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Breed Characteristics
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Swedish Vallhund
| Other Names | Västgötaspets, Vaestgoetaspets, Vallhund, Swedish Cattle Dog |
| Country of Origin | Sweden |
| Weight | 25 - 35 lbs. (11 - 15 kg) |
| Height (at withers) | 12 - 16 in. (30 - 40 cm) |
| Coat | The dog has a tight, harsh, medium length outer coat with a soft, dense undercoat. Coat hairs are slightly longer on the neck, chest and the back of the hind legs. |
| Colour | Coat colours include gray, red-yellow, red-brown and gray-brown. May have a small amount of white markings. The dogs can have a well-defined mask with lighter hair around the eyes, muzzle and under the throat. |
| Litter Size | 3 - 4 puppies |
| Life Span | 13 - 15 years |
| Origin & History | The Swedish Vallhund is a very ancient national dog breed of Sweden and is often dated back to the 8th/9th century. It originated in the county of Västergötland, which lies just south of Sweden´s biggest lake Vänern. Here the small dog proved to be an excellent watch/guard and herding dog. They are known for their use in cow herding. These dogs temperament made them suitable as a working dogs and watch dogs. The breed followed the Viking settlement of England and is thought to have played a part in the modern Corgi and the Lancashire heeler. In turn, the Swedish Vallhund is related to larger spitz dogs and moose hunting dogs of Scandinavia. Large dogs of this spitz-type, have been found buried with their masters in stone-age settlements in Scandinavia. The Swedish Vallhund is also known as the Swedish cattle dogs. |
| Personality | The Swedish Vallhund is a responsive and even-tempered companion. It is intelligent and affectionate. He loves attention and instinctually craves leadership. Owners are never disappointed in his multi-faceted ability or his spontaneous sense of humor. Extremely active and devoted little dog. Be sure you are this dog's pack leader to avoid Small Dog Syndrome, human induced behaviors where the dog believes he is above humans in the pack order. Dogs that do not clearly know their place in the pack can be untrustworthy with children, may begin to guard, bark obsessively, become wary of strangers, and be dog aggressive with other dominant dogs. Properly socialize this dog, providing rules he must follow, and limits as to what he can and cannot do, in order to avoid overprotective behaviors. These dogs sometimes try to herd people by nipping at their heels, although they can be trained not to do this. The Swedish Vallhund makes a good alarm dog, but should be told to quiet down after it has already given off its warning bark. This breed makes a great companion and can be used for herding and ratting. They also make excellent show and obedience dogs. |
Care Requirements
| Health | All dogs have the potential to develop genetic health problems, just as all people have the potential to inherit a particular disease. Avoid any breeder who does not offer a health guarantee on puppies, who tells you that the breed is 100 percent healthy and has no known problems, or who tells you that her puppies are isolated from the main part of the household for health reasons. A reputable breeder will be honest and open about health problems in the breed and the incidence with which they occur in her lines. That said, Swedish Vallhunds are a pretty healthy breed in general. Some health conditions that have been seen in the breed are hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, and eye diseases. Not all of these conditions are detectable in a growing puppy, and it can be hard to predict whether an animal will be free of these maladies, which is why you must find a reputable breeder who is committed to breeding the healthiest animals possible. They should be able to produce independent certification that the parents of the dog (and grandparents, etc.) have been screened for genetic defects and deemed healthy for breeding. That’s where health registries come in. The Swedish Vallhund Club of America participates in a health database called the Canine Health Information Center. Before an individual Vallhund can be issued a CHIC number, breeders must submit hip evaluations from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) or PennHIP and eye test results from the Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF). Breeders must agree to have all test results, positive or negative, published in the CHIC database. A dog need not receive good or even passing scores on the evaluations to obtain a CHIC number, so CHIC registration alone is not proof of soundness or absence of disease, but all test results are posted on the CHIC website and can be accessed by anyone who wants to check the health of a puppy’s parents. If the breeder tells you she doesn’t need to do those tests because she’s never had problems in her lines, her dogs have been vet checked, or any of the other excuses bad breeders have for skimping on the genetic testing of their dogs, walk away immediately. Careful breeders screen their breeding dogs for genetic disease and breed only the healthiest and best-looking specimens, but sometimes Mother Nature has other ideas and a puppy develops one of these diseases despite good breeding practices. Advances in veterinary medicine mean that in most cases, the dogs can still live a good life. If you’re getting a puppy, ask the breeder about the ages of the dogs in her lines and the causes of death. Remember that after you’ve taken a new puppy into your home, you have the power to protect him from one of the most common health problems: obesity. Keeping a Vallhund at an appropriate weight is one of the easiest ways to extend his life. Make the most of your preventive abilities to help ensure a healthier dog for life. |
| Grooming | The hard, tight, medium-length coat is easy to groom. Comb and brush with a firm bristle brush, and bathe only when necessary. This breed is an average shedder. |
| Exercise | Naturally active little dogs, they should always be encouraged to remain so. They need to be taken on a daily walk. |
| Other Considerations | The Swedish Vallhund will do okay in an apartment if it is sufficiently exercised. This breed is very active indoors and will do okay without a yard. The name vallhund is Swedish for herding/pasturing dog. |
