Swedish Vallhund

The Swedish Vallhund was originally developed as a cattle droving dog and is supposedly of Viking origin. The Swedish Kennel Cub has named it the Västgötaspets, in recognition of the region in which it was revived in the 1940s, having reached near-extinction.

It was rescued by the Swedish Count Bjorn von Rosen. Travelling around the district of Vastergotland, and especially near the town of Vara, he recognised a population of dogs of very similar appearance, used primarily for herding cattle. With his colleague Karl Gustav Zettersten, he established a breeding programme to retain both the type and the herding instinct. Like other pastoral breeds, the Swedish Vallhund is hardy, versatile and intelligent.

Read the breed standard

Images for this breed

The Pastoral breed group

The Pastoral Group consists of herding dogs that are associated with working cattle, sheep, reindeer and other cloven footed animals.

Usually this type of dog has a weatherproof double coat to protect it from the elements when working in severe conditions. Breeds such as the Collie family, Old English Sheepdogs and Samoyeds who have been herding reindeer for centuries are but a few included in this group.

Colour Watch

Category 3:Breeds with >10% to 30% registered NBS colours or between 500 and 1000 NBS registrations per annum

Read more about Colour Watch.

Breed Standard colours

Breed standard colour means that the colour is accepted within the breed standard and is a traditional and well-known colour in this breed.

Breed standard colours in this breed include:

Grey
Grey & White
Grey Brown
Grey Sable
Grey Sable & White
Greyish Yellow
Red
Red Sable
Red Sable & white
Reddish Brown
Reddish Yellow
Sable
Steel Grey
Wolf Grey

Non-breed-standard colours

(NBS) Blue
(NBS) White

Non-breed-standard colour means that the colour is not accepted within the breed standard and whilst some dogs within the breed may be this colour it is advised to only select a dog that fits within the breed standards for all points.

Colour is only one consideration when picking a breed or individual dog, health and temperament should always be a priority over colour.

Other colour/s

'Other' means you consider your puppy to be a colour not currently known within the breed and one that does not appear on either the breed standard or non-breed standard list. In this instance you would be directed through our registrations process to contact a breed club and/or council to support you on identifying and correctly listing the new colour.

Non-breed-standard colours

Non-breed-standard colour means that the colour is not accepted within the breed standard and whilst some dogs within the breed may be this colour it is advised to only select a dog that fits within the breed standards for all points.

Colour is only one consideration when picking a breed or individual dog, health and temperament should always be a priority over colour.

Whether you’re thinking of buying a puppy, or breeding from your dog, it’s essential that you know what health issues may be found in your breed. To tackle these issues we advise that breeders use DNA tests, screening schemes and inbreeding coefficient calculators to help breed the healthiest dogs possible.

More about health

Priority health schemes and tests

The Kennel Club's Assured Breeders must use the following (or equivalent) schemes, tests and advice. All other breeders are strongly advised to also use these.

Important health schemes and tests

We strongly recommend that all breeders, both assured breeders (ABs) and non ABs, use the following (or equivalent) schemes, tests and advice.

DNA test - Retinopathy part of The Kennel Club DNA Testing Services* (see below). Find a list of tested dogs
Check inbreeding calculators

Other health schemes and tests available

DNA test - prcd-PRA - part of The Kennel Club DNA Testing Services* (see below).

*The Kennel Club DNA Testing Services - simple to use and easy to organise all-in-one DNA tests

The DNA tests listed above marked with an asterisk (*) are included in our DNA Testing Services. This includes:

Retinopathy (PRA-MERTK)
Progressive retinal atrophy (prcd-PRA) *for monitoring purposes only

Kennel Club Assured breeders and Kennel Club Accredited Instructors receive a 10% discount.

Find out more about

The Kennel Club DNA Testing Services.

Find out about a particular dog's results

Please visit our Health Test Results Finder to discover the DNA or screening scheme test results for any dog on The Kennel Club's Breed Register.

You can also view the inbreeding coefficient calculation for a puppy's parents, or for a dog you're thinking of breeding from.

Have any questions about health in your breed?

If you have any concerns about a particular health condition in your breed then you may wish to speak to your vet or you could contact your breed health co-ordinator.

Breed health co-ordinators are individuals working on behalf of breed clubs and councils who are advocates for the health and welfare of their chosen breed. They acts as a spokesperson on matters of health and will collaborate with The Kennel Club on any health concerns the breed may have.

To contact your breed health co-ordinator please email

Health (The Kennel Club)

Breed watch

Category 1

Currently no points of concern specific to this breed have been identified for special attention by judges, other than those covered routinely by The Kennel Club's breed standard.