Official Standard of the Swedish Vallhund (USA)

General Appearance

The Swedish Vallhund (SV) is a very old Spitz-type breed known since the time of the Vikings. For centuries the SV has beenkept as a farm dog and used for herding cattle. The SV is a small, powerful, fearless, sturdily built Spitz herding dog. The correct relationship of height to length of body is 2:3. The SV has a wedge-shaped head, prick ears, and a close-fitting hard coatof medium length and sable coloring. The double coat and the characteristic "harness markings" are essential features of this breed. Tail may be natural (long, stub, or bob) or docked. The appearance of the Swedish Vallhund conveys intelligence, alertnessand energy. Balance, outline, temperament and movement are of overriding importance. The SV is a thoroughly sound animal, versatile in its desire to do traditional herding or with proper training compete in companion events such as obedience, tracking andagility, and/or serve as a family companion.

Head

Rather long and clean. Viewed from above, the headforms an even wedge from skull to tip of nose and is well filled-in under the eyes.

Skull

Broad and almost flat. Stop-Well defined.

Muzzle

Viewed fromthe side, the muzzle should look rather square, slightly shorter than the skull. Planes-The top lines of the muzzle and skull are parallel to each other. Nose-In profile, the nose is on the same line as the muzzle and does not extend beyond the forepart of the muzzle. Pigmentation-Black. Lips-Black and tight with no noticeable flews. Teeth-Strong, well developed, with full dentition in a scissors bite. Any deviation is a serious fault.

Ears

Medium size, pointed, prick. Set at the outer edge of the skull above a line drawn from the corner of the eye. Ear leather should be firm from base to tip, smooth-haired and mobile. The dog should make good use of them.

Eyes

Medium size, oval in shape and dark brown with black eye rims.

Neck

Long, strongly muscled with good reach.

Topline

Level when standing or moving.

Body

Chest-Good depth. The ribcage is long with fairly well sprung ribs. Viewed from the front, the chest should be oval; from the side, elliptical. In a mature dog it should reach down two-fifths of the length of the forelegs and, when viewed from the side, the lowest point of the chest is immediately behind the back part of the foreleg. The prosternum is visible and not excessively pronounced. Underline-Slightly tucked up. Back-Well muscled. Loin-Short and strong. Croup-Broad and slightly sloping.

Tail

Tails may be long, stub, or bob. May be shown natural or docked.All tail types are equally acceptable.

Forequarters

Shoulders-Strongly-muscled. Shoulder blades-Long and well laid back. Upper arms-Slightly shorter than the shoulder blades, set at an approximate 90 degree angle, close fitting to ribs, but still very mobile. A line perpendicular to the ground can be drawn from the tip of the shoulder blade through the elbow to the ground. Elbows-Move parallel to the body, turning neither in nor out. Forearms-When viewed from the front, slightly curved to give free action against the lower part of the chest; the pasterns and feet are parallel. Viewed from the side the forearms are straight. The height from ground to elbow is almost half the height from ground to withers. Legs-Well boned. Pasterns-Slightly sloping, elastic. Dewclaws-May be removed.

Hindquarters

Angulation-To balance the front. Well angulated at stifle and hock. Legs-Well boned. Upper and lower thighs are strongly muscled. Lower thigh is slightly longer than the distance from hock to ground. Stifles-Well bent. Hocks (Metatarsal bones)-Perpendicular to the ground and viewed from the rear, parallel. Feet, toes andpads-Same as forefeet.

Coat

Medium length hair, harsh; topcoat close and tight. Undercoat is soft and dense. Hair is short on the head and the foreparts of the legs and slightly longer on neck, chest and back parts of the hind legs. Dogs are to be shown in an untrimmed, natural state. Faults include wooly, curly, or open coats. Fluffy coats (longer hair on body and furnishings, with ear fringes) are a serious fault.

Height

Height at the withers for dogs ranges from 12½ to 13½ inches and bitches 11½ to 12½inches. Minor variations may be seen; however, more important is the proportion.

Proportions

The relationship of height to length of body, as measured from the prosternum to the rearmost portion of the buttocks, should be 2:3.

Substance

Strong, well boned, well developed, neither refined nor coarse, and a solidly built, muscular body.

Gait

Sound with strong reach and drive. The Swedish Vallhund is a herding dog requiring agility and endurance. Viewed from the front, the legs do not move in exact parallel planes, but incline slightly inward to compensate for shortness of leg and width of chest. The forelegs should reach forward in a free stride without too much lift. Hind legs should drive well under the body and move on a line with the forelegs, with hocks turning neither in nor out. Feet should travel parallel to the line of motion with no tendency to swing out, cross over or interfere with each other. Short, choppy movement and overly close or wide movement is faulty.

Color

A sable pattern seen in colors of grey through red and combinations of these colors in various shades. All are equally acceptable. Lighter shades of these colors are desirable on the chest, belly, buttocks, lower legs, feet and hocks, with darker hairs on back, neck, and sides of the body. Lighter harness markings are essential. Although a dark muzzle is acceptable, a well-defined mask with lighter hair around eyes, on muzzle and under the throat, giving a distinct contrast to the head color is highly desirable. White is permitted as a narrow blaze, neck spot, slight necklace, and whitemarkings on the legs, and chest. White in excess of one third of the dog's total color is a very serious fault. Any color other than described above is a very serious fault.

Temperament

The breed is watchful, energetic, fearless, alert, intelligent, friendly, eager to please, active, and steady, making a good herding and companion dog. Sound temperament, neither vicious or shy.

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault, and the seriousness of the fault should be in exact proportion to its degree.The following faults are to be so severely penalized as to effectively eliminate the dog from competition: Fluffy coat, any color other that described above, nose not predominantly black, more than one-third white, any bite other than scissors

Standard approved September 1 2005

Swedish Vallhund Standard (Australia)

Group

Group 5 (Working dog

General Appearance

Small, powerful, sturdily built working dog, with fairly long body.
(Ratio of height at withers to length of body 2:3)

Characteristics

Appearance and expression denote a watchful, alert, energetic dog.

Temperament

Friendly, active, eager to please.

Head And Skull

Rather long and a clean cut, blunt wedge with almost flat skull and well defined stop. Viewed from above, shows an even wedge shape from skull to tip of nose. Muzzle, viewed from side, looks rather square, slightly shorter than skull. Lower jaw strong. Although a dark mask is acceptable, a well defined mask is highly desirable with lighter hair around eyes, on muzzle and under the throat, giving a distinct contrast to the upper mask. Tightly closed lips. Nose black.

Eyes

Medium size, oval, very dark brown.

Ears

Medium size, pointed, pricked, leather hard from base to tip, but fine smooth haired and mobile.

Mouth

Scissor bite-Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Neck

Long, strongly muscled with good reach.

Forequarters

Shoulder blades long and well laid. Upper arm slightly shorter than shoulder blade and set at a distinct angle. Upper arm lies close to ribs, but is still very mobile. Forearm, when viewed from front, slightly bent, just enough to give free action to chest's lower part; straight when viewed from side. Legs well boned.

Body

Back level, well muscled, with short, strong loin. Chest long with good depth. Well sprung ribs. Viewed from front, chest oval, from side elliptical. Reaching two-fifths of length of forearm. When viewed from side the lowest point of chest is immediately behind back part of foreleg. Sternum visible but not excessively pointed. Croup broad and slightly sloping. Belly slightly tucked up. Harness markings should be clearly defined.

Hindquarters

Well angulated, well bent stifles and low hocks, thighs strongly muscled. Legs well boned.

Feet

Medium, short, oval, pointing straight forward with strong pads. Well knuckled up.

Tail

Docked: Length not exceeding 10cms (4 ins) when adult. Set on as a continuation of croup line. May be raised at attention. Undocked: May be born tailless. Any length. Natural carriage.

Gait/Movement

Free and active, elbows fitting closely to sides, forelegs moving well forward without too much lift, in unison with powerful thrusting hind action.

Coat

Medium length, harsh, close and tight topcoat, undercoat abundant, soft, woolly.

Colour

Steel grey, greyish/brown, greyish/yellow, reddish/yellow, reddish/brown with darker guard hairs on back, neck and sides of body, lighter hair same shade of colour as mentioned above is desirable on muzzle, throat, chest, belly, buttocks, feet and hocks. Instead of these lighter shades, white markings are acceptable, but never in excess of one-third of total colour.
Any colour other than the above, including white and blue or any non-standard colour, is highly undesirable.

Sizes

Height:
Dogs 33-35 cms (13-13.75 ins) at withers
Bitches 31-33 cms (12-13 ins) at withers
The relation between height at withers and length of body should be 2:3.
Weight: 11.5-16 kgs (25-35 lbs)

Faults

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

Notes

Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

Last updated: 09 Jul 2015

Swedish Vallhund (UK)

General Appearance

Small, powerful, sturdily built working dog, with fairly long body.
(Ratio of height at withers to length of body 2:3).

Characteristics

Appearance and expression denote a watchful, alert, energetic dog.

Temperament

Friendly, active, eager to please.

Head and Skull

Rather long and a clean-cut, blunt wedge with almost flat skull and well defined stop.
Viewed from above, shows an even wedge shape from skull to tip of nose.
Muzzle, viewed from side, looks rather square, slightly shorter than skull. Lower jaw strong.
Although a dark mask is acceptable, a well defined mask is highly desirable with lighter hair around eyes, on muzzle and under the throat, giving a distinct contrast to the upper mask.
Tightly closed lips. Nose black.

Eyes

Medium size, oval, very dark brown.

Ears

Medium size, pointed, pricked, leather hard from base to tip, but fine, smooth-haired and mobile.

Mouth

Scissor bite – jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Neck

Long, strongly muscled with good reach.

Forequarters

Shoulder blades long and well laid.
Upper arm slightly shorter than shoulder blade and set at a distinct angle.
Upper arm lies close to ribs, but is still very mobile.
Forearm, when viewed from front, slightly bent, just enough to give free action to chest’s lower part; straight when viewed from side. Legs well boned.

Body

Back level, well muscled, with short, strong loin. Chest long with good depth. Well sprung ribs. Viewed from front, chest oval, from side elliptical. Reaching two-fifths of length of forearm. When viewed from side the lowest point of chest is immediately behind back part of foreleg. Sternum visible but not excessively pointed. Croup broad and slightly sloping. Belly slightly tucked up. Harness markings should be clearly defined.

Hindquarters

Well angulated, well bent stifles and low hocks, thighs strongly muscled. Legs well boned.

Feet

Medium, short, oval, pointing straight forward with strong pads. Well knuckled up.

Tail

Previously customarily docked or may be born tailless. Set on as a continuation of croup line.
Docked: Length not exceeding 10 cms (4ins) when adult. May be raised at attention.
Undocked: Any length. Natural carriage.

Gait/Movement

Free and active, elbows fitting closely to sides, forelegs moving well forward without too much lift, in unison with powerful thrusting hind action.

Coat

Medium length, harsh, close and tight topcoat, undercoat abundant, soft, woolly.

Colour

Steel grey, greyish brown, greyish yellow, reddish yellow, reddish brown with darker guard hairs on back , neck, and sides of body. Lighter hair same shade of colour as mentioned above is desirable on muzzle, throat, chest, belly, buttocks, feet and hocks. Instead of these lighter shades, white markings are acceptable, but never in excess of one-third of total colour.

Any colour other than the above, including white and blue or any non-standard colour, is highly undesirable (see Introductory paragraph).

Size

Height at withers: dogs: 33-35 cms (13-133/4 ins); bitches: 31-33 cms (12-13 ins). The relation between height at withers and length of body should be 2:3. Weight 11.5-16 kgs (25-35 lbs).

Faults

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.

Note

Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

Last updated May 2015