Swedish Vallhund vs Bully Kutta - Breed Comparison

Known 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.

This well built, powerful dog breed is also known as Indian Alangu Mastiff or Pakistani Mastiff. These dogs come from the Punjab and Sindh region of the Indian subcontinent. It is believed that mastiff dogs came with British soldiers during the British invasion, however English Mastiffs, Bulldogs, Bull Terriers and Great Danes are seen as potential ancestors of this large dog.

There are disputes about the country of origin of this breed, and some people claim that the dog comes from India, while others say it comes from Pakistan. Certainly in Pakistan these dogs are still used for fighting.

Looking 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.

The Bully Kutta is a big, heavy, muscular dog, standing at roughly 81 – 89cm and weighing in at 70–90kg. He isn’t particularly good with children or with other pets simply because the dog is aggressive by nature. If you do opt for this large breed, you’re going to need a large garden and he is going to require a lot of exercise.

This is a dog breed that is going to require socialization and training if you want him to be obedient and calm, as he is inclined to be a dominating breed. He’s an intelligent dog and when well trained, he makes a splendid pet with firm, fair owners.

The Bully Kutta has a large, broad head which is supported by a thick well-muscled neck. The skin around his lower jaw is loose. The ears are short, set high and are mostly cropped, but other times they are left to flop over. The tail is sometimes docked but these days mostly left long and tapered.

He has a short smooth coat and is essentially white in color although the coat can also be fawn, brown, black or brindle.

Your 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.

The Bully Kutta is a powerful, imposing dog and they have been nicknamed the ‘Beast from the East’. Unfortunately it is this dog’s thick bones, his looks and his strength that have him used for cruel dog fighting in Pakistan.

When not used for fighting, he makes a loyal, devoted companion for the owner who ensures proper socialization and training. Well raised Bully Kuttas are then good with children, being loving, protective and playful.

One just hopes that the future of this giant dog breed is brighter, and that he will be looked upon as more of a companion that just a dog-fighting object to bring in money for his owner.

Capable 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.

Your Bully Kutta is generally a healthy dog and not often affected by hereditary diseases, but with giant breeds such as this you will have to look out for diseases common to large dogs.

Typical illnesses to watch out for will include hip dysplasia, arthritis, skin allergies and bloat.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is an inherited condition where the hip joint is improperly formed. For your Bully Kutta it causes wear and tear as well as stiffness in the hips and your dog battles to rise after lying down.

Arthritis:

Arthritis in your dog can be managed but it can cause a lot of discomfort for him. This inflammation of the joints can cause pain and stiffness. It is more often seen in older dogs. It can also start at an early age because of problems with bone and joint development and abnormal rubbing within the joint.

Today there are a number of therapy options that can bring some kind of relief to your dog.

Try 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.

Grooming:

The short coat is low maintenance and as a moderate shedder too, all that is required really is to give your Bully Kutta a good brush twice a week to keep the coat in good condition.

Brush his teeth 2 or 3 times a week with special canine-toothpaste and toothbrush to prevent plaque build-up. He’s a drooler too, so you will need to wipe his face and maybe your clothes of slobber from time to time.

Diet:

This strong, muscular dog of yours will require an excellent diet. It’s always wonderful if you can give him home-made food such as vegetables, rice and meat. These days you get excellent commercially manufactured food for dogs, and your vet can advise you on the best food for a large, active dog such as the Buly Kutta.

Raw meat is absolutely essential for your dog from time to time and will ensure that his coat doesn’t become dull and with bald spots. Remember, that before dogs were domesticated they used to live on raw meat, so see that he gets some raw meat to prevent skin disorders. Make sure your large pet has a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Exercise:

Bully Kuttas are going to need a walk every day in the form of exercise. If he is socialized you can take him into the park for ball games. He is a dog that will require plenty of space.