Swedish Vallhund

Constant and Seasonal Shedding: The Vallhund has a medium-length double coat. Double-coated dogs shed, so expect to find hair on your clothing and furniture. Brush the coat once or twice a week to remove dead hair and reduce the amount of loose hair floating around your house. The only other kind of grooming you need to do is to trim the hair on the footpads.

Easy Training: The Swedish Vallhund is a herding breed and is relatively easy to train. They do have a tendency to try to herd people by nipping at the individual's heals but with proper training, they can learn to avoid this. The Vallhund is eager to learn and training should be consistent.

The low-slung dog may resemble his Corgi cousins, but the Swedish Valhund is a distinct breed that has existed for some thousand years. In his homeland of Sweden, the Vallhund was a valued farm dog used to herd livestock by nipping at their heels. He has many good qualities, including his size and easy-care coat, but he’s not the right breed for everyone.

Friendly and even-tempered Vallhunds are among the world’s most vocal breeds. They’re so chatty that their language of yips, howls, and barks has its own name: “argle bargle.” These smart, energetic dogs do best with owners willing to engage them with work or sports. Vallhunds are zesty companions. “They have a sense of humor and a real joy for life,” says one longtime owner. Loyal and easily trained, both hardworking and fun loving, the Vallhund has it all, except numbers: It’s an exceedingly scarce breed.