The Swedish Vallhund, also called the Swedish Sheepdog, is a small dog that originated many centuries ago in Sweden. Intended for grazing, protection and hunting small animals.
The Swedish Vallhund dog has a good character, intelligence, docility and loy alty, being a good companion dog and tolerating children, although at first it mistrusts strangers. Read on to find out the origin, character, characteristics, care, education and he alth of the Swedish Vallhund.
Origin of the Swedish Vallhund
The Swedish Vallhund or Swedish Sheepdog is a small breed that originated over 1000 years ago in Sweden and was used by Vikings for security, protection and herding.
The origin is not clear, but there are currents that assure its connection with the Pembroke Welsh corgi, dogs originally from England with a constitution and appearance very similar to the Swedish Vallhund. These dogs were on the verge of extinction in 1942, but Björn von Rosen and Karl-Gustaf Zetterste managed to prevent it.
In 1943 the breed was recognized by the Swedish Kennel Club (SKK) under the name of Svensk Vallhund, but it was not until 10 years later that the official name was given. To this day, it is a unknown breed outside of Sweden In 2008 he took part in the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show for the first time.
Characteristics of the Swedish Vallhund
The Swedish Vallhund is a small dog, males do not exceed 35 cm and the females are 33 cm Their weight ranges between 9 kg and 14 kgThey are compact, elongated dogs with medium-sized, oval, dark brown eyes. The ears are medium, triangular, set on the middle, pointed and covered with soft hair. The nose is black and the lips are tight and smooth. In reference to the legs, they are strong and the tail can be long or short naturally up or down.
As for the coat, it is medium with a double layer, the inner one dense and thick and the outer one with sticky and hard hair. In addition, it has longer hair on the belly, tail and legs.
The coat of Swedish Vallhund dogs can be of different colors:
- Gray
- Yellowish gray
- Reddish
- Chestnut
Swedish Vallhund Character
Swedish Vallhunds are dedicated, pleasant, intelligent, affectionate, cheerful, calm, alert and confident. They are very loyal but tend to be wary of strangers.
They love spending time with their caregivers and tolerate children especially well, as they are very lively and playful. They are also independent dogs, so they suffer less than other breeds from the absence of their caregiver at home, but it should not be an excuse to leave them alone more than necessary.
Swedish Vallhund Care
Swedish Vallhunds need mental stimulation and exercises various such as screening tests so that your mind and body are active. They also need hygiene habits of their teeth to prevent dental diseases or infections and cleaning their ears to prevent painful and unpleasant otitis.
As for the hair of these dogs, it should be brushed with some frequency, especially during the shedding season to remove dead hair that can predispose to certain diseases. For dogs to maintain a good quality of life, preventive medicine must be applied with regular check-ups at the veterinary center and with routine deworming and vaccination, in order to prevent parasitic and infectious diseases, respectively.
Swedish Vallhund Education
Swedish Vallhunds are intelligent and intuitive dogs that easily assimilate orders and instructions from their handler.
Education should begin at early age and teach them during the socialization period of their first weeks of life contact with other animals, different people and stimuli. As well as teaching them not to attack strangers or jump at their heels.
Swedish Vallhund He alth
The life expectancy of the Swedish Vallhund can reach 12 or 14 years as long as they do not develop a sudden, devastating or life-threatening illness. early onset without early diagnosis. It is a he althy breed with no known congenital or hereditary pathologies.
The illnesses that can occur with some frequency are:
- Hip dysplasia: degenerative disease in which there is a lack of congruence or adaptation between the joint surfaces of the bones involved in the hip joint (the acetabulum and the femur). This poor joint union results in laxity of the joint, which allows the mobilization of the bones, which causes osteoarthritis, instability, weakness, damage and pain that leads to muscle atrophy and lameness.
- Lumbago: or back pain in the lumbosacral area, generally of muscular origin that produces an inflammatory process with increased tension and the tone of the muscles in the area, which activates the nerve pathways that transmit painful stimuli and a muscle contracture develops. On other occasions, the nerve can even be pinched by compression of its root, causing a very painful process or leading to a herniated disc.
Where to adopt a Swedish Vallhund
Adopting a Swedish Vallhund is very difficult, especially if we don't live in Sweden or neighboring countries. However, you can always ask Swedish dog shelters, shelters or rescue associations online.
