Swedish vallhund, or Vastgotaspets, is a native dog of southern Sweden. It is an ancient breed known for over 1,000 years. Legend tells that it was the herding dog of the Vikings. The vallhund is a small, powerfully built working dog. It is very similar to the Welsh corgi, and the breeds share a common ancestry.
The Swedish vallhund was used as a herding dog for cattle and sheep. It is slightly taller, and shorter in the back, than the corgi. Like the Pembroke corgi, it has almost no tail. It stands between 12 and 14 inches (31 and 35) centimeters high, and weighs from 24 to 34 pounds (11 to 15 kilograms). It has a short coat. The coat may be any color from bright red to wolf gray. Usually there is lighter shading on the head, chest, and legs.
