GROUP 5 - WORKING DOGS

Brief History

The Vallhund is an ancient breed, known to date back to the time of the Vikings, over 1000 years ago. The Vallhund was bred to work on farms and ranches, originally herding cattle. By 1942, the breed was facing extinction.

Average Life Span
When considering a dog, please realise that you are taking it on for its lifetime.
The average life span is 12 to 15 years.

Temperament
The Vallhund is alert, eager to please, biddable, energetic and hardy.

General Breed Description
The Vallhund is a small, powerful, sturdily built working dog. They respond well to training due to the eager to please personality. They are usually quite trustworthy with other dogs. They can be vocal, so require training from an early age to limit the barking.  Coat colours are steel grey, greyish brown, greyish yellow, reddish yellow, and reddish brown. This breed will sometimes have a natural bob tail.

Coat and Care Requirements
The low maintenance double coat needs more attention during a major shed, probably twice a year. A warm bath and blow dry will help remove the dead coat and speed up the shedding process.

Size
Height: Males 33 to 35cms (13 to 13.75ins), Females 31 to 33cms (12 to 13ins).
Weight: 11.5 to 16kgs.

Health
All breeds have individual health issues. When speaking to breeders it is recommended you enquire about breed’s health and what health testing the breeder does. The Vallhund is generally a healthy breed, however health conditions do occur occasionally. These may include Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA).

Suitability
Being easy to train, Vallhunds make ideal pets for active families, working homes and the active elderly owner.  They enjoy the company of children, but as with all breeds, should never be left unsupervised with young children

In Conclusion
Now you know a little more about this breed. If you have decided this is the dog for you and wish to investigate further, please contact the Breed Club or Dogs Victoria. They will be able to give you information about available puppies and also suggest dog events where you can see the breed and speak to breeders. In this way you will gain a better perspective of the breed and its needs. With any breed of dog, it is important to research and determine suitability for your lifestyle before committing to a puppy which will be a part of your family for many years to come.

Whilst many breeds are recommended for families, it is imperative that when children are with dogs they are supervised at all times. Basic obedience training is a vital part of dog ownership.

Dogs Victoria is about the responsible ownership of all dogs and in particular the preservation of pure breeds.

Link to Dogs Australia Breed Standard: https://dogsaustralia.org.au/breed/detail/167