The Swedish Vallhund dog breed, at one time known as the Vikingarnas Dog and also called the Svensk Vallhund, the Vastgotaspet, the Swedish Cattle Dog, the Swedish Herder Spitz, the Vasgota-Spitz, the Westgotenspitz, the Schwedischer Schaferspitz, or simply the Vallhund, is an authentic Swedish dog bred to work on farms and ranches and to herd cattle. It also has been used to catch rats and other rodents and as a watchdog. It is an extremely energetic, even-tempered breed that likes having a job to do. The Swedish Vallhund was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 2007, as a member of the Herding Group.
Mature male Vallhunds stand from 12 ½ to 13 ¾ inches at the withers; bitches stand 11 ½ to 12 ¾ inches in height. Adult Vallhunds typically weigh between 20 and 35 pounds. They have a sable-colored, thick coat that is described as being “wolf-like.” Their bobtail is normally naturally short; docking is illegal in Sweden.
The Swedish Vallhund dates back more than 1,000 years to the time of the Vikings. Most historians believe that at some point during the 8th or 9th century, either the Vallhund was taken to Wales or the Welsh Corgi was brought to Sweden, given the striking similarity in the appearance of the two breeds. Today’s Vallhund is longer in leg, shorter in back and less stocky than today’s Corgi, although they still look similar. The
The Swedish Vallhund dates back to the Vikings who used these short, sturdy animals to herd cattle. Like their Viking friends, Vallhunds are strong and fearless, and their owners believe these dogs have no idea they are so small. They are friendly, spirited and eager to please, they get along well with children and can be trusted around other household pets, though they won't hesitate to chase strange dogs and cats. Vallhunds can be used
The Swedish Vallhund is a small but powerful dog with a height to length ratio of 2:3. The wedge shaped head is long, with a well defined stop. The dark eyes are oval in shape, medium sized with black rims. The ears are prick and pointed upward. The neck is long and the topline level. The feet are short and point straight forward. The tail of the Swedish Vallhund may be bob, stub or long,
The saying goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words”. Check out the many different Swedish Vallhund Pictures and Swedish Vallhund images. Get an in depth look at the Swedish Vallhund and see the many things that this breed has to offer.