Norrbottenspets
The Norrbottenspets is a small, slightly rectangular spitz dog, well-poised, with sinewy and well-developed muscles.
Daily Care
Grooming Tips
The Norrbottenspets is double-coated with a topcoat that is hard, short, and straight andanundercoat that is fine and dense. They are very clever and clean dogs, with no offensive smell. Beyond regular weekly grooming, the very occasional bath will keep them clean and looking their best. Their nails should be trimmed when necessary with a nail clipper or grinder to avoid overgrowth, splitting, and cracking. Ears should be checked regularly to avoid a buildup of wax and debris, which can result in infection. Teeth should be brushed when needed.
Exercise Tips
Nobs are vivacious, energetic, and playful, with an engaging and affectionate disposition.Options for exercise include playtime in the backyard, preferably fenced, or being taken for walks several times a day. Exercise can also come in the form of indoor activities, like hide-and-seek, chasing a ball rolled along the floor, or learning new tricks. Certain outdoor activities like swimming, hiking, and retrieving balls or flying discs can provide a good outlet for expending energy. If you live in an apartment, even short walks in the hallways can give your dog some exercise, especially during inclement weather. Training for dog sports like agility, obedience, and rally can also be a great way to give your dog exercise.
Feeding Tips
The Norrbottenspet should do well on high-quality dog food, whether commercially manufactured or home-prepared with your veterinarian’s supervision and approval. Any diet should be appropriate to the dog’s age (puppy, adult, or senior). Some dogs are prone to gettingoverweight, so watch your dog’s calorie consumption and weight level.Treatscan be an important aid in training, but giving too many can cause obesity. Learn about whichhuman foodsare safe for dogs, and which are not. Check with your vet if you have any concerns about your dog’s weight or diet.Clean, fresh water should be available at all times.
Health Tips
Some dogs may be faced with health challenges in their lives, but the majority of Norrbottenspets are healthy dogs. Working with aresponsible breeder, prospective owners can gain the education they need to learn about specific health concerns within the breed.
Trainability
The Norrbottenspets is quite trainable by experienced dog owners and will perform well when given the right motivation.
History
For centuries, the people of the world’s northernmost climes have bred a type of dog known as spitz. These Nordic breeds can be burly like the Alaskan Malamute or dainty like the Pomeranian, but spitz types share certain traits. These include a profusely coated tail curled tightly over the back, a wedge-shaped head usually bearing a foxlike expression, and erect, pointed ears. The Norrbottenspets (nor-bo-TEN-spets) is a member of this ancient clan of cold-weather hunters and workers.
The Norrbottenspets (or Norrbottenspitz in English) means spitz from the county of North Bothnia and probably originates from small Laika type spitz that was known to live with hunting people in the North Cape area in prehistoric time; small hunting spitz has survived for thousands of years through natural selection. In the very harsh areas of the northern parts of the Scandinavian Peninsula, hunting for food and fur was a necessity for survival. Precious furs like sable, marten-skin, and ermine were the only valid currency for centuries. When fur prices dropped drastically after World War II, so did the interest of the Norrbottenspitz. The breed vanished and had no registrations for many years; hence the Swedish Kennel Club (SKK) declared it extinct. But only a decade later, news came that some true-to-type specimens had been found living as pets and watchdogs on small homesteads in the inland area of North Bothnia. Due to the very dedicated work of a few men, this old type hunting spitz was saved. In 1967, the Norrbottenspitz was reintroduced to the Registry in Sweden and a new standard was drawn up.The FCI accepted the new breed standard and the official name became Norrbottenspets.
Following the Swedish Kennel Club´s desire, Finns began to search the remote countryside of North Finland for native dogs that matched the standard to broaden the gene pool. They were successful and the majority of foundation dogs came from Finland. The studbook is still open in Finland but was closed in the 1980s in Sweden.The Norrbottenspets population is about 1600 in Sweden and 1300 in Finland with scattered individuals counted in some tens around the world.
Norrbottenspets were accepted to the American Kennel Club’s Foundation Stock Service in November 2007. As of November 2012, 181 Norrbottenspets, 175 of these with 3-generation pedigrees, were recorded with the American Kennel Club’s Foundation Stock Service.
