Dogs

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN Sweden.

MOST SUITED AS Sheepdog.

SIZE
The ideal shoulder height is 48cm (18in) for dogs and 43cm (17in) for bitches. A difference of 3cm (11in) is permitted.

COAT
The Swedish Vallhund has a thick woolly top­coat, the hairs of which should be erect, and a dense curly undercoat of fine hairs. The colours are brown, black, and a combination of the two. For the show ring, plain colours are preferred. White markings occur in some dogs but are considered a fault.

CARE REQUIRED
During moulting when the hairs begin to fall out of the thick undercoat, the best way to deal with them is to use one of the special combs designed for grooming German Shepherds.

CHARACTER
This is an intelligent, sociable and friendly dog which is similar in nature to the Finnish Lapphund, meaning that it loves children, is very tolerant of them, and it is keen to learn, affectionate, lively, and not squeamish about pain.

TRAINING
This dog learn quickly and easily, so that you can consider involving both of you in agility skills and obedience training or perhaps fly-ball. Handled properly, this breed can compete at the highest levels.

SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
A Swedish Lapphund from good breeding lines gets on well with other dogs and as already mentioned is very tolerant of children. You will be warned of strangers but that is all because this dog is friendly with everyone.

EXERCISE
This breed has tremendous stamina and likes to be kept busy. They love to be taken for walks and will always stay close to you.

GENERAL
This breed looks physically very similar to the Finnish Lapphund and also the Welsh and Pembroke Corgis, though its not known if the breeds are related