Swedish Vallhund vs Chow Chow - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

Swedish Vallhund vs Chow Chow - Breed ComparisonSwedish Vallhund is originated from Sweden but Chow Chow is originated from China. Swedish Vallhund may grow 17 cm / 6 inches shorter than Chow Chow. Swedish Vallhund may weigh 18 kg / 39 pounds lesser than Chow Chow. Both Swedish Vallhund and Chow Chow has almost same life span. Both Swedish Vallhund and Chow Chow has almost same litter size. Swedish Vallhund requires Moderate maintenance. But Chow Chow requires High maintenance

History

swedish vallhund - historyKnown also as the Västgötaspets or Swedish cow dog, the Valhund hails from Sweden. It’s a herding dog, and was always a farm dog in that country.

It was in 1943 that the dog was first recognized as a breed by the Swedish Kennel Club. Only later, in 1996, did the American Kennel Club start registering the breed.

chow chow - historyNorthern China is the original home of the Chow Chow. In that region of China, the breed was known as the Songshi Quan – “the puffy-lion” dog. They have also been known in China as the “Dog of the Tang Empire” or the Tang Quan. The Chow is believed to be an ancient breed that the Foo Dog, or stone dog guardians of Buddhist palaces and temples, is modeled after. It is one of the most ancient of dog breeds that are still around today.

It is believed that they have existed for around 2000 years or perhaps even as far back as 3000 years, starting out in Mongolia and migrating to China. The ancientness of the Chow Chow has been validated through DNA testing. In China all those centuries ago, the Chow Chow was born to be a working dog. They hunted, herded, guarded and pulled carts. They went on quests with the Mongolian armies when China was invaded, as well as when the Mongolians invaded the Middle East and Europe later on.

Today’s Canadian Kennel Club has about 350 Chows registered while the AKC gets 10,000 new registrations every year.

Basic Information

Group:
Herding dogs
Non sporting dog
Origin:
Sweden
China
Height Male:
30 - 34 cm
11 - 14 inches
43 - 51 cm
16 - 21 inches
Height Female:
30 - 34 cm
11 - 14 inches
41 - 60 cm
16 - 24 inches
Weight Male:
9 - 14 kg
19 - 31 pounds
25 - 32 kg
55 - 71 pounds
Weight Female:
9 - 14 kg
19 - 31 pounds
20 - 27 kg
44 - 60 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
11 - 13 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 10
4 - 8
Size:
Medium dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Västgötaspets, Swedish cow dog
chowhound, chow, chowdren
Colors Available:
Cream, grey, brown
cream and blue, Red (light gold to deep red-brown) • Cinnamon (light tan to brown) • Black
Coat:
Medium length, thick
double thick and coarse
Shedding:
Moderate
Seasonal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Protective, Quiet, Stubborn
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
High maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Hard
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

Description

swedish vallhund puppy - descriptionLooking much like a cross between a Corgi and the German Shepherd, the Swedish Valhund is a medium sized dog that stands between 30 and 34cm in height and weighs between 9 and 14kg.

His medium length weather-resistant coat is available in wolf like shades – cream, grey, brown etc. The tail can be long or bobbed and the medium sized ears are held erect.

Temperament:

Intelligent, confident, independent, alert, playful and active, your Swedish Valhund promises to make a good family pet.

You'll need to be an active, outdoor type of family though, as he isn’t a couch potato type of dog, snoozing in front of the TV.

He wants to be up and about going on long walks or playing ball games that give him a good run. If he gets his fair share of exercise he can adapt to life in the city or the countryside.

He is intelligent too and will respond well to training and socialization.

He just loves his human family and wants to be constantly with them. He won’t do well if you just keep him locked outside away from everyone. He is social, alert innovative and entertaining as well as being a good guard dog.

chow chow puppy - descriptionThe Chow really does look like a small lion with a black tongue. The dog is sturdy and square with erect, small ears on a broad skull. They have a very dense double coat. Their eyes are deep set and look like almonds, while they all have that very distinctive purple or black tongue. Their lips are also distinctive with their blue color. The nose is black, but some Chows might have a blue nose. The tail is curly.

These are medium size dogs when it comes to height and weight, but they are powerfully built for their size. Their power is in their compact body holding the energy and strength of a much larger dog. Its hind legs are almost entirely straight, unusual for any dog. They get their lion appearance from the huge ruff that stands behind their heads. Their chest is broad and deep.

Characteristics

swedish vallhund dog - characteristicsYour Swedish Valhund is such a confident, independent dog and he promises to be a loving, faithful pet. He's also alert and will let you know if strangers are approaching his property.

He is a calm, easy going pet and is capable of adapting to quiet or noisy homes. He may be quite a strange looking dog, but he's got a whole lot of loving to give.

chow chow dog - characteristicsLoyal and true to their family and those they know; the Chow Chow is a little standoffish with strangers. They are very protective and usually attach themselves to one or two people. They are intelligent but stubborn, which can affect your training with them. They need to respect their people and Chows respect hose who take care of them. They can be aggressive toward dogs of their same sex especially if those dogs are the same breed as well.

They are known to be very clean and many have compared them to cats in that regard. They appear to be dignified and refined. They are usually very quiet but very adaptable dogs.

Health Problems

swedish vallhund puppies - health problemsCapable of living a long, healthy life, the Swedish Valhund isn’t likely to fall victim to some of the many dog illnesses there are, and yet it is wise to be alert to some of them that he could get.

One of these is an hereditary eye disease known as retinopathy. Its where there is degeneration of the retinal photoreceptor cells. This eye disease can lead to blindness.  

You need to be careful with this pet of yours, because with his long back and short legs he can so easily hurt his back if he leaps off a bed or high chair.

Whenever you pick this dog up, always support his legs and back. Don’t pick them up without supporting both the front legs and the rear end.

chow chow puppies - health problemsAlthough an ancient breed that obviously has survived many centuries of trials, the Cho Chow of today is prone to several different health conditions. These include:

Eyelid Entropion

This condition can require surgery to keep the turning eyelid from injuring the eye ball.

Hip Dysplasia

This can cause lameness and arthritis.

Elbow Dysplasia

This can cause lameness and arthritis.

Stomach Cancer

Ear Infections

Make sure you keep the ears clean and keep an eye on them.

Caring The Pet

swedish vallhund dogs - caringTry and feed your Swedish Valhund two meals a day instead of just one, so that he doesn’t gobble down his food too quickly.

Your dog can be prone to obesity, so you have to be careful with the way you feed him. Overfeeding a dog packs on extra weight and this puts strain on the joints.

Apart from the dry kibble that you feed him, try to include some tasty, nutritious homemade food such as boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta, sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach.

This can all be chopped up and added to his dry kibble. Some raw meat added to the diet can only be to his benefit. Remember to always ensure a bowl of fresh, cool water is available.

General Care:

Give his thick coat a brush twice a week to remove dead hair. Brushing also stimulates the sebaceous glands that produces oil which gives the coat is sheen.

Open his mouth and check for rotting teeth which can be painful for him.

Trim his nails because left long, they can hook onto things and rip the skin open.

Check inside the ears too for redness which could mean an ear infection.You get dog wipes that you can wipe the ear out with. There are always professional dog groomers who can do these chores for you if you don't want to.

See that his vaccines are up to date and that if he shows signs of illness, you get him to the vet.

chow chow dogs - caringDon’t overfeed a Chow Chow as they are hard workers and big eaters. Feed them at least twice a day.

Health issues

Additional health issues include:

Glaucoma

This eye disease can lead to blindness if not checked and treated.

Juvenile Cataracts

These can be removed from an adolescent puppy.

Lymphoma

Again, the Chow is susceptible to cancer.

Diabetes

Can lead to heart or kidney problems if left untreated.

Hot Spots/Allergies/Melanoma

Keep a close eye on your Chow Chow skin.

Exercise and games

The Chow Chow was developed as working dog, but today’s version is more laid back and doesn’t need excessive exercise. Daily walks will suffice. They live very happily in the city if walked regularly. They are not really a competitive breed outside of obedience and confirmation. They are seldom seen in sports like agility or frisbee.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Swedish Vallhund vs Pembroke Welsh Corgi - Breed Comparison
  2. Swedish Vallhund vs Australian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Swedish Vallhund vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois) - Breed Comparison
  4. Swedish Vallhund vs Australian Cattle Dog - Breed Comparison
  5. Swedish Vallhund vs Bearded Collie - Breed Comparison
  6. Swedish Vallhund vs Collie - Breed Comparison
  7. Swedish Vallhund vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  8. Swedish Vallhund vs Dutch Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  9. Swedish Vallhund vs Blue Healer - Breed Comparison
  10. Swedish Vallhund vs English Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  11. Swedish Vallhund vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  12. Swedish Vallhund vs Catahoula Cur - Breed Comparison
  13. Swedish Vallhund vs Australian Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  14. Swedish Vallhund vs Catalan Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  15. Swedish Vallhund vs Pyrenean Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  16. Swedish Vallhund vs Bergamasco - Breed Comparison
  17. Swedish Vallhund vs Berger Picard - Breed Comparison
  18. Swedish Vallhund vs Appenzell Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  19. Swedish Vallhund vs Queensland Heeler - Breed Comparison
  20. Swedish Vallhund vs German Coolie - Breed Comparison
  21. Swedish Vallhund vs Bohemian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  22. Swedish Vallhund vs Croatian Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  23. Swedish Vallhund vs Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  24. Swedish Vallhund vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Tervuren) - Breed Comparison
  25. Swedish Vallhund vs Blue Lacy - Breed Comparison
  26. Chow Chow vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Chow Chow vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  28. Chow Chow vs Chinese Shar Pei - Breed Comparison
  29. Chow Chow vs Australian Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  30. Dalmatian vs Chow Chow - Breed Comparison
  31. Keeshond vs Chow Chow - Breed Comparison
  32. Mexican Hairless vs Chow Chow - Breed Comparison
  33. Tibetan Terrier vs Chow Chow - Breed Comparison
  34. Standard Poodle vs Chow Chow - Breed Comparison
  35. Norwegian Lundehund vs Chow Chow - Breed Comparison
  36. Chow Chow vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  37. Chow Chow vs American Pit Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  38. Chow Chow vs Australian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  39. Chow Chow vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  40. Chow Chow vs Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  41. Chow Chow vs Basset Hound - Breed Comparison
  42. Chow Chow vs Border Collie - Breed Comparison
  43. Chow Chow vs American Cocker Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  44. Chow Chow vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois) - Breed Comparison
  45. Chow Chow vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  46. Chow Chow vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  47. Chow Chow vs Aussie Doodles - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds