Vastgotaspets-The Spits of the West Goths
Or Swedish Vallhund as it is more commonly known, is an old indigenous breed from the Vastergot-land plains of Sweden, known for its cattle herds. The breed's history is steeped in mystery as it dates back some 1200 years to the Viking Era and was at one time know as the Vikingar-nas Dog.Near Extinction
In the 1930's the Swedish Vallhund stood on the brink of extinction, however Count Bjorn Von Rosen who was joined by Karl-Gustav Zetterson motivated a come back of this handsome little dog in the 1940's. Both men worked tirelessly towards having the breed officially recognized by the Swedish Kennel Club, a goal which was achieved in 1948. Since the breeds revival it has spread throughout the world as successful companion, worker, competitor and friend.Characteristics of the Swedish Vallhund
The Swedish Vallhund is a small powerful short-legged dog with a body slightly longer than tall. Height at the shoulder is 33cms for dogs and 31cms for bitches with a variation of 1.5 cm above or below these heights permitted (for more information see the New Zealand Kennel Club Breed Standard). The coat is of medium length and harsh with a close fitting topcoat while the underneath is soft and dense. The hair is slightly longer on the neck, chest and backs of the hind legs. There are several coat colours within the breed which range from grey, greyish brown, greyish yellow, reddish yellow and reddish brown with darker guard hairs on the back, neck and sides of the body. A distinctive feature of the breed is its harness markings which can be seen exhibited in lighter colours of the same shade on the shoulders. While white markings are allowed in certain area's ie the muzzle, neck, stomach, feet and legs it should never cover more then 30% of the dog. A distinct feature of the Swedish Vallhund is the ability to produce a range of tail types from a Full Spitz tail to a Bob Tail, this is a natural occurance within the breed.
Photo by J. Fualkner
Temperament: The Swedish Vallhund has a unique sense of humour and is a natural show off. Friendly, intelligent, spirited and loyal they are an affectionate breed who are sensitive to their owner's moods. They are good with children and other animals, however like most breeds of dog they do need to be well socialised when they are young. The Swedish Vallhund responds well to training as they are always eager-to-please. They excel at obedience, love agility and are used in a wide range of diciplines throughout the world.
Health & Grooming: The Swedish Vallhund is generally a very hardy, healthy breed of dog which is seldom ill. They are very easy to care for requiring a brush once a week although they will molt once a year to remove their woolly undercoat. During this short period of time they need to be brushed every day to remove the loose hairs and prevent the undercoat from matting. The Vasgotaspets rarely needs a bath as they have a low body odor and their coat tends to repel dirt and mud, with the latter seeming to shed off it.
Swedish Vallhund breeders have started testing for possible eye and hip defects to determine whether there are any issues in the breed. To date the results have been very good and while not all breeders perform these test, the ones that do will either advertise their results or be able to tell you if their dogs have passed their examinations.Upkeep: The Swedish Vallhund while originally being bred for herding is not a hyperactive breed, they are happy with a moderate walk, a good ball game or a training session to focus their minds. Sticky beaks of the dog world you will often find you have a willing partner in whatever you do. The Vasgotaspets will happily live outdoors in a temperate climate however they are such social dogs that they would much prefer to be inside with you.If you are interested in more comprehensive information on Swedish Vallhunds I recommend you buy one of the books about the breed or visit the Swedish Vallhund Club of New Zealands site for a more detailed history.Tails in the Swedish Vallhund: Swedish Vallhunds are born with tails, with a stump for a tail and with no tail at all. Those with a tail may carry it tightly curled, held in an arc of their back or often relaxed below their hip. All variations are acceptable and fit inside the breed standard. A common question asked by people who have never met the breed is:
There are no puppies in New Zealand being docked. There is a perception in New Zealand that dogs with tails are better, people perhaps assume they are getting more dog for their money if the pet they are buying has a tail. The reality is that if it were not for the bobtailed examples, we (none of us) would own a Swedish Vallhund at all, as it was the bobtailed examples of the breed that were rescued by two dog enthusiasts in the 1940's when Swedish Vallhunds were on the brink of dying out.
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