Swedish Vallhund vs Cirneco dell'Etna - Breed Comparison

Swedish Vallhund vs Cirneco dell'Etna - Breed ComparisonSwedish Vallhund is originated from Sweden but Cirneco dell'Etna is originated from Italy. Swedish Vallhund may grow 18 cm / 7 inches shorter than Cirneco dell'Etna. Both Swedish Vallhund and Cirneco dell'Etna are having almost same weight. Swedish Vallhund may live 3 years more than Cirneco dell'Etna. Both Swedish Vallhund and Cirneco dell'Etna has same litter size. Both Swedish Vallhund and Cirneco dell'Etna 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.

cirneco dell etna - historyThe Cirneco dell’Etna comes from the island of Sicily and not mainland Italy, although it is considered an Italian dog. It is a small dog that hunted rabbits and its calling card was its ability to go for hours without water or food. They have terrific endurance and a good sense of smell. They were developed for the harsh terrain they worked around places like Mount Etna. Of all the Mediterranean island hunting dogs, the Cirneco de’Etna is the smallest.

This is a very ancient breed, surviving on its hunting skills alone for thousands of years on Sicily. They then became guard dogs for the peasants. Because they had such speed, sense of smell, alertness and sight, they were great hunters.

Today’s Cirneco de’Etna is highly competitive in confirmation and make terrific pets. They are exceedingly friendly, energetic and low maintenance. Lure coursing is what they really excel at. They are good at agility and pursuit games as well.

Basic Information

Group:
Herding dogs
Hound dog
Origin:
Sweden
Italy
Height Male:
30 - 34 cm
11 - 14 inches
46 - 52 cm
18 - 21 inches
Height Female:
30 - 34 cm
11 - 14 inches
46 - 50 cm
18 - 20 inches
Weight Male:
9 - 14 kg
19 - 31 pounds
10 - 12 kg
22 - 27 pounds
Weight Female:
9 - 14 kg
19 - 31 pounds
8 - 10 kg
17 - 23 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
11 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 10
8 - 10
Size:
Medium dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Västgötaspets, Swedish cow dog
Sicilian Hound
Colors Available:
Cream, grey, brown
light to dark tan , Light sand
Coat:
Medium length, thick
Short on head, short to semi-long on body
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Energetic, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loyal
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.

cirneco dell etna puppy - descriptionThe Cirneco de’Etna is a sleek, muscular sighthound. His ears are close together and high on his head. The head is lean, and the skull is almost flat in profile. The muzzle is about the same length as the skull and the nose is large and its coloring matches the dog’s coat. They have hard pads the same color as their nails, but they are never black.

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.

cirneco dell etna dog - characteristicsThe Cirneco de’Enta is an independent and intelligent breed. They are good-natured and love to be with their people. They are more trainable than the usual sighthound. They are loyal and fun loving but they need a job.

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.

cirneco dell etna puppies - health problemsLike many dogs that come from ancient breeds with little cross breeding over the years, there are not a lot of inherited issues for the Cirneco de’Etna. Also, there are so few dogs remaining that little is known about their health in general and there are no studies to go on. Some breeders will do test despite the fact that none are recommended.

Their most common health issues are acquired such as injuries from running or competitions and obesity. Both can be controlled by the owner.

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.

Feeding

cirneco dell etna dogs - caringThe Cirneco needs a good quality food since they are such high energy dogs. Be careful not to overfeed them so that they become obese.

Health issues

As previously mentioned, the main concern for owners is injuries acquired while on a running course or in the activities of daily living. They have been known to hurt their feet. They need their ears checked regularly for any signs of infection or irritation. Clean out any excess water or dirt.

Exercise and games

This is an intelligent, hardy breed that needs mental and physical stimulation. They need a job, or they can be a major problem. They love hunting of course but also excel at agility, lure crossing, and competition. He is loyal and loves being with people. Take him for long walks but don’t let him off the leash.

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. Pharaoh Hound vs Cirneco dell'Etna - Breed Comparison
  27. Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla vs Cirneco dell'Etna - Breed Comparison
  28. Hungarian Vizsla vs Cirneco dell'Etna - Breed Comparison
  29. Redbone Coonhound vs Cirneco dell'Etna - Breed Comparison
  30. Norwegian Elkhound vs Cirneco dell'Etna - Breed Comparison
  31. Santal Hound vs Cirneco dell'Etna - Breed Comparison
  32. English Coonhound vs Cirneco dell'Etna - Breed Comparison
  33. Podenco Canario vs Cirneco dell'Etna - Breed Comparison
  34. Dunker vs Cirneco dell'Etna - Breed Comparison
  35. Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen vs Cirneco dell'Etna - Breed Comparison
  36. Podenco Andaluz vs Cirneco dell'Etna - Breed Comparison
  37. Podenco Galego vs Cirneco dell'Etna - Breed Comparison
  38. English Foxhound vs Cirneco dell'Etna - Breed Comparison
  39. Estonian Hound vs Cirneco dell'Etna - Breed Comparison
  40. Grand Griffon Vendeen vs Cirneco dell'Etna - Breed Comparison
  41. Hamiltonstovare vs Cirneco dell'Etna - Breed Comparison
  42. Kanni vs Cirneco dell'Etna - Breed Comparison
  43. Lithuanian Hound vs Cirneco dell'Etna - Breed Comparison
  44. Hungarian Hound vs Cirneco dell'Etna - Breed Comparison
  45. Hygenhund vs Cirneco dell'Etna - Breed Comparison
  46. Norrbottenspets vs Cirneco dell'Etna - Breed Comparison
  47. Polish Hound vs Cirneco dell'Etna - Breed Comparison
  48. Russian Harlequin Hound vs Cirneco dell'Etna - Breed Comparison
  49. Russian Hound vs Cirneco dell'Etna - Breed Comparison
  50. Sabueso Espanol vs Cirneco dell'Etna - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds