Swedish Vallhund

The Swedish Vallhund, also known as Västgötaspets or the Swedish Shepherd/Cattle Dog, dates back to the 500's in Sweden, yet was only recognized by the Swedish Kennel Club in 1948. There are two camps of thought about its origin: one being that it developed naturally over the centuries in Sweden as a herding dog, the other being that it is descended from the Welsh Corgis; yet there are those who contend that the Corgi descended from the Vallhund. In the 1940's, it nearly became extinct, but was restored due to a dedicated breeder. They are still used as herding dogs today, and are tireless in their work.

Height: 12 - 14" (30.5 - 35.6cm)

Weight: 25 - 35 lbs (11.2 - 15.6 kg)

Coat Type: The coat is harsh, short to medium length, lying flat to the body; it has a thick undercoat. Grooming requirements are easy. Its color is somewhat wolf-like.

Temperament: The Swedish Vallhund is a courageous dog and will be a good watchdog. It retains its strong herding instincts, and may want to herd (as in nip) younger members of its human family, while still being very devoted to them.

Special Interest: Ornaments that are very like the Swedish Vallhund have been found on Viking ship wrecks off the coast of Ireland. This does not settle the argument about their ancestry though, because the Vikings could have brought the Corgi dogs home with them from Wales in earlier trips.

Classifications:
AKC: Not recognized
CKC: Group 7 - Herding Dogs
KC: Non-Sporting - Working Group
FCI: Group 5
ANKC: Group 5 - Working Dogs