Thanks to the Swedish Walhund, or, in other words, the Visigoth Spitz, it becomes clear that for a real, working shepherd is not important neither height nor weight. After all, this short-legged doggie was once excellent coped with whole herds, destroyed hordes of rats and guarded as livestock and housing. And besides, the Swedish Walhund has always been an excellent companion, faithful and loyal. Unfortunately on today the breed is not too common however true connoisseurs of these amazing Spitz are engaged in its maintenance and preservation of unique pedigree qualities and exterior.
Content
- 1. The origin of the breed
- 2. Description of the Swedish Walhund breed
- 2.1. The quality of the coat and possible colors
- 3. Character and disposition
- 4. Training and education
- 5. Care and health features
- 6. Diseases of the breed
- 7. Feeding
- 8. Keeping a dog
- 9. Photographic Swedish Walhund
- 10. Video of the Osh Swedish Walhound
- 11. Puppy cost
Origin of breed
Historians and dog handlers have a history of the origin of Swedish Walhund still raises a lot of questions. According to one version, these Welsh Corg-like doggie ended up in Britain with the Vikings, on the other hand, the Walhounds descended from the Pembrokes, which somehow appeared in Sweden. 
The homeland of these Spitz is the Visigoth Valley, which lies between two lakes – Venern and Vettern. In this place since ancient times people were engaged in cattle breeding, and always helped them dogs – Corgi, Spitz, husky. Specialists suggest that some of these species were the ancestors of modern Visigothic Spitz.
During World War II, the breed, like many others, It was on the verge of extinction. However, lovers of these extraordinary dogs Zettersten and Björn, using their own program, began for their restoration. They succeeded, but still they did not world popularity. Today at home registered no more than two hundred individuals of this breed, and in The breed club includes about 600 members.
Description of the Swedish Walhund breed
The Walhunds were used as cattle dogs, and they feel great about it. succeeded. Already at that time, the selection of dogs was carried out exclusively by working qualities, and the breeders didn’t pay much attention to the exterior attention. So the modern representative of the breed does not have a bright looks and more attracted by its character and excellent physical data.
If you look at the standard, then the Visigoth Spitz is physically strong, medium-sized, squat dog, brave, with a lively character. Even at a glance it’s clear that the Walhund attentive, energetic. Weight of breed representatives does not depend on gender, it varies from 9 to 14 kg. The growth of males is 31.5-34.5 cm, females – 29.5-32.5 cm. But it is worth considering that the expert commission takes into account dimensions only after evaluating the proportionality of the addition of an individual.
The standard describes a dog as follows:
- Head in the form of an elongated wedge, when viewed side – blunt, symmetrical silhouette, smooth, clear lines. The forehead is wide, flattened, the stop is well defined. Lips moderately thick, snug, fully pigmented.
- The jaws are strong, with a full set of teeth forming regular scissor bite. Rich black shade with well-opened nostrils.
- The eyes are oval, small, iris painted in a dark brown tone.
- The ears are medium in size, hard, thick, low, rounded at the ends. Ear cartilage triangular.
- The body is stocky, with a visually elongated neck, planted at a natural angle and oval in section. Withers moderately pronounced, passes into a flat line of the back and muscular, straight lower back. Croup shortened with neat rounded lines and sloping, but all proportions saved.
- The sternum is elongated, oval, drops slightly below elbow joints, moderately broad, with arched ribs. Inguinal the line is selected, but without excessive dryness.
- The limbs have a pronounced, strong skeleton, natural set with a slight bevel. Front stable, with inclined shoulder blades and shortened forearms. The elbows and shoulders are adjacent to the sternum, but are free during movement. Metacarpus without eversion, are strong and flexible. Rear set slightly wider than the front. The hips are well muscled proportional. Tibia longer than metatarsus, hocks lightweight, arranged in parallel. Medium sized brushes shortened, oval type, collected by a lump. Pads covered strong, thick skin, claws are pigmented in dark color, durable.
- The tail by nature can be short or natural length, not dockable. When evaluating its size do not pay attention, it is important that he does not have creases, rushing confidently.
The quality of the coat and possible colors
The Swedish Walhund has double hair – a hard outer hair and very thick, dense undercoat. Thanks to such protection, the dog does not afraid of winds and severe frosts.
There are individuals with plain gray wool, gray with brown, red with brown, gray with yellow. In individuals with a two-color coat black hair is optional. White wool is not is characteristic of dogs of this breed, but the standard allows its presence on the muzzle, collar, sternum in the form of small spots.
Get the highest score for more opportunities from the Walhounds, having a lighter than the main wool, pattern in the form of harnesses in the shoulders and back.
Character and temper
Briefly describing this squat shepherd, it’s affectionate, energetic, alert dog. She needs active games and walks to keep fit and spend excess energy. Long stay indoors, in being alone will not benefit a pet.
Modern walhund practically not used for driving cattle, but these small, restless dogs are found among lifeguards. Thanks to the sharp instinct, the dogs excellently take the track, and modest dimensions allow them to penetrate into inaccessible places. Therefore, representatives of this breed are often used for search activity, which is carried out after the rampage of the elements.
Swedish walhund very devoted to his family, friendly to all households. He can meet guests wary, but without manifestations of aggression. Such a positive and agile pet is capable of infect others with their cheerfulness, but never will to impose his society if he sees that the owner is not up to it.
Walhund and the children are the perfect combination. Of course, about peace and silence have to forget, but this company will find how to spend free time is fun and active. The main thing is to stop the gambling “enrage” on time, otherwise all the pieces of furniture will be in the apartment upside down.
At the same time, the dog is balanced and not highly excitable. to animals. But there is one feature – unsterilized dogs during “dog weddings” will try in every possible way to become participants a similar event. Spitz is friendly to other animals, but his playfulness may not appeal to other residents of the house, for example, cats.
Former shepherd, a modern Spitz is a companion who loves the owner and really misses separation. If the owner you need to leave a pet with strangers, it is worth knowing that the dog can survive severe stress and even become painful apathetic state. Therefore, if there is even the slightest opportunity to take a four-legged comrade with you is better to do it. is he perfectly transfers the trip, and will behave as much as possible culturally and politely, trying not to cause unnecessary trouble.
Training and education
Swedish Walhund – intelligent, intelligent, easily trained dog, which makes excellent contact. And besides, he is ready to do anything, just not to be bored at home. But if the owner will not be engaged in the education and training of his favorite, then in the future he will have to face his willfulness and love of freedom. This trait is inherent in most cattle breeds, and Swedish Walhund is no exception. 
Another caveat – once these dogs had make decisions on their own, and today the Walhounds have bright This trait is expressed. If the owner does not prove his leadership and show the pet that his opinion is 100% correct, he can in his own way solve a problem. It is desirable for the owner to distinguish whether the dog is stubborn or he copes with the problem in his own way, since the dog may not to understand why he is being punished.
During training, the owner and pet must trust relate to each other, you can not scream, offend the dog, as Valhund can not only be offended, but completely abandon participation in the process. The dog is responsive, always glad to treat and if at the end of classes to devote a little time to the game, he will just happy.
Care and health features
The Swedish Walhund is one of the most unpretentious pets. Combing the dog infrequently, 3-4 times a month, only during molting the number of procedures will have to be increased.
Representatives of this breed are not recommended to bathe often, so how it will negatively affect the quality of the coat and skin condition, will deprive them of a natural protective lubricant. Pet washing is enough spend 3-4 times a year. To keep clean longer coat, during rainy weather it is advisable to wear Pet’s special raincoat.
The rest of the care includes standard hygiene procedures:
- teeth are naturally strong and white, moreover remain so until the very advanced years, if they are cleaned regularly from plaque and tartar. For preventive purposes, you can give dog from time to time large beef bones or dentological goodies;
- claws – if the owner regularly walks your pet and spends on it at least an hour and a half a day, then the dog’s claws are erased themselves, otherwise they should be cut claw cutter;
- eyes – constantly examined accumulations in the corners of mud and tear fluid, upon detection pollution should be cleaned using a decoction of chamomile;
- ears – with the appearance of contamination and plaque wipe them with a damp cloth, but so that no liquid gets into auditory meatus.
Breed diseases
On average, Visigothic spitz live from 12 to 14 years, and if the dog thoroughbred, with good genes and receives proper care, then he may not be sick until old age. Most diseases Valhund – pathology of a hereditary nature, therefore the future owners are encouraged to purchase a puppy in a good nursery, which provides documents that parents of offspring are not suffer from genetic diseases.
Most old dogs have a weak spot in their eyes, and although Visigoth with good genetics is not prone to developing cataracts or glaucoma, with age he may manifest atrophy of the retina or multifocal retinopathy.
In addition, squat physique, which is pedigree feature, age Spitz can cause various diseases of the musculoskeletal system and most often it is dysplasia large joints.
In the list of inherited diseases, you can also include the following pathologies:
- hyperextension;
- myelopathy.
Feeding
You can’t call the Swedish Walhund fickle – he will eat everything hit his bowl. But the owner should remember that from the power depends on the health and life expectancy of his four-legged friend. 
With natural feeding, the dog must receive food containing animal protein – meat and offal, a couple of times a a week they can be replaced with marine low-fat fish. Offal pre-boiled, the meat is given raw or scalded boiling water. It is helpful to give the dog a raw scar.
The pet’s menu should also include vegetables, fruits, eggs, dairy products (cottage cheese, kefir), cereals, seasoned vegetable oil. As a nutritional supplement, you can give dog fish oil or flax oil. Do not treat your pet with food of your table and especially not give him pickles, marinades, smoked meats, flour and confectionery products.
In winter and spring it is recommended to give a dog vitamin and mineral complexes. On this issue it is desirable consult with your veterinarian.
The owner can feed the dog industrial diets, but this there must be a premium quality product or a super premium class, suitable for active dogs of small sizes.
Dog keeping
Such a pet can live on the street – the coat is allows. However, he needs constant communication with people, so it will be much more comfortable for him to live side by side with family.
Although the best conditions for Walhund is a country house with a spacious courtyard, it is quite suitable for an apartment. Naturally, that in the latter case, the owner will have to pay more attention walking the pet.
Photographic Swedish Walhund 
Video of the Oswedi Walhound
Puppy cost
Dogs of this breed are very rare in Russia, therefore finding a pet can be very problematic. Most often the future owners have to turn to foreign breeders. More active In total, Westgothshitz breeding is carried out in Sweden and Finland. But in this case, you have to consider that the delivery of the baby may be pretty consignment note. In addition, the cost of foreign offspring usually higher than domestic.
The average price of puppies of the Swedish Walhund varies from from 30,000 to 50,000 rubles. Naturally, for the dog from the titled parents admitted to exhibitions and breeding, will have to pay more than a baby who is only suitable as a home darling without further prospects. In some cases, sellers put a higher price on females.
Buying a puppy without a pedigree is not recommended, high the risk of buying a mestizo or yard dog, as representatives There are no vivid features of the breed, which manifest themselves at an early age. It’s even more dangerous to buy a puppy with poor genetics and heredity, which will entail enormous health problems.
Swedish Walhund – a pet suitable for active people, having free time, and most importantly desire, spend it with your energetic, short-legged favorite. The dog will be happy to participate in the owner’s life, to love and delight unlimitedly.
