Swedish Vallhund
A Swedish cattle dog that has been on farms since the Vikings, which is why it and the corgi look related. Short legged, loud, and it herds by the heel.
Photo by WestportWiki, CC BY-SA 3.0
Overview
The Swedish Vallhund is a Viking era cattle drover that came to Britain with Norse settlers, and it is closely related to the Welsh corgis, though which direction the influence ran is still argued. It is low set and long, and it moves cattle by nipping at the heels.
It nearly died out in the 1940s and was rebuilt from a very small number of dogs. Tails vary naturally from full to bobbed within the same litter.
Temperament
Bright, busy and vocal. Vallhunds are affectionate with their families, good with children, and enthusiastic watchdogs.
They are herding dogs and they nip at heels, and they bark a great deal, which is the drover's inheritance. They are intelligent and biddable and they enjoy training. They are considerably more energetic than the corgis they resemble.
Care and grooming
A medium double coat that needs weekly brushing and daily attention during the two heavy moults. They shed a great deal for their size.
A breed specific retinopathy has a DNA test and should be asked about. Hip dysplasia and patellar luxation occur. Twelve to fifteen years.
Living and exercise
An hour and a half a day plus mental work. They excel at agility, herding and obedience.
The long back means jumping is worth discouraging. The barking is a real consideration and the breed is uncommon outside Scandinavia.
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