Can a swedish white elkhound and a cane di oropa be friends? The Swedish Vallhund, also known as the V?stg?taspets and Swedish cow dog, is a breed of dog native to Sweden. The breed's name, Vallhund, when translated into English, means herding dog, as the Swedish Vallhund was originally bred as a drover and herder of cows over 1,000 years ago.