Swedish Vallhund

Quick facts

	AKC Group:	Herding
	Height:	Male: 12.5-13.5 Inches, Female: 11.5-12.5 Inches
	Weight:	Male: 25-35 pounds, Female: 25-30 pounds
	Colors:	Gray, gray-white, gray-brown, red-brown, red-yellow
AKC recognized in:		2007

The Swedish Vallhund is better understood and identified as the breed of Swedish Cattle Dog. In more exotic terms, it is also called the "Svensk Vallhund" or "Vasgotaspets" which means herding or pasturing dog.

In the 1940's, the Vallhund almost became extinct if not for the work of Messrs. Bjorn von Rosen and Karl-Gustaf Zettersten of Sweden. Otherwise, the ownership of this breed would have remained rarer than it already is now.

When you trace its ancestry, the Swedish Vallhund appears to be closely related to both the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. The forerunners of the Vallhund breed could have been brought over to the country of Wales during the early 800's.

This special breed of dogs is said to have gained much acclaim during the time of the Vikings. It has distinguished itself as the "Viking Dog" or the "Cattle Dog of the Vikings" in that glorious age a thousand years ago.

In ordinary everyday life, the Swedish Vallhund is a true worker. It serves to herd cattle and guard homes. It is an efficient ratter which rids farms of destructive rodents. All around, this herd dog gets credit for being a very reliable farmhand.

Temperament

Swedish Vallhund Summary
Affection
Cold Tolerance
Ease of Training
Energy level
Exercise Requirements
Friendliness : Children
Friendliness: Other Animals
Friendliness: Other Pets
Grooming Requirements
Heat Tolerance
Playfulness
Protection Ability
Watchdog Ability

As herder, guardian, and watchdog, the Swedish Vallhund is undoubtedly powerful and fearless. Typical to herding dogs, expect the Vallhund to be alert and energetic. It will also show the tendency to nip insistently at your heels and bark incessantly at any sign of intrusion from strangers. Thus, the importance of early training comes in handy.

From puppyhood, the Vallhund will show itself to be intelligent and affectionate. Built to be short yet sturdy, these dogs will surprise you with their tricks and talents. They are never too small for the task at hand.

You'll love how they are even-tempered in their behavior and responsive to people. To curb their over-protectiveness towards family members and over-suspiciousness of newcomers, you have to socialize them properly at the earliest possible age.

Health and Exercise

The life expectancy of the Swedish Vallhund is 12 - 14 years. Good health practices and a regulated diet are essential for the dog, especially since it is prone to obesity when given too much food to eat, and which can consequently result in laziness. A generally healthy dog with no major health problem tendencies, the most common ailments that should be watched out for are the following:

• Hip dysplasia
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
• Cataracts
• Obesity
• Hypothyroidism

Unusually strong for their size, Vallhunds have a lean yet muscular body. This should be developed and trained further through daily, regular exercise. Otherwise, the dog could become even pudgier to the point of appearing obese. This can be attributed to the fact that they look so much heavier than they actually are.

You will have no problem grooming this dog since its coat is of medium length. Close to the body, its topcoat is harsh while its undercoat is soft.

Visitor Comments

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