How It All Began: The Story of Norsken Amida, Australia’s First Japanese Spitz

Norsken Amida	Alvretens Omonzuru of Norsken
	Alvretens Jicho of Norsken

In 1979, a little white dog named Norsken Amida, stepped off a plane. Affectionately known as Frosty, this little puppy quietly made history. This happened long before the Japanese Spitz was a familiar sight in Australian show rings.

Peter Marcovich shared his and his wife Tricia story about Frosty. Frosty was born in the first-ever UK litter bred by Dorothy Kenyon. He arrived in Australia with a charming smile. He had a pioneering mission: to help create a new population in a new land.

Of course, bringing Frosty over was just the beginning. Tricia and Peter soon started the detailed task of gaining breed recognition through the Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC). This was a critical step to allow Japanese Spitz to be officially shown and bred within the country.

One year later, Melbourne Royal Show 1980 catalog. The first Japanese Spitz presented in Junior class under number 4100. AUST CH NORSKEN AMIDA D481273D12. Breeder: Mrs D Kenyon

In 1980, Frosty was joined by Norsken Daibutsu, or Flair, becoming the second Japanese Spitz in Australia. The first litter was born just a year later, in 1981. It was a memorable moment in the Marcovich household. Tricia was also very pregnant with their daughter, Hayley Dunne.

But how did they come across this striking breed in the first place?

Peter and Tricia had been successfully breeding and showing Collies for many years. Tricia wanted something smaller. She fell in love with the look of the American Eskimo Dog after seeing photos. In the pre-internet days, tracking down an unusual breed wasn’t as simple as it is today. Peter contacted their trusted UK dog shipping agent. This was someone who had earlier helped them import several Collies. He wanted to see if any American Eskimos could be found in the UK.

No luck on the Eskimo front—but fate had other plans.

The agent instead discovered Dorothy Kenyon, the woman responsible for introducing the Japanese Spitz to the UK. And so, through that serendipitous connection, Frosty found his way to Australia.

Today, the Marcovich family continues to share their home with their beloved Japanese Spitz. They sadly lost the two siblings, Danny and Sandy — with Sandy living to the remarkable age of almost 16.

Now, another male Japanese Spitz, Rukka, carries on the tradition and keeps the breed firmly at the heart of their home. He is very much in charge, too — convinced that the lounge chair belongs to him and clearly unimpressed whenever anyone else dares to sit in it.

This is more than just a story of one dog. It’s a tale of dedication, timing, and a bit of luck. It marks the humble beginnings of what would become a beloved breed across Australia.

References

1. Melbourne Royal Show  1980