The Swedish Vallhund, or Swedish Shepherd is a member of the Spitz family. He is energetic and playful, very like his Corgi cousins. His medium-length double coat is straightforward to look after, but it surely does shed. A Vallhund could be great with well-behaved children and is a brilliant watchdog, however, he is usually a barker.
History of the Swedish Shepherd
The Vallhund resemblance to the Corgi raises an attention-grabbing however rhetorical query since it could actually by no means be answered with any authority:
Did the Vikings carry the canine with them on their coastal raids of England and depart some behind to turn into the Corgi, or did they convey back canine booty within the type of the Corgi, which then grew to become the Vallhund?
One clue is that Viking bowsprits discovered on the Irish coast had been adorned with dogs that look an awful lot just like the Vallhund. We’ll by no means know for certain, but it’s enjoyable to take a position.
However he got here into existence, the Swedish Shepherd, often known as the Vastgotaspets or Swedish Cattle Dog in Sweden, was a farm dog for hundreds of years, herding cattle, driving off critters, and appearing as a watchdog. It wasn’t till he had nearly disappeared that anybody took much notice of him.
The Swedish Kennel Club acknowledged the breed in 1943, making the Vallhund a preferred pet in Sweden and Britain.
The dogs had been first delivered to the United States in 1983, and the American Kennel Club acknowledged the Vallhund in 2007. Today he ranks 142nd among the many breeds registered by the AKC.
Swedish Shepherd Description
The low-slung dog might resemble his Corgi cousins, however, the Swedish Shepherd is a definite breed that has existed for some thousand years.
In his homeland of Sweden, the Vallhund was a valued farm dog used to herd livestock by nipping at their heels. He has many good qualities, together with his size and easy-care coat, however, he’s not the right breed for everybody.
The Swedish Shepherd is an energetic, playful dog with a loving personality. He’s always on the lookout for pats, hugs, or treats from everybody he meets, and he tends to get together with kids and different animals. The Vallhund enjoys creating video games to entertain himself and his people.
Because of his herding background, he has a watchful nature and can bark to keep at bay varmints or provide you with a warning to the presence of somebody on the door. Teach him when it’s okay to bark in order that he doesn’t turn into a nuisance.
Be ready to maintain the Vallhund busy. He’s lively and (totally well being allowed) can excel in dog sports activities, particularly agility, herding, flyball, obedience, rally, and monitoring. If you’re not into organized activities, he’ll get pleasure from going for long walks or hikes.
Early, frequent socialization is important to assist stop a Vallhund from changing into overly suspicious or frightened of something new or completely different.
Purchase a Vallhund pet from a breeder who raises the pups within the dwelling and ensures that they’re uncovered to many various family sights and sounds, in addition to people.
Once your vet offers the go-ahead, proceed socializing your Vallhund by taking him to puppy kindergarten class, on visits to mates and neighbors, and on outings to native outlets and companies.
Begin coaching as quickly as you carry your Vallhund pet dwelling. Use positive reinforcement coaching strategies akin to reward, play, and food rewards. He learns rapidly and can reply to variety, agency, constant coaching.
While you would possibly consider him as an outdoor dog, nothing might be farther from the truth. A Swedish Shepherd ought to definitely have entry to a securely fenced yard, but when the family is dwelling, he ought to be in the home with them.
Swedish Shepherd Temperament and Personality
Meet the traditional “big dog in a small body.” The Swedish Shepherd is wise, alert, and energetic, all in a compact, agile bundle that makes him a good selection for the family who will get pleasure from his energetic spirit, humorousness, and versatile skills.
If the SV had been a Swedish sports activities automobile, he’d be renowned for his pace and turning radius, in addition to his all-terrain capabilities.
He’s equally at dwelling on a climbing path or agility course, in a herding area, at flyball competitors or obedience trial, or simply out and about along with his people. He is a pleasant dog that enjoys meeting different people and animals.
At dwelling, the Swedish Shepherd is an alert however not an aggressive watchdog. He is vocal and can chatter to you about his day and bark to let you realize that somebody is on the door, a cat is crossing the yard, or the neighbor’s storage door is open. Teach him early tips on how to moderate using his voice.
With kids and different pets, the Swedish Shepherd is inclined to be playful and pleasant. He’s sturdy enough to face as much as a careless toddler — though he ought to be protected against being poked or pulled — however not so large and rowdy that he may by accident harm a toddler.
In some respects, the SV is an unbiased thinker — he’s a herding dog, in any case, bred to assume for himself — but he takes effectively to coaching if he has a firm, constant proprietor who rewards his successes with reward, play, or treats.
Work with the SV’s creative thoughts and problem-solving capacity, and also you’ll discover that he welcomes the problem of studying a lot of methods and behaviors.
Start coaching your pet the day you carry him to the dwelling. Even at eight weeks old, he’s able to soak up all the things you may train him. Never wait till he’s 6 months old to start coaching or you should have a headstrong grownup dog to take care of.
If possible, get him into pet kindergarten class by the point he’s 10 to 12 weeks old, and socialize, socialize, socialize.
However, bear in mind that many pet coaching courses require sure vaccines (like kennel cough) to be updated, and lots of veterinarians advocate restricted publicity to different dogs and public locations till pet vaccines (together with rabies, distemper, and parvovirus) have been accomplished.
In lieu of formal coaching, you may start coaching your pet at dwelling and socializing him amongst family and mates till pet vaccines are accomplished.
Talk to the breeder, describe precisely what you’re on the lookout for in a dog, and ask for help in choosing a pet. Breeders see the puppies day by day and may make uncannily correct suggestions as soon as they know one thing about your lifestyle and personality.
Whatever you need from a Swedish Shepherd, search for one whose parents have good personalities and who has been effectively socialized from early puppyhood.
Grooming
The Vallhund has a medium-length double coat. Double-coated canine shed, so look forward to finding hair in your clothes and furnishings.
Brush the coat a few times every week to take away useless hair and scale back the quantity of unfastened hair floating around your home. The solely different form of grooming you need to do is to trim the hair on the footpads.
The relaxation is primary care: Trim his nails as wanted, normally each week or two, and brush his tooth usually with a vet-approved pet toothpaste for good total health and recent breath.
Swedish Shepherd Health
All dogs have the potential to develop genetic health issues, simply as all people have the potential to inherit a selected illness.
Avoid any breeder who doesn’t supply health assurance on puppies, who tells you that the breed is 100 % wholesome and has no identified issues, or who tells you that her puppies are removed from the principal as a part of the family for health reasons.
A good breeder might be sincere and open about health issues within the breed and the incidence with which they happen in her traces.
That stated, Swedish Shepherds are a reasonably wholesome breed normally. Some health situations that were seen within the breed are hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, and eye illnesses.
Quick Facts
The Swedish Shepherd’s coat has harness markings, bands of light coloration working down the perimeters from the shoulders. Some properly marked Vallhunds have a mask of lighter hair across the eyes, on the muzzle, and beneath the throat, contrasting with the top coloration.
Within a single Swedish Shepherd litter, puppies can have natural bobtails or the normal long Spitz tail.
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