HISTORY OF THE SWEDISH VALLHUND

In Sweden it is believed that the Swedish Vallhund goes back 1000 years to the days of the Vikings when it was known as the Vikingarnas dog. The breed was used as farm dogs in the province of Vastergotland in the southern part of Sweden. As farming practices changed after the First World War there was not the same need for the little farm dogs and by 1942 the breed had nearly become extinct.

Two breeders, Karl Zettersten and Count Bjorn von Rosen became interested in the breed and scoured the countryside in the 1940s for suitable dogs and bitches for a breeding program. The dogs found were first shown at the Goteborg Show in Autumn 1942 and with the approval of the Swedish kennel club.

The Swedish Vallhunds were imported from Sweden to England in 1974 by Mrs. Cartledge of Ryslip Kennels and a short time later Sheila and Dennis Haddon of Norsled Kennels imported a bitch. In 1984 the first Challenge Certificates were awarded. Sheila and Dennis Haddon introduced the Vallhunds to Australia in 1981 where they were mostly concentrated in Victoria. The breed has successfully competed against traditional Australian farm dogs for recognition as stock workers, with most of Sheila’s pups being sold as working dogs.