Page 1 of 2
Official Standard of the Swedish Vallhund 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 been kept 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 coat of 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, alertness and 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 and agility, and/or serve as a family companion. Size, Proportion, Substance: Height - Height at the withers for dogs ranges from 12½ to 13½ inches and bitches 11½ to 12½ inches. Minor variations may be seen; however, more important is the proportion. Proportion -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. Head: Rather long and clean. Viewed from above, the head forms an even wedge from skull to tip of nose and is well filled-in under the eyes. Eyes - Medium size, oval in shape and dark brown with black eye rims. 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. Skull - Broad and almost flat. Stop - Well defined. Muzzle - Viewed from the 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. Neck, Topline, Body: 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. Tails - 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.
Powered by FlippingBook