Swedish Vallhund vs Kooikerhondje - Breed Comparison

Swedish Vallhund vs Kooikerhondje - Breed ComparisonKooikerhondje is originated from Netherlands but Swedish Vallhund is originated from Sweden. Kooikerhondje may grow 6 cm / 3 inches higher than Swedish Vallhund. Both Kooikerhondje and Swedish Vallhund are having almost same weight. Both Kooikerhondje and Swedish Vallhund has almost same life span. Kooikerhondje may have less litter size than Swedish Vallhund. Kooikerhondje requires Low Maintenance. But Swedish Vallhund requires Moderate Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Sporting dog
Herding dogs
undefined
Netherlands
Sweden
Height Male:
35 - 40 cm
13 - 16 inches
30 - 34 cm
11 - 14 inches
Height Female:
35 - 40 cm
13 - 16 inches
30 - 34 cm
11 - 14 inches
Weight Male:
9 - 11 kg
19 - 25 pounds
9 - 14 kg
19 - 31 pounds
Weight Female:
9 - 11 kg
19 - 25 pounds
9 - 14 kg
19 - 31 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 14 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
5 - 7
4 - 10
Size:
Medium
Medium
Other Names:
Kooiker
Västgötaspets, Swedish cow dog
Colors Available:
Red and white
Cream, grey, brown
Coat:
Long and silky
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, Stubborn, 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:
Low Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

kooikerhondjeThe Kooikerhondje is of Dutch ancestry and is a medium-sized spaniel-type dog breed that has always been a working dog, being used to attract ducks into traps but being bred as an all-purpose dog.

They were particularly sought after in the 17th and 18th century, appearing in paintings of Rembrandt. The breed died out during World War II, but it was rescued by Baroness van Hardenbroek van Ammerstol and recognized by the Dutch Kennel Club.

In January 2018 the Nederlnadse Kooikerhondje is fully recognized by the American Kennel Club, competing in the Sporting Group.

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

kooikerhondje puppy - descriptionThe Kooikerhondje is a medium sized dog standing at 35 – 40cm at the withers and weighing anything between 9 – 11kg. He has a medium length coat which is a red and white color, with floppy ears.

A distinctive feature with this dog is the black tips of the long ears, and which are referred to as earrings. The coat can be wavy or straight. Typical of spaniel-like dog his plumed white tail moves jauntily, as though always happy. When you look at him he has a gentle expression, while being alert too.

Temperament:

Friendly, content, cheerful, good-natured and quiet – these are some of the words which describe the amicable Kooikerhondje.

He is also intelligent, wanting to please his owner. He is good around children too, but make sure your children are taught to respect and be kind to animals.

The Kooikerhondje is an adaptable dog and can be as as quiet or as jaunty as you want. He is adaptable to city life or life in the country, but he will need to be exercised and taken for walks.

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

kooikerhondje dog - characteristicsKooiker, as he’s fondly referred to for short, has a happy personality, and bringing him into your home will be like bringing in some joy and sunshine.

He is a fun, energetic companion and you can count him in for all your outdoor activities such as walk, hikes and swimming. He’ll love to fetch every ball you throw, and that’s because he is such a playful dog.

He is a loving dog too, making a great playmate for children. Treat him like one of the family, and the Kooiker will surprise you with the amount of pleasure he brings.

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

kooikerhondje puppies - health problemsThe lifespan of the Kooikerhondje is about 12 – 14 years, and looked after well, he can be your canine friend for many years.

He loves his food and can put on weight easily, and obesity is one of the health problems he may have to deal with. Kidney- and eye problems might also be something that you may have to deal with with this dog breed, although most unlikely.

Obesity:

Obesity in dogs is very sad because its a disease that can be avoided. Dogs that are over fed are at particular risk because they can't exercise, and this in itself can lead to serious health issues.

There are different causes of obesity, but it is mostly caused by the dog being fed- and eating more than he can expend. Just like with humans, obesity becomes more common in old age as the metabolism slows down. A dog that has been neutered or spayed also tends to put on weight more easily.

If you're unsure what to do for your obese dog, speak to your vet who can recommend a diet for your pet. Remember that with feeding your dog, prevention is better than cure.

Kidney Problems:

Kidney problems, though more common with older dogs, can strike at any age. The kidneys play a host of important functions such as regulating blood pressure. Sometimes kidney failure is slow and the symptoms may not be obvious.

With renal failure, your pet will be lethargic, they will be vomiting, be depressed and have weight loss. Other possible symptoms are increased thirst, blood in the urine and seizures. Chronic renal failure can't be cured but treatment is aimed at making your pet comfortable.

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

kooikerhondje dogs - caringYour Kooikerhondje is smart, happy-go-lucky dog and it is important to know your pet's needs so you can care properly for him. Exercise your Kooikerhondje daily as he is a high-energy dog and even short walks can be good for him.

He absolutely loves balls games too. He can live in the city or the country but will do better when he has the chance for exercise. Urban- and city environments can work if there are nearby parks to cater for his energy.

Grooming:

The Kooikehondje has long hair but he is surprisingly low maintenance and will simply require a brush once or twice a week.

If you love your pet but just can't find the time to see to his grooming needs, take him to the vet for regular checkups to check ears, teeth and eyes. They can come down with problems with the eyes or have some or other skin allergy.

Diet:

Give your Kooikerhondje the right food, and make sure its the highest quality. If you buy him commercially manufactured food, pay attention to the ingredients list and make sure that proper meat is at the top of the list.

Add cooked chicken, brown rice and vegetables to his dry kibble as a tasty treat sometimes. Learn to recognize the less nutritious ingredients such as wheat or grain. Also learn to avoid foods which are bad for your dog such as chocolate and onions.

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. Kooikerhondje vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Kooikerhondje vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Kooikerhondje vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Kooikerhondje vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Kooikerhondje vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Kooikerhondje vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Kooikerhondje vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Kooikerhondje vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Kooikerhondje vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Kooikerhondje vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Kooikerhondje vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Kooikerhondje vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Kooikerhondje vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Kooikerhondje vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Kooikerhondje vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Kooikerhondje vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Kooikerhondje vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Kooikerhondje vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Kooikerhondje vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Kooikerhondje vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Kooikerhondje vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Kooikerhondje vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Kooikerhondje vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Kooikerhondje vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Kooikerhondje vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison