After five years in the Miscellaneous group, the Swedish Norrbottenspets is officially recognized as a breed by the Canadian Kennel Club as of January 1994.

Besides the Norwegian Elkhound, Finnish Spitz and Drever, the Norrbottenspets is the fourth Scandinavian hunting dog in the Hound Group and the driving force behind this achievement is Inger and she comes from the village of Insjõ outside Äsele.

When Inger Colins left Sweden she could not have imagined that she would become the driving force behind getting the Swedish breed Norrbottenspets fully recognized by the Canadian Kennel Club in 1994.

It is now almost 17 years since Inger moved from Stockholm leaving a career as a model and later manager for the modelling school "La Bonita" to move to the prairie province of Saskatchewan in central Canada. Together with husband and son she settled in the city of Saskatoon, an area familiar to them through an older relative who settled there many, many years earlier.

Even though Inger’s dialect reveals that her roots are in northern Sweden, the winters in Saskatchewan were not what the family was used to. "At home it could be very cold for a few days, but there was always a milder day sooner or later. Saskatchewan has inaldn climate and it was not unusual to have -40° several months in a row."

Inger’s interest in dogs was not prevalent at that time, her interest was fashion. She had her own business importing clothes from Scandinavia and was, among other things, partly responsible for the introduction of Icelandic fashions in Canada.

It was almost 10 years later that the first Norrbottenspets came to Inger. It was a present from her parents, but it was a breed she was familiar with from her northern homeland. Her brother also owned a Norrbottenspets which he used for hunting.

Inger fell in love with the breed and started importing several breeding animals. These dogs became the foundation of almost all Norrbottenspets in Canada and are still happily running around outside her large house.

"This one is from Vilhelmina, this one from around Umeä, this one from Robertsfors, this one from Boden and that one from Arjeplog", Inger smiles and points to a group of jumping and barking Norrbottenspets. They constitute a group of pure northerners and are the foundation of the breed when it is officially recognized, however more and more puppies are now being born in Canada.

Inger had her first litter of puppies in Canada in the beginning of January 1990. Today Inger has 15 puppies in 3 litters which are almost ready for delivery from Valhallasun Kennel. There is now also another breeder in Canada.

"Dogs in Canada, the official magazine for the Canadian Kennel Club, had an article about the breed. A breeder in Ontario, a French-Canadian teacher, who also breeds German Shepherds and Poodles, saw the pictures and became very enthusiastic. She phoned every Colins in the telephone book and since my husbands first name is Zale, we were the last ones she called." Inger sold a puppy and now there are at least 30 dogs in Canada.

"I have also sold a puppy to Texas, one to California and one puppy is destined for Oregon." It is, of course, not easy to get an odd breed like the Norrbottenspets recognized by CKC. It took five years of hard work while the breed was placed in the Miscellaneous Group to reach that goal. But Inger is not yet satisfied. "Now we will try to get as many as possible to become champions", she says with enthusiasm.

Apart from its excellent hunting capabilities, especially as a tree barker, the Norrbottenspets is a nice and active all round dog and it is probably as such it will have a future in North America.

It is common knowledge that hunters are a conservative group not easily convinced to try a new breed or a new way to hunt. The Swedish type of grouse is not common in North America and as a hunting dog, the Norrbottenspets would probably have some other use.

"There is a tendency towards smaller dogs becoming more popular. Yesterday I sold a puppy to a girl who has a Karelian Bear Dog. The Norrbottenspets suited her life style better and is easier to handle than the bigger spitz.

Success in USA

When the breed was in the Miscellaneous Group, Inger had only one opportunity per year to exhibit her dogs in Canada, but there is another national club in the US besides AKC: the International All Breed Kennel Club of America. This club is associated with a German club which recognizes almost all breeds on the FCI list. Inger’s dogs have been very successfully shown at exhibitions organized by the IABKCA.

Since the breed was placed in the Miscellaneous Group, Inger has been able to compete in obedience trials organized by the CKC. She has shown 5 of her dogs in obedience with good results and thereby increased the awareness of the breed.

Inger does not want the breed to become too popular in North America. She wants healthy dogs placed with the right people and she is very concerned about eye cataracts and its prevention in North America.

Inger has set the purchase price of her puppies surprisingly high compared to what is normally paid. "Most people get a shock when I tell them to price for a puppy is $1,000, but those who are really sure the Norrbottenspets is for them willingly pay the extra money. The average price for a puppy is between 300 and 600 dollars."

It will probably take some time for the Norrbottenspets to become established in Canada but the recognition of the breed is the first step. In 1993 Inger and her husband Zale and other enthusiasts found a national breed club: Norrbottenspets Club of Canada, and are now working on the formation of a Swedish-Canadian Spitzhund Club.

Correct Information is Important

It is, of course, a big responsibility to introduce a breed to a foreign country and Inger is eager to demonstrate her breed and tell everyone who wants to listen about its characteristics. She distributes information leaflets and copies of the FCI standard which will be adopted by the Canadian Kennel Club without any changes.

Like many other immigrants, Inger Colins is proud of her old country, she likes to wear the Swedish national costume when she show her dogs and gives all her puppies Viking names to emphasize the background of the breed.

Even though the Norrbottenspets hardly will have its main future in North America as a tree barker, its many other qualities will be preserved and the Norrbottenspets will likely happily adapt to the Canadian climate and lifestyle.