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Breeds / Medium

Swedish Vallhund puppies

Cheerful, alert and vocal, the Swedish Vallhund is a small Scandinavian cattle herder with a large personality and a real need for both exercise and mental work.

A Swedish Vallhund
Photo: TS Eriksson, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped

The facts

  • Size class Medium
  • Country of origin Sweden
  • Adult weight 9.1 to 15.9 kg
  • Adult weight in pounds 20 to 35 lb
  • Adult height 29 to 35 cm
  • Energy level High
  • Grooming Moderate
  • Coat type Short double
  • Shedding Heavy, brush often
  • Typical lifespan 12 to 15 years
  • Good with children Reliably good
  • Good with other dogs Fine with supervision

Where these figures come from

About the Swedish Vallhund

The Swedish Vallhund is an old Scandinavian farm dog, used to drive cattle by nipping at their heels and to keep vermin down around the buildings. They are long and low, 29 to 35 cm tall and 9.1 to 15.9 kg, with a harsh grey sable double coat and either a natural bobtail or a full tail. Vallhunds are cheerful, opinionated and talkative, keen to join in with anything happening in the house, and watchful enough to announce every arrival at the gate.

Exercise needs vary between individuals, but a decent walk plus a game or a training session most days suits the majority, and the breed needs puzzles as much as they need miles. Grooming is a thorough brush down to the skin now and then, with far more during the twice yearly undercoat shed. Herding instinct can show up as nipping at running children, so redirect it early and supervise play. They are easy to overfeed, and a long backed dog carries spare weight badly, so watch the waistline.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Swedish Vallhund puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A medium breed puppy at eight weeks is a manageable armful that will not stay that way. Most of the growth happens between now and six months, so buy for the adult dog where you can. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and they will need a job to do long before they need long walks. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

Your Swedish Vallhund puppy's first six months

Kit sizes: crate 30 inch (30 x 20 x 23 in, 76 x 51 x 58 cm) for an adult of up to 15.9 kg; chew toys made for medium breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

Other medium breeds

American Cocker Spaniel 9.1 to 13.6 kg American Pit Bull Terrier 13.6 to 27.2 kg American Staffordshire Terrier 18.1 to 31.8 kg American Water Spaniel 11.3 to 20.4 kg Aussiedoodle 18 to 31.8 kg Australian Cattle Dog 15.9 to 22.7 kg

More on the Swedish Vallhund

On the list: families with childrenNordic and Viking dog names

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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.

Sources

Photo: TS Eriksson, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.