GENERAL APPEARANCE - The SV is an original Swedish breed as well as a very old Spitz breed as a type known in the time of the Vikings. For many decades the SV has been kept as a farm dog for herding cattle. The SV is a small powerful, fearless, sturdily built Spitz herding dog with a longer body. The correct relationship of height to length of body is 2:3. The SV has a wedge-shaped head, prick ears and a close-fitting, hard coat of medium length and sable coloring. The double coat and the characteristic "harness markings" are essential features of this breed. Tail may be natural (long, stub, or bob) or docked. The appearance of the Swedish Vallhund conveys intelligence, alertness and energy. Balance, outline, temperament and movement are of overriding importance. The Swedish Vallhund is a thoroughly sound animal willing and able to do its work of herding and equally adaptable and eager to be a family companion.

SIZE, PROPORTION, SUBSTANCE - Height - Height at withers for dogs ranges from 12.5 - 13.75 inches and bitches 11.5 - 12.75 inches. Minor variations may be seen; however, more important is the proportion. Proportion - The relationship of height to length of body, as measured from sternum to the rearmost point of the buttocks, should be 2:3. Substance - Strong, substantial bone, well developed, neither refined nor coarse, and a solidly built, muscular body.

HEAD - Rather long and clean. Viewed from above, the head forms an even wedge from skull to tip of nose and is well filled in under eyes. Eyes - Medium size, oval in shape and dark brown with black eye rims. Ears - Medium size, pointed, pricked. Ear leathers should be hard from base to tip, smoothed haired and mobile, not set on too low. The dog should make good use of them. Skull - Broad and almost flat. Stop - Well defined. Muzzle -Viewed from the side, the muzzle should look rather square, slightly shorter than the skull. Planes - The top line of the muzzle and skull are parallel with each other. Nose - In profile, the nose is on the same line as the top of the muzzle and does not extend beyond the forepart of the muzzle. Pigmentation is jet black. A nose which is not predominantly black is a disqualification. Lips - Tightly closed. Flews - Well closed and tight. Teeth - Strong, well developed, with full dentation in a scissors bite. An undershot bite is a disqualification.

NECK, TOP LINE & BODY - Neck - Long, strongly muscled with good reach. Top line - Level when standing or moving. Chest - Long with good depth and well-sprung ribs. Viewed from the front, the chest should be oval; from the side, elliptical. It should reach two-fifths of the length of the forelegs and, when viewed from the side, the lowest point of the chest is immediately behind the back part of the foreleg. The prosternum is visible and not excessively pointed. Underline - Slightly tucked up. Back - Well muscled. Loin - Short and strong. Croup - Broad and very slightly sloping. Tail - Three types of tail are permissible: long, stub, and bob. The stub tail should not be more than 4". May be shown natural or docked. All tail types are equally acceptable.

FOREQUARTERS - Angulation -Well angulated. Shoulders - Strongly muscled. Shoulder blades -Long and well laid back. Withers - Slightly prominent. Upper Arms - Slightly shorter than the shoulder blade; set at a distinct angle. The elbows lie close to the ribs, but are still very mobile. Elbows - Move parallel to the body and are set far enough back to allow a line perpendicular to the ground to be drawn from the tip of the shoulder blade through to the elbow. Forelegs - When viewed from the front while moving, slightly curved to give free action against the lower part of the chest. Viewed from side they are straight. Legs: well boned. Pasterns - Elastic. Dew claws - May be removed. Feet - Medium sized, short, oval, pointing straight forward. Toes - Well knuckled up. Pads - Thick and strong.

HINDQUARTERS - Angulation - Well angulated at stifle and hock. Legs - Well boned. Upper thigh and second thigh are strongly muscled. Lower thigh is slightly longer than the distance from hock to ground. When viewed from behind, they are parallel Stifles - Well bent. Hocks - perpendicular to the ground. Viewed from the rear, they are parallel to each other. Feet - Medium sized, short, oval, pointing straight forward. Toes - Well knuckled up. Pads - Thick and strong.

COAT - Medium length hair; harsh, close and tight topcoat. Undercoat is soft and dense. Short on the head and the foreparts of the legs and slightly longer on neck, chest and back parts of the hind legs. Dogs are to be shown natural. Faults include woolly, curly, or open coats. Fluffy coats are a disqualification.

COLOR - A Sable pattern seen in colors of grey through red and combinations of these colors in various shades. All are equally acceptable. Lighter shades of these colors are desirable on the chest, belly, buttocks, lower legs, feet and hocks, with darker hairs on back, neck and sides of the body. Lighter markings on shoulders, so-called harness markings, are essential. Although a dark muzzle is acceptable, a well-defined mask with lighter hair around eyes, on muzzle and under the throat, giving a distinct contrast to the upper mask is highly desirable. White is permitted as a narrow blaze, neck spot, slight necklace, and white markings on the front and hind legs, and chest. White in excess of one third of the dog's total color is a disqualification. A blue color is a disqualification.

GAIT - Sound with good drive. The Swedish Vallhund is a herding dog requiring an easy, almost flowing movement, agility and endurance. The forelegs should reach well forward in a long free stride without too much lift. Viewed from the front, the legs do not move in exact parallel planes, but incline slightly inward to compensate for shortness of leg and width of chest. Hind legs should drive well under the body and move on a line with forelegs, with hocks turning neither in nor out. Feet should travel parallel to the line of motion with no tendency to swing out, cross over, or interfere with each other. Faults: Short, choppy movement; close or overly wide movement.

TEMPERAMENT - The breed is watchful, energetic, fearless, alert, intelligent, friendly, eager to please, active and steady, making for a good herding and companion animal. Sound temperament neither shy nor vicious.

FAULTS
--Coats that are woolly, curly, or open.
--Short, choppy movement; close or overly wide movement.

DISQUALIFICATIONS
--Undershot bite.
--Fluffy coats.
--More than one-third white color.
–Nose not predominantly black
--Blue coat color.

SVCA 3/99, ratified

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