A little look at life together.
Getting to know the Swedish Vallhund
The Swedish Vallhund is a sturdy, long-bodied herder with a dense coat and an energetic interest in work. Give the short-legged worker regular exercise and learning opportunities, plus occasional thorough undercoat brushing.
An everyday routine
Make space for substantial daily activity and short learning sessions. A busy weekend cannot replace a dependable weekday routine.
Coat care to plan for
Set aside time each week for coat care, checking through the hair rather than only brushing the surface. Shedding periods or longer furnishings may need extra attention.
Before deciding, meet the individual dog and ask about their history, handling preferences, and current routine. Breed tendencies are a starting point, not a promise about personality.
Swedish Vallhund questions
Is a Swedish Vallhund a type of corgi?
No. It is a separate Swedish breed of spitz type. The two are distant cousins, and the link is thought to date from the Viking era. The Vallhund is longer in the leg, shorter in the body and less stocky than a corgi.
How big does a full-grown Swedish Vallhund get?
Males stand 12.5 to 13.75 inches and females 11.5 to 12.75 inches at the shoulder, with a weight of 20 to 35 pounds. Proportion matters more than exact height, with a height to body length ratio of 2 to 3.
Do Swedish Vallhunds shed?
Yes, quite a lot. The dense undercoat comes out heavily twice a year. Day to day the coat is easy. An occasional brushing down to the skin and a bath when the dog is dirty covers it.
Do Swedish Vallhunds have tails?
Some do and some do not. Puppies in the same litter can be born with anything from no tail at all to a full curled spitz tail. Long, stub and bob tails are all accepted equally, natural or docked.
Do Swedish Vallhunds bark a lot?
They are talkers. Vallhunds have unique vocalizations and are chatty dogs that announce strangers. As a spitz breed, they can be inclined to bark, and training helps.
How long do Swedish Vallhunds live?
Life expectancy is 12 to 15 years. Responsible breeders screen hips and eyes and use a DNA test for an eye condition called Swedish Vallhund retinopathy. Ask a breeder for those results, and bring health questions about your own dog to your vet.
How much exercise does a Swedish Vallhund need?
It varies from dog to dog. A decent daily walk plus some play or a dog sport is enough for most Vallhunds, though some need more. Mental exercise such as puzzle games and reward-based training matters too, and this breed takes to it well.
What were Swedish Vallhunds bred for?
Herding cattle and general farm work in western Sweden, where the low build let them nip at heels and stay under kicks. The breed was nearly extinct by 1942, when Bjorn von Rosen and K. G. Zettersten set out to save it, and it was recognized as a breed in Sweden in 1943.
