Swedish Vallhund

The Swedish vallhund, or Västgötaspets, is a small spitz herding dog from Sweden's Västra Götaland region. It worked as a farm dog driving cattle by nipping at heels and ducking beneath kicks, which helps explain its sturdy body, quick feet, wedge-shaped head, prick ears, and confident voice. The coat is a harsh double coat, most often gray, red-gray, sable, or yellow-gray with lighter harness markings; tails may be long, curled, stumpy, or naturally bobbed.

In homes, a vallhund is usually busy, vocal, and people oriented rather than a quiet lap dog. It suits people who enjoy daily training, long walks, nose work, herding, or agility, and it needs early manners around barking and chasing. Coat care is straightforward except during seasonal sheds, when the dense undercoat releases heavily. Responsible breeders screen for hips and eye disease, including breed-associated retinopathy, and buyers should ask how a litter's drive and noise level fit family life.

Colors: Apricot, Bicolor, Black, Black and Tan, Black and White, Black Mask, Blue, Blue and Tan, Blue Merle, Blue Roan, Blue Tick, Brindle, Brown, Brown and Tan, Brown and White, Chocolate, Cream, Dapple, Domino, Fawn, Fawn and White, Gold, Gray, Gray Sable, Harlequin, Irish Marked, Liver, Liver Mask, Mantle, Mask, Merle, Mottled, Parti-Color, Piebald, Red, Red and White, Red Merle, Red Roan, Red Sable, Red Tick, Reverse Brindle, Roan, Sable, Saddle, Silver, Speckled, Spotted, Tan, Ticked, Tricolor, Tuxedo, White, Yellow