The Swedish Vallhund is a dog breed well known for its long and interesting history, tied to its Viking origins.
Swedish Vallhund dogs have a strong personality despite their somewhat modest size. They are active, clever, and have a high work ethic. Although they may be short, the Swedish Vallhund is a large dog breed in herding.
Swedish Vallhund dog origin
The Swedish Vallhund (also known as Västgötaspets, Swedish cattle dog, Swedish Shepherd) is a breed of dog that originated in Sweden over 1000 years ago. They are a breed of dog used by people here to herd cattle. In English, the word “Vallhund” is translated as herding dog. In 1942, this breed was on the brink of extinction. But luckily, they were saved and bred by a Swedish nursery.
In 1934, when the Swedish Vallhund population was stable and no longer dangerous, they were recognized as a separate breed. And since then, they have been classified as Västgötaspets rather than as Västergötland. Since then, they have been bred in ten countries and are no longer afraid of extinction.
Physical characteristics of the Swedish Vallhund dog
The Swedish Vallhund is a dog breed with a small appearance and short legs—height from 30cm to 40cm, weight from 11kg to 15kg.
The Swedish Vallhund’s legs are short and small and look disproportionate to their torso. Their bodies are long and twice as big as the weight and length of their legs.
The head of the Swedish Vallhund is long, and the skull is slightly flat. Medium-sized, triangular ears grow vertically on top of the head. The eyes are small and usually brown or dark in color. Their snouts are relatively pointed and long, with strong, scissor-shaped teeth.
The Swedish Vallhund’s tail is long, covered with long hair, and often curves up the back of the rump.
This Swedish Vallhund breed has a relatively long coat. Their fur is very thick and soft. The hair on the tail, belly, and chest is usually longer than other body parts. Their fur has two layers; the inner layer is short, thick, and soft. The outer layer is longer but harder. Usually, their fur is yellow-brown, red, gray-brown, or gray. Their coat often combines many colors to create a characteristic pattern.
Personality characteristics of Swedish Vallhund dogs
The Swedish Vallhund is a small but agile and intelligent dog breed. They are very naughty and always full of energy.
Swedish Vallhund is very kind to members of their host family. They always have a cheerful spirit and are always the ones who brighten up the atmosphere in the family.
Swedish Vallhund is like other dog breeds; they are loyal to their owners. Therefore, you will not encounter many difficulties in training them.
In addition, they are also very confident and independent in their thinking. Swedish Vallhund dogs can easily adapt to new environments if you take them for walks or exercise regularly.
Take care of the Swedish Vallhund dog
The Swedish Vallhund dog breed is suitable for family life. They must be active regularly, so let them walk and play daily to release energy.
This dog’s coat does not shed much or require much care; you should bathe them regularly.
Swedish Vallhund dog health
On average, a Swedish Vallhund has a 12 to 15-year-old lifespan. With proper care, they can live longer than 15 years.
You should regularly care for their fur and pay attention to their skin when caring for them.
The Swedish Vallhund dog is prone to skin problems such as skin pellets, infections, redness, etc. This breed carries a genetic disease of retinal atrophy, and the older it gets, the more obvious the manifestation of this disease will be.
It would be best to take them for regular health checkups as directed by your veterinarian.
Swedish Vallhund dog price
The price of a Swedish Vallhund puppy typically ranges from $1,000 to $2,500. However, prices for purebred dogs vary widely depending on the breeder’s reputation, the puppy’s lineage, and the region where you purchase the dog.
To get the most accurate information on Swedish Vallhund prices, DailyPets.net recommends contacting reputable breeders in your area or checking websites and forums dedicated to dog breeding and ownership.
