How much exercise does a Swedish Vallhund need?
Daily exercise minutes, the activities a Swedish Vallhund enjoys and signs of too much or too little.
Plan on 60 to 90 minutes of activity a day. A brisk walk alone rarely satisfies a Vallhund; it wants something to do, and many excel at herding trials, agility, rally obedience, flyball and nosework. The compact frame is surprisingly athletic, and these dogs regularly keep pace with much larger breeds on long hikes.
Without enough to do, the herding drive comes out at home, usually as nipped ankles, circled children, or barking at every passing bike. Puppies and adolescents should not be pushed into long runs, however. In adults, signs of overdoing it include lagging behind, reluctance to jump into the car, or stiffness the next morning.
Swedish Vallhund exercise in numbers
Activity ranges are editorial planning estimates. The five-minutes-per-month puppy rule lacks scientific evidence. Adapt activity to the individual and seek advice for pain or exercise difficulty. PDSA puppy exercise guidance.
Editorial activity estimate
90 to 120 min
Puppy activity
Individual plan
adapt to age, health and development
Senior activity
Individual plan
adapt to comfort and ability
Size
medium
9 to 16 kg
Energy level
Playfulness
Handles heat
Handles cold