Swedish Vallhund vs Central Anatolian Shepherd - Breed Comparison

Swedish Vallhund vs Central Anatolian Shepherd - Breed ComparisonSwedish Vallhund is originated from Sweden but Central Anatolian Shepherd is originated from Turkey. Swedish Vallhund may grow 42 cm / 16 inches shorter than Central Anatolian Shepherd. Swedish Vallhund may weigh 56 kg / 123 pounds lesser than Central Anatolian Shepherd. Both Swedish Vallhund and Central Anatolian Shepherd has almost same life span. Both Swedish Vallhund and Central Anatolian Shepherd has same litter size. Both Swedish Vallhund and Central Anatolian Shepherd requires Moderate maintenance.

History

swedish vallhund - historyKnown 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.

central anatolian shepherd - historyThe Central Anatolian Shepherd’s lineage is ancient, with the large dog originating from the Anatolia region of central Turkey. He has been used for guarding flocks against predatory wolves and has adapted to living in extreme weather conditions.

The Turkish shepherds would put a spiked collar on the dog to protect him against predators going for the neck of the dog. Today the dog is still being used as a sheep dog and it is closely related to the Kangal Dog.

In 1965 the first pair of Anatolian Shepherds arrived in the UK. A pair were also provided by the Turkish prime minister to the United States government. Today he is a majestic dog still serving man. He is an Anatolian Shepherd Dog, a working dog breed, recognized by the American Kennel Club.

Basic Information

Group:
Herding dogs
Working dog
Origin:
Sweden
Turkey
Height Male:
30 - 34 cm
11 - 14 inches
66 - 76 cm
25 - 30 inches
Height Female:
30 - 34 cm
11 - 14 inches
64 - 76 cm
25 - 30 inches
Weight Male:
9 - 14 kg
19 - 31 pounds
40 - 70 kg
88 - 155 pounds
Weight Female:
9 - 14 kg
19 - 31 pounds
40 - 70 kg
88 - 155 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
10 - 13 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 10
5 - 10
Size:
Medium dog
Large dog
Other Names:
Västgötaspets, Swedish cow dog
Karabash Dog, Kangal Dog, Coban Kopegi
Colors Available:
Cream, grey, brown
whitish and brindle, Fawn, tan
Coat:
Medium length, thick
Short to medium length, coarse
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate, Seasonal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

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.

central anatolian shepherd puppy - descriptionThe Central Anatolian Shepherd is a large,impressive looking dog that possesses great strength, endurance and agility. He is beautiful to look at and is well muscled and strong.

He stands at roughly 66-76 cm and weighs 40 to 70kg. The head is large and strong, but in good proportion with the rest of the dog’s body. He has brown eyes and his ears are floppy. The tail is long and set high and when the dog is alert, the tail is carried high, making a wheel shape, otherwise the tail is held low, curling up at the tip.

The short to medium length coarse coat is essentially fawn colored and the dog has a black mask. With the dog, early training and socialization will be needed as he is a strong, stubborn, dominant breed who will require firm leadership from his human owners.

Temperament:

The Central Anatolian Shepherd Dog is a loyal guard dog that becomes possessive over his flock, his human family and anything that he regards as his property. He is aloof around strangers, being suspicious of them.

He will require a firm, positive owner who provides training and socialization. He is an affectionate family pet and gets on well with children who have been taught how to treat dogs and other animals with care and respect. This is a bold, confident dog without aggression who is intelligent, proud and independent.

Characteristics

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.

central anatolian shepherd dog - characteristicsThe large, rugged Anatolian Shepherd is a dog that has been developed essentially to work as a guardian of livestock. He is a dignified, calm kind of dog who is fiercely possessive of those he guards. He is independent and will require a firm, assertive owner.

He won’t enjoy lying around the home with nothing to do. These are dogs who like to be busy, and therefore he is more a country-life dog than being found in the city on a small property. Make sure that if your pet hasn’t got a working role, that he is provided with exercise, although as a large dog, he isn’t particularly playful and doesn’t require loads of exercise.

Provide him with a caring, loving home and this large, beautiful dog will become your loyal and devoted friend who will guard you with his life.

Health 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.

central anatolian shepherd puppies - health problemsThe Anatolian Shepherd Dog is a hardy, healthy dog who isn’t likely to get sick easily. The dog can live to be 11, 12, 13 years of age when he receives excellent care. Like any pure breed though, he is susceptible to hereditary disorders and some of the other common health issues.

Hip Dysplasia:

This condition is always a problem with a big dog. It’s an abnormal development of the hip joint and it can cause lameness and painful arthritis of the joints. It is brought about by a combination of environmental- as well as genetic factors.

Lymphosarcoma:

This is a common type of blood cell cancer diagnosed in dogs. Lymphoid tissue is present in quite a few places in the body including lymph nodes, liver and spleen, and dogs of any age can be affected.

Caring The Pet

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.

central anatolian shepherd dogs - caringThe Central Anatolian Shepherd sheds fairly heavily so he will require brushing at least twice a week. Grooming is important and won’t only include brushing, but ear cleaning and nail trimming too as well as proper dental hygiene.

A dog such as the Anatolian Shepherd, with his floppy ears, will also need to have his ears checked and cleaned to avoid ear infections. There are some of these dogs where the hair needs to be plucked from the ear canal to ensure proper air circulation.

It is important that you are skilled to clean the ears properly, and if in any doubt, to avoid damage to the ear, consult your vet for sound advice.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Swedish Vallhund vs Pembroke Welsh Corgi - Breed Comparison
  2. Swedish Vallhund vs Australian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Swedish Vallhund vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois) - Breed Comparison
  4. Swedish Vallhund vs Australian Cattle Dog - Breed Comparison
  5. Swedish Vallhund vs Bearded Collie - Breed Comparison
  6. Swedish Vallhund vs Collie - Breed Comparison
  7. Swedish Vallhund vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  8. Swedish Vallhund vs Dutch Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  9. Swedish Vallhund vs Blue Healer - Breed Comparison
  10. Swedish Vallhund vs English Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  11. Swedish Vallhund vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  12. Swedish Vallhund vs Catahoula Cur - Breed Comparison
  13. Swedish Vallhund vs Australian Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  14. Swedish Vallhund vs Catalan Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  15. Swedish Vallhund vs Pyrenean Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  16. Swedish Vallhund vs Bergamasco - Breed Comparison
  17. Swedish Vallhund vs Berger Picard - Breed Comparison
  18. Swedish Vallhund vs Appenzell Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  19. Swedish Vallhund vs Queensland Heeler - Breed Comparison
  20. Swedish Vallhund vs German Coolie - Breed Comparison
  21. Swedish Vallhund vs Bohemian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  22. Swedish Vallhund vs Croatian Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  23. Swedish Vallhund vs Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  24. Swedish Vallhund vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Tervuren) - Breed Comparison
  25. Swedish Vallhund vs Blue Lacy - Breed Comparison
  26. Samoyed vs Central Anatolian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  27. Great Pyrenees vs Central Anatolian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Presa Canario vs Central Anatolian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  29. Labrador Husky vs Central Anatolian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  30. Argentine Dogo vs Central Anatolian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  31. Giant Schnauzer vs Central Anatolian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  32. Goldador vs Central Anatolian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  33. Dogo Cubano vs Central Anatolian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  34. Dogo Sardesco vs Central Anatolian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  35. Central Asian Shepherd vs Central Anatolian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  36. Mackenzie River Husky vs Central Anatolian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  37. German Longhaired Pointer vs Central Anatolian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  38. Pyredoodle vs Central Anatolian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  39. Entlebucher Mountain Dog vs Central Anatolian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  40. Lurcher vs Central Anatolian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  41. Maremma Sheepdog vs Central Anatolian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  42. Sarplaninac vs Central Anatolian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  43. Himalayan Mastiff vs Central Anatolian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  44. Mountain View Cur vs Central Anatolian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  45. Central Anatolian Shepherd vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  46. Central Anatolian Shepherd vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  47. Central Anatolian Shepherd vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  48. Central Anatolian Shepherd vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  49. Central Anatolian Shepherd vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  50. Central Anatolian Shepherd vs Alaskan Malamute - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds