Swedish Vallhund Did You Know?

• The Swedish Vallhund is AKC's 156th breed.
• At the November 2006 Board Meeting the Swedish Vallhund became eligible to participate fully in AKC Herding Events and to compete for Prefix and Suffix titles, effective January 1, 2007.
• At the October 2006 Board Meeting the Swedish Vallund became eligible for AKC registration, March 1, 2007 and was eligible to compete in the Herding Group, effective June 27, 2007. There will be an open registry for the breed until February 28, 2010.
• At the April 2005 Board Meeting the Swedish Vallhund was approved to compete in the Miscellaneous Class effective September 1, 2005.
• At the May 2004 Board Meeting the Swedish Vallhund was approved to compete in Herding Tests and to participate in Herding Trials on an Exhibition Only Basis, effective September 1, 2004.
• In December 2003 the AKC Board approved the eligibility of some Foundation Stock breeds, which meet certain criteria, for competition in AKC Companion Events (Obedience, Tracking, and Agility), effective January 1, 2004. The breeds must have a minimum of 150 dogs with three generation pedigrees recorded in the FSS®, a national breed club with members in at least 20 states, and an AKC approved breed standard. The Swedish Vallhund was one of 20 breeds who met the requirements. Requests by breed clubs to have their breeds compete in the various Performance Events would be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• The Swedish Vallhund has been assigned the Herding Group designation.
• The Swedish Vallhund has been recorded in the Foundation Stock Service since 1999.
• The Swedish Vallhund is also known as Vasgotaspets and Swedish Cattledog.
• Did you know that the Swedish Vallhund is considered an ancient breed. Sweden says the Swedish Vallhund goes back well over 1000 years and that it is an original species meaning it did not come from another breed of dog.
• The Swedish Vallhund comes naturally with no tail (bobtail), stub tail or full curl tail.
• The Swedish Vallhund is pictured on a number of countries stamps: Sweden, Nicaragua, Ukraine, Mali, Russia, Tajikastan, Altay....but not yet in the USA postage stamps.
• The Swedish Vallhund almost became exinct in Sweden in 1942 but was rescued from that fate when Count Bjorn von Rosen of Sweden became involved.
• The first Swedish Vallhund litter in the United States was bred by Marilyn Thell of Jonricker Kennel in 1986.