Perla from Möðruvellir

Perla was our first dog. She was a strong personality, as Icelandic dogs often are. Our younger daughter was then three and a half, and they became the best of friends. So close that my daughter gave her one of her pacifiers. They often sat on the floor, side by side, both with pacifiers.

Our youngest child was born when Perla was two years old, and she decided from the very beginning that he would be her puppy. I once found them both in her basket, facing each other, each gnawing on a synthetic bone with a generous knot at each end.

Perla also made sure he was always clean and neat because sometimes it bothered her when something came out of him, as happens with small children. She was much quicker than I was to clean his face and also his clothes.

Perla was very refined and a true lady. Once in winter, I took her to a dog training class/school held outdoors. She enjoyed it so much and always reminded me of the day the class was. There had been a lot of snow, which suddenly melted and froze again, leaving a thick layer of ice behind, as often happens. We had arrived at the location, and the owners and dogs walked several large circles in the slush. Then it was time to let the dogs sit. Perla looked at me, then at the slush, and back at me with an expression as if to say, "Do you expect me to sit in this?"

Once in a while, my husband took Perla out of town to let her run. It was bitterly cold from the north, not enjoyable weather at all, but the Icelandic dog tolerates it just fine. Shortly after they left, I heard barking by the outside door. There she was, impatiently waiting. My husband came home after some timel, having searched a lot for her (in those days, people didn't have mobile phones). When he let her out of the car, she took off and went straight home, the fine lady.

Perla always slept by the feet of two of our children in turns throughout the night. Then, when it got too hot for her, she lay in the hallway between their rooms.

When we got Bjartur, she was 9 years old and not very thrilled initially. On the first day, he was not allowed into the youngest child's room at all. The next day, he could go into the room but not near his bed. After that, everything was fine. She then adopted Bjartur and decided clearly that he was her puppy. She raised him entirely, taught him what was allowed and not allowed, and scolded him if he did something wrong. With them, such great love formed that it was delightful to see.

One story about Perla in the end. I had just spread bread with smoked salmon for the family and was putting the plate with the bread on the table when Bjartur came, stretched up on the kitchen bench (he was so tall), and stole the remaining piece of salmon. Perla then came at full speed, scolded him so severely that he dropped the salmon piece. She then grabbed the piece and ate it herself; she was indeed very fond of food.

Perla b. 23.09.1983 – d. 20.11.1987

Born at the presbytery Möðruvellir in Hörgárdalur. Breeder: Sr. Pétur Þórarinsson and his wife Ingibjörg S. Siglaugsdóttir.