viking Dogs who bring joy, connection, and ancient courage into modern homes.
At Odindisa, we prioritise breeding Vallhunds who are a pleasure to live with. Our focus extends beyond structure and tradition to include social responsibility in the modern human world. We intentionally develop dogs who can navigate everyday life with composure and curiosity. Dogs who are welcome participants in homes, communities, and shared spaces.
Puppies are bred and raised with intention from the very beginning. Odindisa applies scientifically backed foundations from early development, enhanced by purposeful socialisation that builds adaptability and emotional resilience. These protocols support the development of well-balanced Vallhunds capable of navigating the modern human world with confidence. These are dogs designed to be good citizens as well as loyal companions, truly adventerous and bold Little Vikings in this modern world.
Both the Swedish RAS and Finnish JTO produced through their respective Kennel Clubs have independently reached very similar conclusions about the Vallhund: preserve the breed, maintain genetic diversity, avoid excessive use of popular sires, and assess breeding animals in the context of their families and the wider population. Odindisa is guided by these principles and is committed to the ethical preservation and advancement of the Swedish Vallhund, contributing to a strong and diverse genetic future for the breed in Australia and beyond. Our program focuses on correct type while maintaining the functional versatility that defines the Vallhund as a true working spitz.
Every puppy is bred with the same care, ethics, and dedication as if destined for the show ring. Modern technology is embraced to uphold the highest standards of genetic testing, health screening, and lifelong care. The legacy of wisdom, passion, and stewardship passed down by dedicated predecessors is honoured in every generation we raise.
Science-Informed Decisions
Science-Informed Decisions
Odindisa is guided by intentional, evidence-led decision making.
Our breeding program is informed by my formal studies in genetics, ongoing professional development, and regular engagement with current peer-reviewed research. We maintain access to subscription-based academic and veterinary journals that are typically unavailable to the general public, so that we can assess our breeding practices, health considerations, and developmental outcomes through a professional and research-informed lens.
As a result, decisions at Odindisa are not based on tradition, popularity, or anecdote alone. Each pairing, rearing practice, and developmental choice is evaluated against established genetic principles, contemporary research, and real-world outcomes observed over time.
Research is not treated as abstract theory, but as a practical tool. It shapes how genetic diversity, health planning, temperament development, and early environmental design are approached. As new evidence emerges, practices are reviewed and adapted to ensure they remain aligned with both the science and the lived experience of the dogs themselves.
Every pairing at Odindisa is planned using a combination of:
population genetics principles
peer-reviewed canine and veterinary research
longitudinal health and temperament data
structural analysis against the breed standard
practical, real-world outcomes observed over generations
Utilising current research allows us to evaluate genetic diversity beyond pedigree appearance, identify emerging health correlations, design early developmental environments informed by neurobiological research rather than tradition, and continually refine breeding practices as evidence evolves.
Through this approach, Odindisa contributes thoughtfully to the long-term health, stability, and sustainability of the breed, producing dogs who are not only structurally sound, but thrive in modern homes and communities.
Focused Priorities
Focused Priorities
The focuses are prioritised as:
Temperament:
The utmost priority is to create the ideal environment for sound temperament development. This begins with the careful selection of parents who provide a strong foundational temperament for their puppies. This foundation is further developed through scientifically backed foundations and structured, purposeful socialisation.
As your puppy grows, your ongoing guidance and training play a vital role in shaping their development. Together, this approach supports the puppy in becoming a confident, well-rounded companion that is a pleasure to live with.
Health:
Genetic testing helps guide responsible decisions and minimise avoidable inherited health risks, supporting the long-term wellbeing of the breed and your dog.
All Odindisa, all breeding dogs undergo genetic testing as part of our commitment to informed, ethical breeding. These results guide responsible breeding choices while maintaining genetic diversity and overall breed soundness.
For puppy owners, this provides confidence that breeding choices have been made thoughtfully and transparently, with care taken to balance health, diversity, and soundness.
Conformation:
Odindisa breeding dogs will generally hold Champion status in conformation as evidence of their consistency with the breed standard as assessed by multiple judges.
Sound structure and correct dentition contribute to durability, comfort, and functional soundness throughout your dog’s life.
Odindisa acknowledges that some of the best dogs however have never stepped paw in the show ring, and so will never discount a dog from its program that has yet to be considered by judges.
Puppy Rearing
Puppy Rearing
Odindisa puppies are handled immediately after birth and during their development, incorporating the 'Super Dog Program' practices and bio sensor stimulation exercises. Scientifically-backed protocols are used to greatly improve outcomes for puppies. The creation of novelty-seeking confident Little Viking Dogs includes:
Early Neurological Stimulation
Early Scent Introduction
Problem Solving through Challenges
Conditioning to Crates and Car Rides
Exposure to noises, sights and smells
Exploring different textures and temperatures
Playing in foliage and shadows
Getting lots of cuddles!
Guidelines for Breeding Vallhunds
Guidelines for Breeding Vallhunds
The breeding of Vallhunds at Odindisa is generally guided by the aims of The Swedish Vallhund's breed club, Specialklubben för Västgötaspets (Specialty Club for Västgötaspets) (SKV), noted in its' breed-specific breeding strategy (RAS):
"Raise interest for and promote breeding of sound, mentally and exteriorly good specimens of Swedish Vallhund
as well as preserving the specific characteristics and attributes of the breed."
SVK notes it is extremely important to manage all of the breed's breed-typical attributes and not to change or refine it, neither externally nor mentally. The breed is healthy with an old cynological heritage. Many Västgötaspets live to be 13–14 years or older with maintained vitality. Odindisa strives for the breed to remain the healthy, robust and natural dog it has always been, namely a dog breed without exaggerations.
Similarly, the Finnish Kennel Clubs' Breed-Specific Breeding Programme [JTO] describes the fundamental purpose of breeding the Vallhund as preserving the breed unchanged, breed-typical, without exaggerated structural characteristics, as genetically diverse as possible, open and friendly in temperament, and as healthy and long-lived as it has historically been.
At Odindisa, we make an important distinction between health testing and breeding value assessment. Health testing gives information about an individual dog. It helps identify known conditions, carriers of particular genetic mutations, physical abnormalities and other aspects of health that are relevant to responsible breeding. But a test result is not, by itself, a measure of a dog's overall breeding value. Breeding value is about the genetic contribution a dog can make to future generations. For complex traits, this cannot be determined reliably from the dog alone, or a single test. It requires consideration of the dog's family, descendants and the wider population.
This is particularly important in the Swedish Vallhund. The breed has a restricted genetic base, making the preservation of genetic diversity an important component of maintaining long-term health. The breeding strategies of SKV RAS and the Finnish JTO place considerable emphasis on population diversity, family health and avoiding excessive reliance on individual breeding animals.
At Odindisa, we health test where testing provides meaningful information, but we don't confuse a test result with genetic breeding value. At Odindisa we're opposed to treating individual test results as synonymous with breeding quality, and avoid a reductionist approach to breeding (as articulated by the Royal Kennel Club). Odindisa's position is further supported by the Finnish JTO, which states that the breed does not need to be improved: it needs to be preserved as it is.
Odindisa strives towards:
Health and genetic variation
Mentality: Lively and attentive (not hot). Bold and fearless (without a tendency to timidity or fear, not overly attached to the driver). Sansad (ability to relax between tasks).
Usability: Interest in independent work (high initiative). Ability to concentrate (for individual tasks). Mobile and durable (can move freely in different gaits for a long time - not rough and clumsy). Herding law (interest in herding).
Appealing exterior: Corresponding to a good or very good breeding result; EX, VG or G in quality assessment or Excellent type, Very good type and Good type in exterior description.
Further information on the guiding principles and breeding strategies of SKV RAS, which also broadly guides Odindisa, are on SKV's website (with an English version available below):
vastgotaspets_eng_ras2.pdfPage updated
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