HELLO!

Let's face it, I'm a dog nerd.  I train and compete in conformation, agility, barn hunt, herding, and rally, to name a few, and am constantly dipping my toes in other activities as they present themselves.  I am honestly a wee bit new to the world of ethically bred purebreds, having gotten my first, a Swedish Vallhund named Rolston, in 2014.  We have learned so much together and he has helped shape me as a trainer and handler in more ways than I could count.  It's like he knows I'm a bit hopeless and could use the lessons.

Before him, I had a parade of rescues including two Pembroke Welsh Corgis and a Border Collie.  Rescuing is a beautiful thing that I will always support, however I personally needed more predictability in temperament, drive, and health, something I have found in the ethically bred purebred.

I have spent and continue to spend countless hours poring through breed books on the Vallhund and speaking to a number of experts across the world.  In turn, I have dedicated plenty of time educating other people on the breed and encouraging novices.  

Besides the Vallhunds, I have an especially sassy Smooth Collie, an ancient Japanese Chin (my last rescue dog), all these cats, a hoard of New Caledonian geckos, and a gaggle of rats that I use for my barn hunt classes.  Oh.  And two absolutely useless, yet adorable, axolotls.

With the help of my dogs' breeders and other extremely experienced mentors, I hope to produce my first Swedish Vallhund litter in 2022.  In my breeding program, I strive for proper to-standard conformation, sound temperaments, plenty of working drive, and herding instinct while maintaining genetic diversity.  Rolston was one of the first 100 dogs included in UC Davis's genetic diversity study for the breed.

Currently I live in Oklahoma City with my spouse who somehow puts up with me.  (Seriously, though, she's fantastic and I don't deserve her.)

-Carol Gravley