| Trainability: | 7/10 |
| Shedding: | 8/10 |
| Energy Level: | 7/10 |
| Guard Dog: | 6/10 |
| Good With Children: | 10/10 |
| Popularity: | 5/10 |
Behavior
The Swedish Vallhund, also known as the Swedish Vallhund, is a very even-tempered dog. This helps to make the dog an excellent companion to its owner. This breed loves attention and is very affectionate. It is also always looking to be led, which can make it much easier to train. You want to begin training as early on as possible so that you may establish yourself as the pack leader for this dog to follow. This breed will quickly fall into line and will learn obedience well. They can be very active and need to be exercised regularly to insure that they stay happy and healthy. Regular walks and daily exercise can go a long way to making this a much happier dog for you.
Proper socialization is important to the Swedish Vallhund. They are herding dogs and will tend to try and herd children, nipping at their heels to get them together. They will also be very wary of strangers. With the right socialization so the dog clearly understands you are leading and he has rules to follow, this can be overcome and this dog can be very enjoyable for the entire family. They are also excellent watch dogs, but can be prone to excessive barking. Again, with the proper training that they should stop barking after a warning bark this can be curbed so that excessive barking does not become a problem. You also want to be sure that this dog is not left alone for long periods of time since it can suffer from separation anxiety and then become destructive.
Appearance
While it is known to be a very sturdy dog, the Swedish Vallhund is small and somewhat low to the ground. They have a long head with a squared off muzzle and dark, oval-shaped eyes. The ears are pointy and mobile as if always on alert. They are noted for their long, muscular neck and short legs that are quite strong. Like many other breeds, they have a double coat. The inner coat is somewhat dense and very soft. The outer coat is tougher, tighter and thicker and is often about a medium length. Colors of the coat are very often different combinations of gray, brown and red. Many of these dogs also have some white markings on them. This breed is also known for having something of a mask design, with lighter hair on their face around the muzzle and eyes and on the throat.
Grooming
Even though they have a double coat, the Swedish Vallhund is not very difficult to keep nicely groomed. The coat should be brushed and combed with a firm bristle brush on a regular basis to help keep the hair from getting matted or tangled. If you perform brushing regularly, you should have little problem at all with the coat. These dogs only need to be bathed as it is needed, depending on your dog’s particular type of activities. They shed on average with any other breed and regular brushing can help to collect loose hairs.
History
It is believed that the Swedish Vallhund has been around for well over one thousand years. There seems to be a relation between this breed and that of both the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Cardigan Welsh Corgi. Vikings are believed to have brought this breed to Wales when they invaded back around the year 800. It was used by Vikings as a cattle herder and to hunt out rats and other vermin and then was used as a watchdog. Over the years the dog has gained popularity, spreading it further around within Europe.