Swedish Vallhund Dog Breed Info And Characteristics

Posted on August 14, 2016 by Primitivedogs Team

The Swedish Vallhund or Västgötaspets (Westerngothia Spitz Dog), as they call it in its native country, is a Spitz type herding dog that originated more than 1.000 years ago in the Västergötland county, Sweden. Like the Icelandic Sheepdog and the Norwegian Buhund, this dog was used by legendary Vikings for herding, watching and guarding. That is why it is often called a Viking Dog. The breed is believed to be a descendant of the much larger Spitz type dogs that were primarily used for hunting in the ancient Scandinavia. As a proof for this theory, scientists recently discovered incredible similarities between this dog’s skeleton and that of a Norwegian Elkhound. However, there is another theory about the origin of this breed that is based on incredible anatomical (but not genetic) similarities between the SV and the Welsh Corgi or the Lancashire Heeler. Supposedly, the breed was developed from Corgi dogs that were brought from Wales in the Scandinavia sometime around 8th or 9th century. But, this theory is very questionable since, according to the historian, Clifford Hubbard, this is the oldest of the three breeds. So, it is more likely that these two “younger” dog breeds were actually developed from Vallhunds left by Vikings in their Welsh settlements. Anyhow, the Swedish Vallhund is by the FCI included in the class of Spitz type and primitive dogs in the group 3: Nordic Watchdogs And Herding Dogs. Continue Reading →

Lapponian Herder Dog Characteristics And Traits

Posted on February 29, 2016 by Primitivedogs Team

The Lapponian Herder or Lapinporokoira (Lapland Reindeer Dog) is a Spitz type herding dog that originated in Lapland, a vast land that encompasses the northern parts of Scandinavia and Karelian district of Russia. There is no exact evidence on how exactly this dog breed is actually old, but judging by its DNA, it was estimated that it evolved from the prehistoric dogs that have lived in these lands several thousand years ago. Like the Swedish Lapphund and Finnish Lapphund, Lapsk Vallhund was developed by Sámi, a semi-nomadic people that have been inhabiting Lapland for many centuries. After they were domesticated, these three Scandinavian breeds, together with the Norwegian Elkhound and Swedish Elkhound, went through further development by the process of hybridization between male dogs and female wolves. Lapponian Herder is by the FCI included in the Nordic Watchdogs And Herding Dogs group in the class of primitive dogs. Continue Reading →

Finnish Lapphund Dog Breed Information And Characteristics

Posted on February 18, 2016 by Primitivedogs Team

The Finnish Lapphund or Suomen Lapinkoira, as they call it in Finland, is a Nordic herding dog originating from Lapland, a vast land in the Arctic circle, which encompasses northern regions of Scandinavia and the Karelian district of Russia. The breed originated in antiquity, approximately 7.000 years ago, judging by some fossil remains discovered in Lapland, and was developed by semi-nomadic Sámi people that have been inhabiting these lands for thousands of years. Lapinkoira, together with the Swedish Lapphund, Swedish Elkhound, Lapponian Herder, and Norwegian Elkhound, belongs to a group of Nordic breeds that were, after their domestication, further developed through hybridization of male dogs and female wolves. The primary use of these dogs was for hunting and reindeer herding, but today they are mainly used for sheep and cattle herding as well as family companions. The Finnish Lapphund is included by the FCI in the Nordic Watchdogs And Herding Dogs group in the class of primitive dogs. Continue Reading →

Swedish Lapphund Dog Breed Info And Characteristics

Posted on February 3, 2016 by Primitivedogs Team

The Swedish Lapphund (Svensk Lapphund) or Lapponian Dog is a Spitz type working dog originating from Sweden. In fact, this is one of the oldest Swedish dog breeds as well as one of three Lapphund breeds – other two being the Finnish Lapphund and Lapponian Herder – that were developed by ancient tribes of Sámi people from northern Scandinavia. Based on the fossil remains of a dog discovered near Varanger in Norway, which was quite reminiscent of today’s Lapphund dogs, scientists have estimated that this breed is approximately 7.000 years old. This puts Lapponian Dog into the group of oldest Spitz type breeds in the world. It is interesting to know that Swedish Lapphund, together with the Lapponian Herder, Finnish Lapphund, Norwegian Elkhound, and Swedish Elkhound, genetically, belong to a group of dogs developed through interbreeding of male dogs and female wolves. In the FCI, this dog is included in the Nordic Watchdogs And Herding Dogs group in the class of primitive dog breeds. Continue Reading →

Everything You Need To Know About Norwegian Buhund Dog

Posted on October 3, 2015 by Primitivedogs Team

The Norwegian Buhund or Norwegian Sheepdog, as it is often called, is a Spitz type herding dog, which belongs to the Nordic Watchdogs and Herding Dogs section of primitive breeds. Buhund is very reminiscent of Icelandic Sheepdog, which is actually his close relative. His name represents a combination of two Norwegian words – “bu“, which means mountain hut or farm, and “hund“, which means dog. This is a smaller medium-sized dog with fiery personality, ideal for herding and watching. Main characteristics of a Norwegian Buhund dog are intelligence, agility, courage, cheerfulness, great sense of orientation, loyalty, playfulness, alertness, and willingness to work. His lifespan is between 13 and 15 years. This breed is known for its bigger than life personality and he will often put a smile on your face when you least expecting it :) Continue Reading →