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A Swedish Vallhund, or the Swedish herding dog as it is also known, is an old dog breed that originally originated in Sweden. The breed is believed to have originated during the Viking Age more than 1000 years ago, and therefore also goes by the name "Viking dog".
A Swedish Vallhund is a very old dog breed, which is believed to have originated during the Viking Age, ie. between the end of the 700s AD. and the year 1050. Here the dog served several different purposes. Among other things, it was used as a cattle dog in especially the southern Swedish province, Västergötland, from which it got its original Swedish name Västgötaspids. However, it was also used as a cattle dog in the rest of Sweden and Scandinavia and has therefore also been nicknamed "the Vikings' little cattle dog. As a cattle dog, the dog's task was to bite the animals in the hooves, thereby directing them the way they were supposed to. Here, the short legs of the breed were ideal for this very purpose, as the dog could avoid being hit by kicks when the animals kicked out after it, when it bit them in the hooves.
The dog was also used to catch pests such as rats and mice. The Vikings also used it as a watchdog to guard the home. It is believed that the Vikings from Sweden brought the breed to England and that this is how it spread to the rest of Europe. During World War II, however, the breed was close to extinction. It was reportedly the Swedish pilot, Carl Gustaf von Rosen, and another Swedish man named Karl-Gustaf Zetterstein, who saved the breed by finding dogs that could help keep the breed alive. In 1948, it was therefore possible to save the breed and it was admitted to the Swedish Kennel Club. However, the breed is still relatively rare to this day.
A Swedish Vallhund is a relatively small dog. It is between 30 and 34 cm high and weighs between 9 and 14 kg depending on whether it is a male or a female. The males are slightly larger than the females. It is very compact, muscular and powerfully built and strong despite its size. Some will think that a Västgötaspids looks a bit chubby, but this is rarely the case - the breed is just massively built and should look like this. The coat of the breed is medium length and slightly coarse in structure. The coat consists of two layers, an outer coat which is dense, and an undercoat which is soft and thick. The coat is shortest on the dog's head and grows further down the neck, chest and legs.
Due to its past as i.a. a cattle dog, a Swedish Vallhund is an extremely energetic, alert, hardy and not least fearless dog. Therefore, the dog is also great for various types of dog sports, such as agility. The dog can also still be used to guard animals to this day, with the instincts still sitting in it.
As a family dog, a Swedish Vallhund is a friendly and loving dog, which can be a bit barking and snapping. The dog snaps due to the fact that it is in its nature to bite other animals in the hooves, and it can therefore sometimes snap at people as well. However, this is not a violent bite, but you should still be aware that the dog has that tendency, if you have small children, for example.
The breed is also very playful and loves the attention it can get from humans if it behaves crazy. The breed has a reputation for being a bit of a clown sometimes. Since the breed has been used as a watchdog, it is natural for it to take care of its family. It will therefore always be vigilant and a bit reserved towards strangers. It is therefore important that you socialize the dog from the time it is a puppy.
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