On July 18th – The Icelandic Sheepdog‘s Day will be celebrated for the third time. The theme for the day is: „The Icelandic sheepdog is a family friend“
The Icelandic nation also celebrates 100 years of sovereignty in 2018 so there is every reason to draw attention to our cultural heritage – the Icelandic sheepdog.
3RD Annual Day Celebration Conference Agenda
An hour long conference starts at Café Meskí in Fákafen at noon, 12 o‘clock GMT on July 18th where three dog trainers will each present different topics. They are:
- MY LIFE WITH THE ICELANDIC SHEEPDOG HÓFÍ / Mrs. Monika Dagný Karlsdóttir presents her childrens book about the Icelandic dog Hólmfríður frá Kolsholti (1988-2003), Hófí is born.
- THE SIGN- AND BODY LANGUAGE OF THE ICELANDIC SHEEPDOG / Mrs. Brynhildur Inga Einarsdóttir gives an presentation with photos.
- PROHIBITION OF DOGS IN REYKJAVÍK FOR 60 YEARS / Mrs. Þórhildur Bjartmarz presents.
- PRESENTATION OF AWARDS FOR THE PHOTO COMPETITION / Mr. Ágúst Ágústsson presents the selection of the jury.
Conference moderator: Mrs. Brynhildur Bjarnadóttir
The Day’s preparation commitee encourages all owners and patrons of the Icelandic Sheepdog to celebrate the occation with their dog. Breeders are encouraged to contact their folks, dog owners and puppy buyers along with their dogs to do something fun for the occasion of the day, for example go hiking or meet with the dogs and have a nice time together.
The Day of the Icelandic Sheepdog has a FB page. We encourage you to share photos from the day under the hashtag #difdagur18. It’s also fun to get news in advance from those who have organized a program somewhere else. Many people use a ribbon in the colors of the Icelandic flag to “decorate” the dog with on July 18th.
Photo competition:
These past few weeks a photo competition titled Children and Dogs has been held. The competition entry ended last night and roughly 110 photos were entered under the hashtag #myndakeppni2018. Beautiful and diverse pictures were entered and equally many pictures of boys and girls. Now a special jury takes over and selects the best pictures. The jury consists of: Ágúst Ágústsson, former chairman of DÍF, Pétur Alan Guðmundsson and Maggý R Þorvaldsdóttir Pease. All three are well known photographers and will choose the three winning photos. The winning photos receive prizes given by the following parties:
Draumsýn Publishers gives the book Hófí, adventures of an Icelandic Sheepdog by Monika Karlsdóttir, illustrated by Martine Jaspers-Verslujis.
Dýrheimar Sf / Royal Canin gives mattresses and toys for the dog.
Hundalifspostur.is gives a cup, marked The Day of the Icelandic Sheepdog – Photo competition 2018
Ágúst Ágústsson chairman of the jury and former chairman of DÍF gives a beautiful item for the very best picture.
The Day’s Preparation Commitee:
The commitee consists of: Anna Kristín Einarsdóttir, Ágúst Ágústson, Brynhildur Bjarnadóttir, Linda Laufey Bragadóttir, Jórunn Sörensen, Stefanía H. Sigurðardóttir, Sólrún Lilja Ragnarsdóttir and Þórhildur Bjartmarz. The working group has met several times since early spring to prepare a program for the day. Some things have worked, others not. This year the photo competition will be the most prominent event. The commitee prepared a presentation of the Icelandic Sheepdog at the outdoor museeum Árbæjarsafn on July 18th. Preparations for the Icelandic Sheepdogs Day in 2019 are underway and we aim to make most of the day during the 50th anniversary of The Icelandic Kennel Club.
Dear patrons of the Icelandic Sheepdog – take part in having a joyful day with the Icelandic Sheepdog on July 18th.
Thorhildur Bjartmarz
(Stefanía H. Sigurðardóttir)
