Swedish Vallhund vs Miniature Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison

Swedish Vallhund vs Miniature Siberian Husky - Breed ComparisonMiniature Siberian Husky is originated from United States but Swedish Vallhund is originated from Sweden. Both Miniature Siberian Husky and Swedish Vallhund are having almost same height. Both Miniature Siberian Husky and Swedish Vallhund are having almost same weight. Both Miniature Siberian Husky and Swedish Vallhund has almost same life span. Both Miniature Siberian Husky and Swedish Vallhund has almost same litter size. Both Miniature Siberian Husky and Swedish Vallhund requires Moderate Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Herding dogs
undefined
United States
Sweden
Height Male:
33 - 39 cm
12 - 16 inches
30 - 34 cm
11 - 14 inches
Height Female:
33 - 39 cm
12 - 16 inches
30 - 34 cm
11 - 14 inches
Weight Male:
8 - 11 kg
17 - 25 pounds
9 - 14 kg
19 - 31 pounds
Weight Female:
8 - 11 kg
17 - 25 pounds
9 - 14 kg
19 - 31 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 14 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 9
4 - 10
Size:
Small
Medium
Other Names:
Alaskan Klee Klai
Västgötaspets, Swedish cow dog
Colors Available:
Red and White, Grey and White, Black and White
Cream, grey, brown
Coat:
Thick, medium length, double-coated
Medium length, thick
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

miniature siberian huskyMiniature Siberian Huskies – also known as mini huskies – are your regular Siberian husky bred to be that much smaller than what the breed standard dictates.

They’re sought after by those who love the regular sized Siberian Husky but who find the larger dog too large and boisterous. They come complete with the looks and the temperament of the Siberian Husky but they are smaller.

The origins of these gorgeous Mini huskies is conflicting though as some believe they originated in the USA. The name of Bree Normandin is bandied about when talking of the breed’s origin while other refer to Linda S. Spurlin from Alaska. She became interested in them when her full-sized husky became pregnant by a small dog.

Spurlin used Siberian and Alaskan Huskies as well as small Schipperkes and American Eskimo Dogs to bring about the mini version. They’ve got the same pedigree as the Siberian Husky, but it has been selectively bred for its smaller size, also coming from the Spitz family of dogs.

The Miniature Husky is genetically the same as the larger Siberian Husky and the AKC doesn’t recognize it as a separate breed, but sees it as a different size variation of the working-group Siberian Husky.

swedish vallhundKnown 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.

Description

miniature siberian husky puppy - descriptionKnown also as the Alaskan Klee Klai,the Miniature Siberian Husky stands at 33-39cm in height and weighs between 8 - 11kg.

These mini huskies are like the larger huskies and can also come in a range of color variations such as grey and white, black and white or red and white for instance. In typical Spitz dog fashion they have the erect ears and long bushy tail. A striking feature of these dogs is the beautiful eyes – they can be brown but also a mesmerising blue.

Temperament:

This Miniature Siberian Husky is an intelligent dog and you’re not going to have any trouble with him teaching him some basic commands such as sit, lie-down and stay.

You need to know that these dogs aren’t going to be content lying around all day and that they want to be kept busy almost around the clock. They have always been working dogs so he will need plenty of mental – and physical exercise to keep him content. A bored, frustrated Mini Husky will just develop problem behavior through no fault of his own. People who buy high energy dogs have a responsibility towards them to keep them busy and well exercised.

These dogs are similar to their genetic ancestor, the wolf, and instead of barking, you may find him trying to communicate with a howl. One thing is sure, they make great family pets, and their gentle nature allows them to get on well with children and also not to show aggression with other dogs. They’re loyal, outgoing and charming.

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.

Characteristics

miniature siberian husky dog - characteristicsYour cuddly Mini Siberian Husky is such an intelligent dog, active and social and guaranteed to make you a splendid pet.

Being somewhat wary and aloof with strangers, they also make good watchdogs. They do well with children who have been taught to be kind and gentle with animals.

With good care your dog can reach up to 15 years of age, providing you with many years of superb friendship.

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.

Health Problems

miniature siberian husky puppies - health problemsYour Miniature Siberian Husky is a healthy dog and you won’t have to spend too much money on him at the vet. However, just like with any other dog, he can battle with some of the common dog diseases -

Cataracts:

This eye problem affects about 10% of all Siberian Huskies and its not limited to old dogs. Juvenile cataracts can affect young dogs too. Luckily the problem isn’t painful for the dog.

Skin problems:

Skin problems can be a concern for the Mini Siberian Husky, especially as one is used to seeing these dogs with thick coats. Follicular dysplasia is a genetic condition that causes patchy hair loss as well as a scaly, infected skin.

Check out that your dog is receiving nutritious food with vitamins and minerals as a zinc deficiency for instance can cause hair loss as well as skin 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.

Caring The Pet

Exercise:

miniature siberian husky dogs - caringThe Miniature Husky is an active and energetic breed that is going to require a lot of exercise. He is able to adapt to life in the city or the countryside but wherever you keep him as a pet, he will require regular daily exercise.

Don't Allow him to Overheat:

These dogs are used to cold climates so make sure your Mini Siberian Husky doesn’t overheat. Make sure that when he’s outdoors, there is shade for him and a water bowl. You’ll be doing him a real favor if you provide him with a small paddling pool to dip into on a hot day.

Grooming:

These are clean, odorless dogs that actually require little human help to be groomed. You can give your dog a good brush twice a week.

Diet:

Mini Siberian Huskies, like the larger breed, have a high metabolism, so small amounts of highly nutritious food will do well with them. If you intend feeding your one commercially manufactured food, make sure its the high quality food that comes with plenty of minerals and vitamins. Try and avoid the low quality brands that come packed with unhealthy preservatives and colorants.

Dogs do well on simple, nutritious diets, so some boiled chicken, brown rice and raw and cooked vegetables such as carrots, potatoes and spinach added into the dry kibble from time to time will do him wonders.

Also try and include some raw meat into the kibble from time to time. That's it, as simple as that- no exotic, spicy foods and foods which we humans eat such as nuts, chips and chocolate – all can be toxic for your pet and just give him an upset stomach.

Make sure fresh, cool water is constantly available.

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.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Swedish Vallhund vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Swedish Vallhund vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Swedish Vallhund vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Swedish Vallhund vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Swedish Vallhund vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Swedish Vallhund vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Swedish Vallhund vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Swedish Vallhund vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Swedish Vallhund vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Swedish Vallhund vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Swedish Vallhund vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Swedish Vallhund vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Swedish Vallhund vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Swedish Vallhund vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Swedish Vallhund vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Swedish Vallhund vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Swedish Vallhund vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Swedish Vallhund vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Swedish Vallhund vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Swedish Vallhund vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Swedish Vallhund vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Swedish Vallhund vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Swedish Vallhund vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Swedish Vallhund vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Swedish Vallhund vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Miniature Siberian Husky vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Miniature Siberian Husky vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Miniature Siberian Husky vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Miniature Siberian Husky vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Miniature Siberian Husky vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Miniature Siberian Husky vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Miniature Siberian Husky vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Miniature Siberian Husky vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Miniature Siberian Husky vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Miniature Siberian Husky vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Miniature Siberian Husky vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Miniature Siberian Husky vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Miniature Siberian Husky vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Miniature Siberian Husky vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Miniature Siberian Husky vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Miniature Siberian Husky vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Miniature Siberian Husky vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Miniature Siberian Husky vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Miniature Siberian Husky vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Miniature Siberian Husky vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Miniature Siberian Husky vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Miniature Siberian Husky vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Miniature Siberian Husky vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Miniature Siberian Husky vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Miniature Siberian Husky vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison