Known as Viking dogs, Swedish vallhunds have been around for over a thousand years, yet the American Kennel Club (AKC) did not recognize them until 2007. Affectionate, intelligent, and even-tempered, the breed has been winning over humans for many years. Now, it has been winning dog shows and competitions, too.
Characteristics of Swedish Vallhunds
Bred to work on farms and to herd cattle, Swedish vallhunds are small but powerful. They are built low to the ground, the better to nip the heels of a stubborn cow. Today, they are more likely to roam in a dog park and round up tennis balls, but they are still herders at heart.
Vallhunds are a spitz breed, a term that describes dozens of breeds, including 16 recognized by the AKC. Many originated in areas with cold climates, like Russia and Scandinavia. They have wolf-like features, a thick double coat, and prick ears. Besides the Swedish vallhund, other spitz breeds include the Siberian husky, the Samoyed, the Akita, the Norwegian elkhound, and the Pomeranian.
Swedish vallhunds combine a coat that is like a wolf's with a personality that is sweet and friendly. They love their humans. Many communicate with their owners by using unique vocalizations.
Of course, they have some things in common with their wild comrades. They are tough, not prone to disease, and able to fend for themselves. They are a long-lived breed with a lifespan of 12 to 15 years.
Swedish vallhunds are small to medium in size. The AKC's official standard of the breed states they should measure about one foot at the withers. They should be muscular and well-proportioned. They should carry their ears erect and move them freely.
One interesting feature of the vallhund is their tail. Vallhunds can be born with tails that are long and feathered, short and stubby, or missing altogether. Variations can occur even within the same litter. Any type of tail is acceptable for show dogs.
The vallhund's outer coat is medium in length and coarse. It fits smoothly over the softer undercoat. The coat is sable or made up of hairs of different colors tipped with black. In the vallhund, colors can range from gray to red. Dogs should have harness markings, which means a light-colored band around the dog just behind the shoulder. Variations in color on the head are desirable as well. Some white markings are common and acceptable.
Caring for Swedish Vallhunds
Swedish vallhunds don't require a lot of grooming. Brush them occasionally and bathe them when they are dirty. Twice a year, they will produce great piles of hair as they shed their undercoats. At that time, you can bathe your pet and massage the coat to loosen the hair. Use a blow dryer on a cool setting and brush, and you'll get rid of most of the loose hair.
With their stocky build, vallhunds can easily become overweight. Choose a high-quality dog food, and use treats sparingly. Some human food is okay. Learn which ones are good for dogs, though, and avoid those that are high in fat or hard to digest.
Vallhunds need exercise, but some dogs are more active than others. One good walk and some playtime should be enough for most dogs. Consider canine sports such as agility, herding, and flyball, which are a natural match for Vallhunds and fun for owners, too. Vallhunds need mental stimulation and may enjoy puzzles, games, and clicker training.
Don't forget to take care of your dog's teeth. Brush them daily and have your veterinarian take a look during routine visits. Vet visits should occur once a year for most dogs. Puppies will need to go more often, and it's a good idea to take senior pets at least twice a year. Your veterinarian can advise you on vaccinations, flea and tick control, parasite problems, and other routine care. Be sure your dog is on a regimen to prevent heartworms year-round and that the yearly exam includes a test for the parasite. Heartworm infections can be deadly.
Health Problems to Watch for With Swedish Vallhunds
Swedish vallhunds have very few health issues. The breed is at risk, though, for an eye problem called retinopathy. Many breeds can have retinopathy, but vallhunds have a slightly different form of the disease.
Swedish vallhund retinopathy affects the sensitive tissue at the back of the eyeball. In the early stages of this disease, a dog may have trouble seeing in dim light or have night blindness. The disease can later progress to total blindness. Scientists examined 324 dogs in seven countries to learn more about the disorder. They found a gene defect that is linked to the disease.
Owners can now have their dogs tested to estimate their risk of developing retinopathy. Those at high risk should be eliminated from breeding programs and watched closely for signs of the disease.
Special Considerations for Swedish Vallhunds
Is this versatile little dog a good match for you? Consider these traits of the Swedish vallhund before you decide.
Are they good family pets? Vallhunds are great companions for all members of the family. With an easy going temperament, they do very well with children and moderately well with other dogs.
Do they bark a lot? Vallhunds are a very vocal breed. Besides the endearing noises that they make when communicating with their families, they also bark. That makes them decent watchdogs but can become a problem as well. You may be able to reduce excessive barking with training, but most vallhunds will never be quiet pets.
Are they easy to train? Vallhunds are relatively easy to train but can be stubborn. It's best to start the process when they are puppies. Patience with your dog is a must.
Do they shed? Vallhunds are moderate shedders except during seasonal shedding, when they lose a lot of hair.
Do they drool a lot? Vallhunds are moderate droolers.
Do they tolerate hot weather? Like most spitz-type breeds, vallhunds do better in cool weather because of the thickness of their coats.
History of Swedish Vallhunds
Swedish vallhunds are an ancient breed, dating back to the 8th or 9th century. Possibly known as “Vikingarnas Hund" (Viking dogs), the breed was an all-purpose farm dog used for herding, ratting, and guard duty.
Their Viking owners weren't just the warrior raiders that most of us picture when we hear the word. They were also farmers who worked hard when they weren't off on an expedition. They had a number of spitz-type dog breeds that helped them with their tasks. We know this from archaeological finds, but most of these dogs had longer legs than the vallhund, more like the wolves that may have been their ancestors.
In many ways, the vallhund resembles the corgis of Wales, except that the corgi's legs are even shorter. The resemblance is strong enough to suggest that the two breeds must have crossbred in the past. That's not unreasonable since the Vikings ranged far and wide and are known to have gone to Wales.
The Viking culture died out, but the Viking dogs did not. Later referred to as vallhunds, meaning "herding dogs," they continued to work on farms, but the breed did slowly decrease. By 1942, vallhunds were almost extinct.
Enter Björn von Rosen, a dog lover who had already saved several other breeds. He placed a newspaper advertisement that caught the attention of another man, K. G. Zettersten. Both men remembered the sturdy farm dogs from their boyhoods. They formed a partnership and searched the farmlands of Southern Sweden for examples of the breed.
Luck and hard work paid off when the two found Topsy, a perfect female specimen. Further searching led them to one male and two more females, and the duo began a breeding program. They also began taking their dogs to local dog shows. Luckily, the Sweden Kennel Club supported their efforts and allowed them to exhibit their little band of dogs. In 1943, the Swedish Kennel Club recognized the breed.
Zettersten had been a breeder of Scottish terriers, but he began to get many requests for the little Viking dogs, too. He established a kennel, Borghälla, and continued to look for vallhunds. He found another beautiful female, Tyra, who gave birth to the first notable stud, Borghällas Ajo.
In 1964, the breed was renamed Västgötaspets in honor of the region where the breed was reborn. Västgötaspets means spitz of the West Goths. English-speaking countries call the breed Swedish vallhunds.
