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How much is a Swedish Vallhund?
How much is a Swedish Vallhund?
The approximate price of a pedigree puppy from Odindisa is from $3000. Prices do not vary across a litter for puppies that are prospective for show, sport or companions, as all puppies are invested in equally.
They are also a rare breed, so you may need to wait for your Vallhund.
Can I meet the parents?
Can I meet the parents?
You may meet the mother if you live locally in Perth, Western Australia.
The father of Odindisa's October 2024 litter is located in Adelaide, South Australia.
The father of Odindisa's October 2025 litter is located in Queensland.
Is a Swedish Vallhund the Right Dog for Me?
Is a Swedish Vallhund the Right Dog for Me?
These dogs rarely meet people who don’t immediately fall in love with their endearing quirks and personalities, and they are more than happy to love them back.
They will be a dog best left to people with experience owning energetic pets and are not ideal as someone's first dog.
If you lead an active lifestyle, the Vallhund is an ideal fit. Similarly, if you have kids and want them to have a devoted four-legged friend, the Swedish dog will happily sign up for the job.
They can be vocal, and their intelligence may have a stubborn edge, so they are not suitable for everyone who is not up for the challenge.
How big are Vallhunds?
How big are Vallhunds?
Height:
Dogs: 33-35 cms (13-13.75 ins) at withers.
Bitches: 31-33 cms (12-13 ins) at withers.
Weight:
11.5-16 kgs (25-35 lbs).
Uffi (Odindisa's foundation mother) has been officially measured and is 32.5cm. She is 12.2kg.
This modest breed will rarely be medium-sized and usually sit on the larger end of smaller dogs.
What Is a Swedish Vallhund’s Temperament?
What Is a Swedish Vallhund’s Temperament?
Vallhunds are some of the most likable animals people will ever meet, and it can cause inexperienced owners to get in over their heads. More than just looks, the breed is delightful, often funny, and wildly bright.
They are also quite a handful with vast amounts of energy, a need for companionship, and can have a passion for barking.
Most of their negative traits come from lack of attention, stimulation, or poor habits. Unlike some mild-mannered breeds, the Swedish Vallhund takes a lot of work to come to heel and is not meant for first-time owners or people with limited free time.
What Is a Swedish Vallhund’s Coat Type and Length?
What Is a Swedish Vallhund’s Coat Type and Length?
The Vallhund has a brilliant, beautiful coat that sits short and straight on the skin, though it is surprisingly thick and well-insulated for colder climates. The exterior portion of their fur is more rugged and tough, with the interior of their coat being soft to the touch.
They are double-coated, and while it may not look like they have a lot of fur to lose, they can surprise owners with how often they shed. They can then blow their coat twice a year as the seasons change, resulting in a lot of fur lost.
Uffi, and Astrid have low shedding genes, so they do not drop coat at the change of seasons, or when going in heat. Depending on who the father is, their offspring may inherit the low shedding coat.
Are Swedish Vallhunds Good With Kids?
Are Swedish Vallhunds Good With Kids?
Vallhunds are great with kids as long as proper steps are taken to introduce the two and ensure both respect the other’s boundaries.
Kids should prepare and understand the rules of owning and handling a dog.
However, these precautions must be taken with all dogs, and the Swedish Vallhund pup is a good choice for a house with kids.
Odindisa puppies are introduced early to young children of varying ages to ensure they are well socialised.
Uffi with a toddler
Are Swedish Vallhunds Good With Other Animals?
Are Swedish Vallhunds Good With Other Animals?
Proper socialisation will ensure your Vallhund is not shy or nervous around unfamiliar beings, both bipedal and on four legs.
Smaller pets may have to deal with a dog with a hardwired prey response, so unless the dog meets the other animal early in life, keep an eye on both of them.
Odindisa puppies are introduced to a variety of other animals and people, including cats and horses, to provide good foundational experiences.
Are Swedish Vallhunds Aggressive?
Are Swedish Vallhunds Aggressive?
From their herding background, they can have a tendency to nip at an ankle when someone jogs past. However, this playful nip is never malicious and is a response that has come from years of telling livestock where to go.
Outside of their nibbles, the breed is not known to be mean or aggressive with people.
Do Swedish Vallhunds Bark?
Do Swedish Vallhunds Bark?
They can get a bit boisterous, particularly if they have a lot of energy or are nervous, though less so than other breeds of similar size.
If you are in an apartment or cannot deal with incessant barking, they are certainly not a lost cause.
Training them to get used to familiar noises and rewarding good behavior should cure unwanted vocals from your Vallhund.
Are Swedish Vallhunds Affectionate?
Are Swedish Vallhunds Affectionate?
The Swedish Vallhund is an absolute cuddle muffin who will melt the heart of anyone in their proximity. People looking for a dog that will spend the afternoon hanging out with them will be head over heels for the Vallhund. They are a blast to be around and can be genuinely entertaining and playful.
They will try to sit with or on you while watching television, going to bed, getting your shoes on, and everywhere else. They are not for people who don’t enjoy the constant comfort of their dog, as they very much enjoy human interaction and may grow restless without it.
Are Swedish Vallhunds Intelligent?
Are Swedish Vallhunds Intelligent?
The Vallhund is a bright-burning bulb that can easily keep up with commands and vocal cues. They have much to offer, and plenty of training will provide them with tasks to stimulate their keen minds.
Are Swedish Vallhunds Energetic?
Are Swedish Vallhunds Energetic?
They are excellent for people with active lifestyles, however some time in the backyard or at a dog park will help expend the ample energy of the dog. They can live in most environments, from apartments to palatial estates, though they will need generous daily exercise and training if they live in these environments.
Vallhunds benefit most from mental stimulation. Training obedience cues will give them the stimulation they need, and satisfy their eagerness to please.
Are Swedish Vallhunds Easy to Train?
Are Swedish Vallhunds Easy to Train?
They are exceptionally bright, quick to catch on, and love interacting with their owners.
Tasks delight them, and they have enough energy to complete any agility training or advanced trick an owner could want.
They can sometimes have enough energy to make listening a tricky proposition, but they are outstanding students who can swiftly learn anything they need to.
Are Swedish Vallhund’s Good Watchdogs?
Are Swedish Vallhund’s Good Watchdogs?
The breed has had a history of looking out for livestock and keeping an eye out for any passing predators, which has paid dividends in their ability to inform owners. They have a loud enough bark that can wake you up and well-developed senses to hone in on any sound or smell.
They are minimal in size and are not aggressive, making them unfit to protect homes. That doesn’t mean they can’t keep a watchful eye on things around your yard.
Are Swedish Vallhunds Good Service Dogs?
Are Swedish Vallhunds Good Service Dogs?
Vallhunds are very talented in scent work. They are very empathetic and in tune to their owners and others. There are some that perform duties as medical alert dogs, with one in the USA who alerts to migraines and Reynaud’s.
How Do I Care for a Swedish Vallhund?
How Do I Care for a Swedish Vallhund?
They are fantastic dogs that require a good amount of exercise from their caretaker, however minimal fuss otherwise.
They will need ample daily exercise or training to keep their minds and bodies fulfilled. They tend to become mischievous if not given adequate one-on-one time or physical activities.
Otherwise, the Vallhund is happy with weekly brushing and they require infrequent baths. They do enjoy personal attention.
They may need more frequent brushing when they drop coat, which can happen twice a year.
Do You Need to Groom a Swedish Vallhund?
Do You Need to Groom a Swedish Vallhund?
You will need to look after the dog’s coat, claws, and ears often to ensure that they are well-kept. The coat can really get away from people, and while the dog may look borderline harmless for shedding, we can assure you that is not the case. Brushing should be done once a week, more if you want to minimize excess fur.
Nails may need to be looked after more due to their exercise needs, which can cause cracking and clips along the edges of the claw.
Similarly, their ears should be examined after getting their energy out to avoid any excess residue or dirt building up.
Do Swedish Vallhunds Shed?
Do Swedish Vallhunds Shed?
Vallhunds may shed a large amount, considering their coat which is dense from the colder climate the dog originated from. The shedding can be minimized by brushing.
Uffi, the foundation bitch, has low shedding genes, so she does not drop coat at the change of seasons, or when going in heat. Depending on who the father is, her offspring may inherit the low shedding coat.
It should be noted that Vallhunds are not hypoallergenic.
How Long Do Swedish Vallhunds Live?
How Long Do Swedish Vallhunds Live?
They can live for around 12 to 15 years if they have proper care, daily exercise, and a good diet.
Life expectancy will also depend on their individual genetics and medical history.
What Should a Swedish Vallhund Eat?
What Should a Swedish Vallhund Eat?
Like all dogs, they will have a varying diet as they mature, which will change as they do. As puppies, their diet should be similar to what the breeder was feeding them. The puppies at Odindisa are fed a puppy mince mix and yoghurt.
As a full-grown Vallhund, they should stick to good-quality food meant for active dogs. A mixture of raw fed and kibble supplement provides a balanced diet that covers all micro- and macro-nutrient requirements.
Portions may vary depending on your pup’s size and daily exercise, and a local veterinarian can give informed advice for individual dogs.
How do you socialise the puppies?
How do you socialise the puppies?
Odindisa is a small breeder and only have puppies every so often, which gives the ability to focus wholly on raising well rounded puppies.
Puppies are raised the house as part of the family, guided by Puppy Culture principles & Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS). Puppies are raised as part of the family and are in the household environment with their mother and a sweet female Miniature Dachshund.
The puppies receive many visitors at the home (with visitors abiding by biosecurity protocols). Later the puppies have lots of opportunities for socialisation after their first vaccinations and they love their outings in the car and to Bunnings.
Personalities and homes best suited for the puppies are not fully assessed until 8 weeks old.
Do you assist the buyer with re-homing an animal that was purchased from you if they are unable to keep it?
Do you assist the buyer with re-homing an animal that was purchased from you if they are unable to keep it?
Should you become unable to care for your puppy then please consult with Odindisa about where the puppy is to be rehomed or return the puppy to Odindisa.
Do you health test?
Do you health test?
Yes. Odindisa's breeding Vallhunds are genetically diversity tested with UC Davis. Odindisa's Vallhunds are DNA health tested prior to breeding to minimise the occurrence of issues such as:
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (Swedish Vallhund Type - SVR)
Curly coat
Long coat
Dilute pigment (white)
Uffi is not a carrier for any of these health issues and therefore her puppies are clear of these concerns by parentage.
Vallhunds do not require hip, elbow or back scoring.
Further information is detailed in the page on Vallhund health.
Health Practices
Health Practices
Cleanliness is very important to Odindisa, with our puppy area disinfected regularly to ensure puppies are raised in a clean, safe and healthy environment. Bedding is frequently changed.
Odindisa provides internal and external parasites control to the cohabitating adult dogs.
Puppies will leave having their first vaccination and veterinary health check.
Do puppies come with pet insurance?
Do puppies come with pet insurance?
Odindisa is continually looking for the best value insurance. Odindisa has partnered with Knose pet insurance and is no additional cost to you.
There's no obligation to continue the policy (although if you do you get an extra month free cover), but I want to provide peace of mind in terms of illnesses and accidents in those first few weeks of your puppy adjusting to your home. The benefit of Knose is that they provide Odindisa puppies a zero day exclusion period for illness, dental and accidental injury, so there are no waiting periods to serve.
Odindisa also supports dog owners with older pets looking for insurance. Visit PetsOnMe and use the quote tool. Use the code ODINDISA (by adding this code to the referral tab) and you will receive 2 months free on your older dog's policy. This is applicable to all levels of cover. If you have held an existing pet insurance policy with another insurer for 12 months or longer PetsOnMe will waive the waiting periods, as long as there is no interruption in cover.
Are you currently registered with your ANKC State body?
Are you currently registered with your ANKC State body?
Yes, I am a member of Dogs West, the governing body for all registered breeders in Western Australia.
Please contact Dogs West on email: k9@dogswest.com to verify my membership. Membership number: 6100059509
Who is behind Odindisa?
Who is behind Odindisa?
Odindisa is founded by Karen Colli, who majored in Zoology and studied population genetics, functional morphology and behavioral ecology. In addition to being a life-long dog owner, Karen has owned and competed with horses for 30+ years.
As well as having this great wealth of knowledge and experience, Karen maintains close connections with fellow seasoned breeders across Australia to stay up-to-date with the latest best practices and insights.
Are you a current member of any dog clubs?
Are you a current member of any dog clubs?
I am an exhibitor in conformation showing, and participate in Earthdog and Bale Hunt. Currently I serve on the Committee for WA Earthdog and Bale Hunt (run under the auspices of the Dachshund Club of Western Australia).
I am a member of the Working Party for Bale Hunt WA, and a Chief Steward for Earthdog events.
My dogs are also training for Rally-O, Obedience and Endurance.
Transportation Options
Transportation Options
Odindisa will send puppies worldwide to their new families.
The cost of transport is not included in the puppy price and will be an additional cost borne by the buyer.
Puppies can get a 'fit to fly' certificate from the vet at an additional cost (as charged by the vet) to permit them to fly interstate at 9 weeks. Otherwise, puppies leaving via flights cannot travel until they are 12 weeks old. Alternatively, puppies can travel by road to other states in Australia.
Puppies who remain at Odindisa until 12 weeks do not incur additional boarding fees, and will continue on their socialisation program. Some countries may not accept puppies until older.
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