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.
