Appearance

The Swedish Vallhund is a small but powerful dog with a height to length ratio of 2:3. The wedge shaped head is long, with a well defined stop. The dark eyes are oval in shape, medium sized with black rims. The ears are prick and pointed upward. The neck is long and the topline level. The feet are short and point straight forward. The tail of the Swedish Vallhund may be bob, stub or long, and may or may not be docked.

Size and Weight

The ideal height for male Swedish Vallhunds is from 12.5 to 13.5 inches at the withers and 11.5 to 12.5 inches for females. They may weigh anywhere from 25 to 25 pounds. The proportion of the dog is of more importance than the actual size. The correct ratio for the breed is 2:3.

Coat and Color

The Swedish Vallhund wears a medium-length double coat made up of a soft, dense undercoat and a hard textured topcoat. The coat should be left natural and not trimmed if the dog is to be shown. House dogs can be trimmed to any length.

The coat comes in sable patterns of gray, red-yellow, gray-yellow, red-brown or gray-brown. The chest, belly, buttocks, lower legs and feet should ideally be lighter in shade. There may be white blazes, neck spots or leg spots that are permitted but they shouldn't make up more than one third of the dog's coloring. The muzzle should be dark and a well-defined mask is ideal.

Grooming Needs

Because the Swedish Vallhund is shown without trimming the coat, grooming is a snap. Weekly brushing will keep loose and dead hair under control and the dog should be bathed as needed, which can be anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks, depending upon the individual.

Check the ears on a weekly basis for signs of infection, irritation, or wax build up. Cleanse regularly with a veterinarian-approved cleanser and cotton ball. Brush the teeth at least once per week to prevent tartar buildup and fight gum disease. Additionally, nails should be trimmed once per month if the dog does not wear the toenails down naturally.