Swedish Vallhund

Often called the "little cattle dog of the Vikings,"� the Swedish Vallhund has been around for over 1,000 years. It was originally bred by the Vikings to herd livestock, guard the homestead, and even hunt vermin. It is a descendent of the northern Spitz type. Although it has been a familiar farmhand for centuries in its native Scandinavia, it is just recently seen more and more frequently at European dog breed exhibitions. The Swedish Vallhund is similar in appearance to the Welsh Corgi. It stands an average 11.5 to 13.5 inches tall at the shoulder. It is solid, stocky, well-boned and very muscular, and gives the overall appearance of power and tirelessness. Although it has thick, short legs and a disproportionately long back, it is athletic and moves quickly. The shoulders and neck are well-muscled. The Swedish Vallhund has a wedge-shaped, fox-like head. It often shows a characteristic "smile"� when content. Its eyes are oval, dark and have a dark brim; they have an alert, intelligent expression. Its ears are medium, pointed and prick. The height (at shoulder) to body ratio of this breed is 2:3, giving it its long, low to the ground appearance. The tail may be naturally long, naturally bob, or docked. The coat is double and of medium length. The top coat is harsh and close to deflect adverse weather; the under coat is dense and soft, to insulate. There is no fringe or feathering, but it is a bit thicker around the neck, on the upper chest, and on the backs of the legs. The coat appears in a sable pattern, ranging from red to gray, in a varying combination of shades. Most of the dogs indigenous to the Viking culture are of the northern Spitz type. Hallmarks of this type are the double coat, cold weather tolerance, intelligence and endurance. The Swedish Vallhund is no different. It is a tough, hardy little dog that served the farmsteads of the Vikings, keeping buildings free of mice and rats, herding both sheep and cattle, and warning the inhabitants of intruders. Although there is no official documentation, the resemblance between the Swedish Vallhund and the Welsh Corgi is difficult to ignore; historians surmise that the Vikings may have brought the Swedish Vallhund into the British Isles in the 9th and 10th centuries when they invaded and eventually settled there, and that their little low-backed herding dog evolved to be the Corgi. It may also be true that those Vikings who left Britain to return to their homeland took with them the ancestor of the Corgi and in Scandinavia it mingled with the Spitz type to become the Swedish Vallhund. At any rate, it is very likely that the two are ancient cousins. During the Second World War the breed nearly became extinct. Two Swedish noblemen took an interest in the ancient breed as part of their Viking-era heritage, and worked to locate specimens for breeding to revive the breed. In 1948 the Swedish Kennel Club recognized the breed for the first time and dubbed it officially the Swedish Vallhund. The breed was first introduced to England in 1974, and was recognized by the UK Kennel Club in 1980. In 1985 an American of Swedish descent was visiting England when she saw the Swedish Vallhund exhibited at the Crufts Dog Show. She inquired about the breed and became so enamored that she returned to the U.S. with a breeding pair the first on American soil. These two whelped the first litter in 1986. The Swedish Vallhund was admitted to the American Kennel Club registry in 2007, and was shown for the first time at the Westminster Dog Show in 2008. The Swedish Vallhund is a herder of "heeler"� type, meaning that it herds by nipping at the heels of the livestock, thereby intimidating the larger animals into movement. The short stature and quickness of movement allows this dog to lie flat on the ground when livestock delivers a backward kick; thus, the kick goes over the dog's head and it remains uninjured. This little dog is a worker, and has the intelligence and activity level to be happiest when it has a job to do. It needs a good brisk walk daily, and any other activity the owner can offer. Given proper and adequate exercise this breed can live successfully on the farmstead or in an apartment. If bored, this breed can be prone to obsessive barking. Early training will allow the owner to control this behavior. Boredom will also encourage destructive behavior in the home; the owner should provide toys and activity to prevent this. This breed must not be allowed to become obese; doing so will put undue stress on the spine and can result in painful, serious and permanently-damaging musculoskeletal disorders. Hip dysplasia and eye disorders are occasionally seen in this breed; breeding stock should always be screened for these diseases. The Swedish Vallhund lives to be on average 12 to 14 years old, but individuals living to 17 are not uncommon. The Swedish Vallhund is a loyal and affectionate companion. Like many herding breeds, it will try to outsmart and dominate the soft owner. Early and consistent obedience training and strong leadership goes a long way toward helping this dog grow into an obedient, well-mannered adult. This breed is generally tolerant of other dogs, and of cats. Some caution should be used when introducing small house pets. When socialized early, this breed is good with children and makes a good sturdy playmate in an active household. The Swedish Vallhund can be prone to nipping at heels and in an effort to herd, if child play becomes to rough, and children should be cautioned accordingly. The Swedish Vallhund is a good watchdog and will not fail to alert the household to every visitor or anything suspicious. The Swedish Vallhund is smart and versatile, and is seen in anything from obedience competition, to herding trials, to agility, to therapy work.

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