Swedish Vallhund - The Viking Dog

More than a thousand years ago, during the age of the Vikings, a dog breed originated, known as the Swedish Vallhund. This dog was also known at the "Viking dog, and "the little cattle dog of the Vikings".

The Vallhund is a breed of many talents including catching vermin, such as the rat, herding cattle,guarding the chicks and hens from foxes, herding cattle and announcing the arrival of anyone, or anything out of the ordinary. They are also great for tracking, search and rescue, obedience, agility, fly ball and in ground hunting.

This breed closely resembles the Pembroke Welch Corgi, and may have been transported by the Vikings to Britain during a raid, or from imported Cori brought to Sweden.

In 1942 The Swedish Vallhund was almost extinct, then Count Bjorn von Rosen and Karl Gustav Zettersten, two Swedish enthusiasts, decided to try and bring back the breed. They were able to find only a few, one dog and five females (bitches) of acceptable breed type. These were the foundation of the breed that is seen today.

As a result of the work from Mr. Bjorn von Rosen and Mr. Karl Gustav Zettersten, the Swedish Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1948, and the breed was given its name. Vallhund, in Swedish means "herding dog".

The Vallhund is friendly, watchful, active, energetic, agile, alert, fearless, powerful and eager to please, making a good herding and companion dog. With proper training they can also be used to compete in companion events such as obedience, tracking and agility. They have a sound temperament, and are neither shy nor vicious, however they have a tendency to bark.

They love human attention and are highly devoted to their owners. This breed has a tendency to clown around, and at time show off. They are good with children, and even tempered with most people, however they can be weary of strangers, and will try and guard their home, no matter the size difference.

So as not to be over protective, the Swedish Vallhund should be properly socialized and trained as a puppy.

The Vallhund is a small, sturdy built dog that ranges in height from 12.5 to 13.5 inches for males and 11.5 to 12.5 for females. They can weigh anywhere from 20 to 35 pounds. Being a slow maturing breed, individual dogs may not reach their prime until four years of age.

They are naturally active little dogs, and should be allowed to remain so. They will do okay is an apartment, as long as they are exercised daily. As long as they can be active indoors, they will do just fine without a yard.

The coat is of medium length with a harsh, tight and close topcoat and soft, dense undercoat. The hair on the head is short as well as on the foreparts of the legs. The hair on the neck, chest and back parts of the hind legs, are a little bit longer.

There coat can be gray, redish yellow, red-brown, and gray brown. The coat is easy to groom, brush with a firm bristle brush and bathe only when necessary.

The life expectancy of the Swedish Vallhund is between 12 and 14 years.

sources:

http://home.iprimus.com.au/dlarah/

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://www.akc.org/breeds/swedish_vallhund/index.cfm

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/swedishvallhund.htm