shop


The Furry Critter Network

Swedish Cattle Dog Breed Description

Back to Canine Breed Menu


thm-img


Breed Organization

The Swedish Vallhund Club of America

Native Country
Sweden

Other Names
Vaestgoetaspets, Swedish Vallhund, Vallhund, Viking Dog, Swedish Shepherd, Spitz of the West Goths

Life Expectancy
Approximately 12-14 Years

Litter Size
Average 5-7 Puppies

Breed Group
AKC-Herding

General Description

The average height of the Swedish Vallhund, measured at the withers, is approximately 33 cm (12.9 in) for males and 31 cm (12.2 in) for females. They are strong, with a long body. The ratio of height to body length is about 2:3. The head of the Vallhund is wedge-shaped, with dark brown oval eyes and pricked ears. They are born with every variance of tail length, from no tail at all to full length, therefore they are often mistaken for having been docked. (Tail docking is illegal in Sweden.)

The average height of the Swedish Vallhund, measured at the withers, is approximately 33 cm (12.9 in) for males and 31 cm (12.2 in) for females. They are strong, with a long body. The ratio of height to body length is about 2:3. The head of the Vallhund is wedge-shaped, with dark brown oval eyes and pricked ears. They are born with every variance of tail length, from no tail at all to full length, therefore they are often mistaken for having been docked. (Tail docking is illegal in Sweden.)


Breed Standard

Head: Fairly long and foxlike. Skull is almost flat. Distinct stop. Square muzzle profile. Tightly closed lips.
Ears: Medium size, pointed tips. Held erect.
Eyes: Medium size, oval. Dark brown color.
Body: Long. Long, muscular neck is held high. Long, chest is well let down. Ribs well sprung. Broad, slightly sloped croup. Belly slightly tucked up. Strong, short loin. Horizontal, muscular back.
Tail: Two types: long or naturally very short. Carried straight out at back level. Many puppies are born tailless.
Hair: Moderate length. Hard, compact, and weatherproof. Short on the front of the legs. Slightly longer on the neck, chest, and back of the legs. Dense, soft undercoat.
Coat: Preferred colors are gray, grayish brown, grayish gold, and reddish brown, with darker hairs on the back, neck, and sides of the body. Lighter hairs on the muzzle, throat, chest, underbelly, thighs, hocks, and feet. Lightest coloring on the shoulders ("harness markings") is desirable. Small white markings are permissible, such as a narrow flare, a spot on the neck, or a slight collar.
Size: Dog: 33 cm (13 in).Bitch: 31 cm 12 in).
Weight: 9 to 14 kg (20-31 lb).

History

The Swedish Vallhund is an ancient, national dog breed of Sweden and may date back to the 8th or 9th century. Swedish Vallhunds originated in the county of Västergötland, which lies just south of lake Vänern. Here the small dog proved to be excellent for watching, guarding and herding. The breed dates to the Viking settlement of England and is thought to have played a part in the development of the modern Welsh Corgi and the Lancashire Heeler. According to the American Kennel Club, another theory of the breed's origin is that during the eighth or ninth century "either the Swedish Vallhund was brought to Wales or the Corgi was taken to Sweden, hence the similarities between the two breeds".

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 skeleton of a Swedish Vallhund is remarkably similar to that of the modern Norwegian Elkhound, another breed of spitz dog.

Behavior

This rustic, extremely courageous, lively dog is energetic, always on the alert, and quite independent. He has earned his place as an affection pet that is gentle with children. His vigilance has gained him the reputation of a good guard dog. Firm training is required.

Function

The Vallhund can compete in: dog agility trials, obedience, rally obedience, showmanship, flyball, tracking, hiking, and herding events. Herding instincts and trainability can be measured at noncompetitive herding tests. Vallhunds that exhibit basic herding instincts can be trained to compete in herding trials.

Health

The Swedish Vallhund is generally a healthy dog. Its small stature contributes to its longevity, with an average lifespan of 15 years. Its pointy ears mean that—unlike dog breeds with long, hanging ears—ear problems are rare. This breed does well in hot climates because of its double layer coat, as long as the dog is provided cool shade and water. The breed does not do well in very deep snow because of its short legs. The Vallhund has an inherited type of progressive retinal atrophy disease in 34.9% of the population, which appears as mild to moderate night-blindness around the age of ten.


Back to Canine Breed Menu

Featured Rescues

"Don't Shop ... Please Adopt"

laptop pro

ASPCA

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA®) was the first humane society to be established in North America and is, today, one of the largest in the world.

Our organization was founded on the belief that animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment at the hands of humans and must be protected under the law. Headquartered in New York City, the ASPCA maintains a strong local presence, and with programs that extend our anti-cruelty mission across the country, we are recognized as a national animal welfare organization. We are a privately funded 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, and are proud to boast more than 2 million supporters across the country.

The ASPCA’s mission, as stated by founder Henry Bergh in 1866, is “to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States.”


laptop pro

Petfinder

If you can’t find the pet you’re looking for on Petfinder, don’t give up. Some shelters maintain waiting lists for specific breeds, so don’t be afraid to ask! There are also breed-specific rescues for just about every breed, and most of them post their pets on Petfinder. (Petfinder can even e-mail you when a pet that fits your criteria is posted — just click “Save this Search” at the top of your search results page.)


laptop pro

Rescue Me

Jeff Gold, Founder, Rescue Me! Animal Rescue Network

Jeff Gold lives in Watkinsville, Georgia on the same property as Rescue Me's Animal Rehabilitation Center, with 18 rescue animals. Shown with him in the photo to the left are Maggie, Izzie and Cortez. In 2003, after learning there was nobody doing boxer rescue work in Georgia, Gold founded Boxertown, an organization which helped find homes for over 500 boxers during its first two years. Based upon this success, Gold came up with the vision for Rescue Me! ― a network which helps all breeds of dogs, cats and other animals find good homes, anywhere in the world. RescueShelter.com is also a free service of Rescue Me! and provides the world's largest and most up-to-date directory of animal rescue organizations for all breeds of dogs, cats and other animals, including a comprehensive directory of wildlife rehabilitators in over 150 countries.



Top