Rare Breed Monday: Swedish Vallhund

The Swedish Vallhund is
short, but tough.

The Swedish Vallhund - also called Västgötaspets - is a small, sturdy, and fearless dog. It stems back to the Vikings over 1,000 years ago, and some historians believe they were brought to Wales around the year 800, forming part of the ancestry of the Welsh Corgi. The Swedish Vallhund is an original species, meaning it did not come from another breed of dog.

These dogs are traditionally used to herd cattle, catch vermin, and guard the home. Today, they excel at obedience, agility, tracking, herding, and flyball. They're intelligent, alert, and eager to please at the same time as they are athletic and active. As long as they get some daily exercise they make great pets.

In Sweden, docking of the tail is not allowed, but some Vallhunds are still seen with bobtails; they can be born with no tail, with a stub tail, or with a full tail.

The Vallhund has been pictured on stamps around the world. Some of the countries featuring it are Sweden, Nicaragua, Ukraine, Mali, and Russia.