Stabyhoun vs Norrbottenspets - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

The Norrbottenspets is an ancient dog breed whose purpose has been to hunt, although these days he is a companion dog.

Hailing from Noorbotten, Sweden, it was after the second world war that the breed almost became extinct. This was because hunting dogs were no longer needed.

Luckily a breeding program was started, and in 1967 the Swedish Kennel Club registered the dog and a new standard was written. His friendly, amicable nature makes him a sought after companion today.

The Stabyhoun is a near extinct breed and one of the rarest ever. He was never recognized by the major kennel clubs but was entered into Foundation Stock Services.. The breed comes from the Netherlands in the Frisian Forest and has been known since the early nineteenth century.

It was not known outside of the Friesland Forest area until the 1960’s and outside the Netherlands only since the twenty first century. The Stabyhoun is a Dutch national treasure whose name means “stand by me dog”. Today throughout the world only a few thousand remain.

The Stabyhoun is hunter and retriever with a soft-mouth and ability to point. He was used for duck hunting and finding upland birds. He is great in the water, sharp-eyes and efficient, he works quickly. The breed has also been known to hunt fox, other birds and small game. They are great at catching moles.

Even though British breeds are more popular for hunting now, the Stabij remains an excellent all round hunter. He can track, point, and retrieve. He is also a good watchdog though his disposition is peaceful and gentle. They needed to be general all around farm dogs as farmers could only afford one dog.

They have not changed much since the 1800’s either in function or appearance. In order to get such a gentle working dog, they early Stabyhoun has been mixed with the much older and rarer breed from the same area, the Wetterhoun. This crossbreeding was stopped in 1942 in order to gain breed recognition and hope to keep either of these two rare breeds from extinction.

Today the number of Stabyhoun in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, North America and Scandinavia are slowly but surely increasing. He is highly prized as an independent thinker and hunter, inquisitive and gentle. They are related to the Heidewachtel and the Drentsche Patrijshound.

The first Staby born in the U.S. was around 1994 and in 2017 there were thought to be over 7000 Stabyhouns in the world. They are much more popular now in Europe and North America.

The Norrbottenspets is a small to medium sized spitz- type dog but he is muscular and compact. He stands at between 42 – 46cm in height and weighs in at between 8 and 15kg.

With good care he can live to be up to 15 years of age. The coat of the dog is straight and dense and you find quite a few colors such as white, yellow and reddish and sometimes there is a bit of ticking. He has a short to medium length waterproof coat which is dense.The outer coat is coarse with straight hair and the undercoat is soft and thick and the dog is a moderate shedder.

The head is wedge-shaped with erect ears, black nose and brown almond-shaped eyes. The muzzle is pointed and slim and the dog's tail is long and curls up over his back

Temperament:

Confident, alert and active, the Norbottenspets is an active, happy-go-lucky kind of dog, always looking for a game. It is why he gets on well with children in the home – he can sense that there is perhaps a better chance of a game with them.

He isn’t a prey-driven dog and gets on well with other pets in the home. He makes an excellent family pet and his very presence brings joy into a room as he is always cheerful.

He is stubborn and independent and will therefore require training and socialization to become obedient to your basic commands such as sit, lie-down and come.

The Staby are powerful soft-mouthed pointers who are not too fine or too robust with tightly fitting skin. Their chest, legs, collar and tail are feathered and make the dog look like a longhaired canine, but she really is not. The dog is longer than it is tall, and his head is longer than it is wide. Most of the breed are black and white but there are many brown and white, while the orange and white are very close to extinction.

They have a slightly domed skull and a slightly arched but strong neck. Their muzzle is broad and the bridge straight while the nose is well developed. With medium sized ears, set low on the head and having the bottom third of the ears covered with hair. The eyes are round, medium sized and level in the head

They have a long sleek coat with a slightly wavy croup. They are never curly. Its back is straight, tail long and loin powerful.

The Norrbottenspets is such an amicable, easy going pet and he is going to make you a loyal and loving canine companion. He bonds closely with his human family and will be bored and frustrated if left alone day after day in the back yard.

He is social and friendly and wants to be involved with the activities of his family. Feed him well, give him plenty of exercise and give him the love and care he deserves and he will make you an awesome canine companion.

1Children friendliness They love children and are very good with them.

2.Special talents they love to swim, and their endurance is amazing.

3.Adaptability – very adaptable to weather but wont do well in apartment.

4.Learning ability - they are self-motivated and quick learners

The Norrbottenspets life expectancy is between 12 and 15 years. These dogs are fairly healthy but there are always health concerns with any dog breed.

There are small numbers of the breed which are prone to a genetic condition affecting the brain and the result is poor coordination. It is sad to see because there is no known treatment and some dogs reach the stage where they can’t eat and they can’t control their toilet habits.

Hip Dysplasia:

Dogs with hip dysplasia have an abnormal formation of the hip socket which can lead to arthritis, pain and the inability to get around. It is a genetic trait and you will need to get your pet to the vet for treatment and pain management.

Though an isolated, rare breed for so long, the Stabyhoun does have several known health issues including:

• Dysplasia of the elbow and/or hip – can cause lameness and arthritis.

• PDA or Patient Ductus Arteriosis – heart issue from 6 weeks on. Major vessel does not close. With surgery it can be corrected.

• Epilepsy treated with medication.

• Type 1 von Willebrand’s Disease (vWB) – a bleeding disorder in its mildest form. DNA testing is available not required.

• Cerebral dysfunction – rare compulsive behavior at 6 weeks. It is fatal at this point. DNA testing will be required.

Diet:

Your Norrbottenspet will be requiring a high-quality dog food if you want him to stand the best chances of being healthy. Home made food is always a good choice, but there are also some good commercially manufactured dog foods which are convenient.

You want the food to have the necessary vitamins and minerals to ensure good health. Every dog will love a little bit of raw meat added to his kibble from time to time. Dogs love their meals to be consistent – no exotic, spiced foods to upset the stomach.

Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and cooked vegetables such as sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach can be chopped up and added to his kibble occasionally and this makes a splendid tasty treat for your pet.

You want to avoid your dog becoming overweight as this brings on a host of problems. Make sure he always has access to cool, fresh water.

Grooming:

The Norrbottenspets short to medium length coat will need brushing twice a week. They are clean looking dogs and you’ll find that they don’t have an unpleasant dog-smell around them.

Always check his eyes and ears for infections. Also check his teeth. A bad tooth may not be evident but it can negatively impact the immune system and cause illness with your dog.

The nails should also be cut to avoid them hooking on things.

1Feeding the puppy -They are prone to obesity. Do not overfeed. Watch calories. Feed a high quality dog food meant for active medium sized dogs in 3-4 meals per day.

2.Feeding the adult – Feed a high quality dog for medium sized dogs in 2-3 meals per day.

3.Points for Good Health -Good swimming skills.

4. Games and Exercises

An active dog that needs exercise. They need mental stimulation as much or more than they need physical. Don’t skimp on either. They love agility, field trials, lure coursing, and scent training. They also love the triathlon, frisbee and endurance.