Swedish Vallhund vs Dandie Dinmont Terrier - 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.

The rough coated Dandie Dinmont Terrier originates from Scotland. They were used centuries ago for hunting otters and badgers.

There are theories that exist that the dog is a cross between Scottish- and Skye Terriers while others believe there must be some Dachshund in the mix because of the long body of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

The Dandie Dinmont Terrier was first recorded as a distinct breed in the late 1600s. The British Dandie Dinmont Terrier Club was formed in 1875 while the American Kennel Club recognized the Dandie in 1886.

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 Dandie Dinmont Terrier is a small dog who stands between 20 – 28cm at the withers and weighs between 8 and 11kg. He is recognizable by his fluffy head of hair.

He actually has quite a unique look with his long body and slightly over-sized head. He has floppy ears and a long tail. His coat is quite unusual too in that it can be silky and long around the face, legs and belly, while the topcoat is fairly shortish and crisp. His coat color is fawn to brown or reddish. He isn’t a heavy shedder.

Temperament:

Known also as the Dandie, Charlie’s Hope Terrier, the Mustard and Pepper Terrier, the Dandie Dinmont makes an excellent family pet with his calm demeanor, being somewhat reserved around strangers.

He is an alert, intelligent little dog and will warn you of strangers coming into your space. He therefore makes a good watchdog. He is loving and loyal to his human family and will readily fit into life in the city or in the countryside.

They are good with children and pets but with his independent streak, he will require training and socialization if you want him to behave and be obedient.

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.

Your Dandie Dinmont is capable of being a wonderful companion. He loves spending time with his human family and is affectionate and loyal.

The small Dandie is able to fit into life in the city or country, just so long as he has his human family with him. Because he comes from Terrier dogs, he is no push-over though and he has an independent streak which will benefit from training and socialization.

Make sure you give this small dog of yours plenty of love and good care and you will find that you have a loyal, devoted friend in him.

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 pet Dandie Dinmont is a robust little dog who, with good care, can live to be anything between 12 to 15 years of age.

With every dog breed there will be health concerns, and these can include illnesses such as epilepsy as well as hypochondroplasia. All dogs have the potential to fall prey to health problems, and getting your pet from a reputable breeder can help to ensure you eliminate some of these diseases.

This small dog has a long body which means he can be affected by spinal problems. Genetics and body shape play a large role. Intervertebral disc disease is a condition where the cushioning discs between the vertebrae of the spinal column herniate into the spinal cord space. The discs press on the nerves and pain and paralysis can follow.

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.

Exercise:

The Dandie doesn’t require as much exercise as some other dog breeds but you want to make sure he goes with you on your walks, or you play ball with him in the garden. You don’t want to see a small dog like this becoming obese as it can herald in a host of health problems.

Grooming:

The Dandie Dinmont Terrier doesn’t shed a hang of a lot but still, you will need to brush him twice a week to get rid of those loose hairs. Also, the coat will require stripping twice a year. Some dog owners who prefer a low maintenance breed might not like knowing this, but it is a necessary part of his grooming. There are some dog owners who cut the hair rather, but then the texture of the coat will change. This is only important to know if you want to show your Dandie. Other Dandie owners take their pets to a professional groomer for clipping.

Check the Ears and Teeth:

Because the Dandie has floppy ears and a lot of hair around the face and ears, you will need to check his ears for dirt and wax build-up as these can cause an ear infection. If you’re nervous to be going inside your dog’s ears, the vet or the dog groomer can show you how.

Also, little dogs like this are prone to tooth decay, and you will need to brush his teeth 2 or 3 times a week. This is because plaque and tartar buildup can cause mouth infections which contribute to other diseases within the body.