| Norrbottenspets | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Other names | Nordic Spitz Norrbottenspitz Pohjanpystykorva | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Origin | Sweden | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Dog ( domestic dog ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
The Norrbottenspets, also known as the Norrbottenspitz, the Nordic Spitz and the Pohjanpystykorva, is a breed of spitz type dog from Sweden. A small- to medium-sized breed with typical spitz-like features, the Norrbottenspets has traditionally been kept as a hunting dog in Northern Sweden and is closely related to similar Nordic spitz breeds such as the Finnish Spitz.
The Norrbottenspets takes its name from the region of Norrbotten in the northeast of Sweden, with "spets" being the Swedish spelling of "spitz"; the breed is also known as the Norrbottenspitz, the Nordic Spitz and the Pohjanpystykorva. [1] [2] The origins of the breed are unknown; it is likely both arctic and German spitz blood is present in its ancestry. [3] The Norrbottenspets is the Swedish equivalent of the closely related Finnish Spitz, the Russian Karelo-Finnish Laika and the Norwegian Buhund; the various breeds only becoming distinct with separate kennel club recognition for dogs found across various national borders. [1] Almost lost in the 20th century, in 1948 the Swedish Kennel Club declared the Norrbottenspets extinct and it was not until the 1960s that sufficient numbers were found for the breed to be declared extant. [1] [3] Never having received the international attention of the Finnish Spitz or the Norwegian Buhund, the Norrbottenspets is rarely seen outside of Scandinavia, although with a revival in interest in national breeds, today the Norrbottenspets is a relatively popular breed in Sweden. [1] [2] [3]
The Norrbottenspets is a small- to medium-sized, compact and robust breed with typical spitz features. [4] Slightly smaller than the Finnish Spitz, the breed standard states dogs should stand between 43 and 47 centimetres (17 and 19 in) with bitches being slightly smaller, standing between 40 and 44 centimetres (16 and 17 in); they typically weigh between 11 and 15 kilograms (24 and 33 lb). [1] [2] [5] The breed has a thick, dense double coat that protects them well during arctic winters; the outer coat is hard, short and straight whilst the undercoat is fine and dense. [4] The breed can be seen in all colours, although white with red, yellow, cream, tan or black markings is most common; the breed standard states they should be white with either yellow or red patches. [1] [4] [5] The breed has a wedge-shaped head with erect ears; their body is strong and it is as long as it is tall, with a deep chest. [4] Their tail is long and carried high, curled over their back, as typical of spitz dogs. [4]
The Norrbottenspets is described as a highly intelligent and energetic breed. They have a curious nature and require considerable exercise, becoming destructive without it. [4] Generally even-tempered, the breed is said to have a low tolerance for children bothering them. [2]
Today the majority of Norrbottenspets are kept as pets, but traditionally the breed has been maintained as a hunting dog and general farm dog. [3] [4] The breed is used to hunt a wide variety of game including gamebirds, deer including elk, as well as occasionally bear; there are many stories of Norrbottenspets chasing away bears that have attacked their master. [3] [4] A tireless, determined hunter with a keen nose, many Norrbottenspets have been trained as search and rescue dogs. [3] [4]
The Labrador Retriever or Labrador is a British breed of retriever gun dog. It was developed in the United Kingdom from fishing dogs imported from the colony of Newfoundland, and was named after the Labrador region of that colony. It is among the most commonly kept dogs in several countries, particularly in the Western world.
The Swedish Vallhund, also known as the Västgötaspets 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. In 1942, the dog came close to extinction, but careful breeding and publicity by Swedish national Bjorn von Rosen and K. G. Zettersten managed to revive the breed in popularity and save it from its likely end. In 1943, the Swedish Kennel Club recognized the Swedish Vallhund as a breed, and officially categorized the Swedish Vallhund as "the Västgötaspets" for Västergötland, the province in which their revival took place. Since then, the breed has been recognized by, and bred in, over ten countries and has gained some popularity.
The Serbian Hound, previously known as the Balkan Hound, is a breed of scent hound from Serbia.
The Jämthund, also called the Swedish Elkhound, is a breed of dog of the Spitz type that is found in Northern Europe. The Jämthund is eponymous with Jämtland, a province in the middle of Sweden.
The Finnish Spitz is a breed of dog originating in Finland. The breed was originally trained to hunt all types of game from squirrels and other rodents to bears. It is a "bark pointer", indicating the position of game by barking, and drawing the game animal's attention to itself, allowing an easier approach for the hunter. Its original game hunting purpose was to point to game that fled into trees, such as grouse, and capercaillies, but it also serves well for hunting elk. Some individuals have even been known to go after a bear. In its native country, the breed is still mostly used as a hunting dog. The breed is friendly and in general loves children, so it is suitable for domestic life. The Finnish Spitz has been the national dog of Finland since 1979.
The Norwegian Elkhound is one of the Northern Spitz-type breed of dog and is the National Dog of Norway. The Elkhound has served as a hunter, guardian, herder, and defender. It is known for its courage in tracking and hunting moose and other large game, such as bears or wolves. The Norwegian Elkhound was first presented at a dog exhibition in Norway in 1877.
The Karelian Bear Dog is a Finnish breed of dog. In its home country, it is seen by many as a national treasure. Karelian Bear Dogs will hunt a variety of animals. Its quick reflexes and fearless nature have made it very popular for hunting large game including small black bears, moose, and wild boar. It was the breed's ability to hunt bears that earned the breed its name. The Karelian Bear Dog is among the top 10 most common dog breeds in Finland.
The German Spitz is a breed of spitz-type dogs from Germany. Considered a single breed, it comes in five distinct varieties based on size and colour: the Wolfsspitz or Keeshond, the Giant Spitz or Großspitz, the Medium Spitz or Mittelspitz, the Miniature Spitz or Kleinspitz and the Pomeranian or Zwergspitz.
The Norwegian Buhund is a breed of dog of the spitz type. It is closely related to the Icelandic Sheepdog and the Jämthund. The Buhund is used as an all purpose farm and herding dog, as well as watch dog and a nanny dog.
The Japanese Spitz is a small to medium breed of dog of the Spitz type. There are varying standards around the world as to the ideal size of the breed, but they are always larger than their smaller cousins, the Pomeranian. They were developed in Japan in the 1920s and 1930s by breeding a number of other Spitz type dog breeds together. They are recognized by the vast majority of the major kennel clubs, except the American Kennel Club due to it being of similar appearance to the white Pomeranian, American Eskimo Dog and Samoyed. While they are a relatively new breed, they are becoming widely popular due to their favorable temperament and other features.
The Portuguese Podengo, also known as the Podengo Português or Portuguese Warren Hound, is hound breed from Portugal. As a breed, the Podengo is divided into three size categories that are not interbred: small (Pequeno), medium (Médio) and large (Grande). Their coats are either short and 'smooth', or longer and 'wired'. The smooth coated variety is traditional, whereas the wire coated variety is an outcome of the assimilation of various other breeds during the 20th century. In general, the breed is healthy; the Pequeno (small) variety has an average lifespan of approximately 15–17 years.
The Finnish Lapphund is a hardy, easy going, medium-size breed of Spitz type. Traditionally it has been used for herding reindeer. Although it is one of the most popular dog breeds in its native country, Finland, it is not very numerous outside of the Nordic countries.
Smaland Hound is a breed of dog that originated in Sweden in the 16th century. Thought to be the oldest scent hound breed native to Sweden, it was first recognized by the Swedish Kennel Club in 1921. They are the smallest of the Swedish hound breeds, and have black and tan markings similar to the rottweiler. Internationally, it is recognized by a number of kennel clubs and registries including the Fédération Cynologique Internationale and United Kennel Club. It is considered rare, even in its native Sweden where only around sixty puppies are registered each year.
The Lapponian Herder is a breed of dog from Finland, one of three Lapphund breeds developed from a type of dog used by the Sami people for herding and guarding their reindeer.
The Black Norwegian Elkhound is a small Spitz breed classified by the FCI as a hunting dog. It is very rare outside the Nordic countries of Scandinavia. It is bred for the same purpose as the Grey Norwegian Elkhound but is smaller, more agile, and easier to recognize in the snow. Historically, it is a much "younger" breed, first bred in Norway during the 18th century. The breed name "Elkhound" comes directly from its original Norwegian name "Elghund," meaning ""elk dog" or "moose dog." In Norwegian, "elg" refers to the animal English speakers know as an "elk" or "moose", and "hund" means "dog."
The Drever is a breed of dog, a short-legged scenthound from Sweden used for hunting deer and other game. The Drever is descended from the Westphalian Dachsbracke, a type of German hound called Bracke. The breed name Drever was chosen through a contest in 1947.
The East Siberian Laika is a Russian breed of dog of spitz type, a hunting dog originating in parts of Siberia east of the Yenisei River.
The Golden Retriever is a Scottish breed of retriever dog of medium size. It is characterised by a gentle and affectionate nature and a striking golden coat. It is commonly kept as a pet and is among the most frequently registered breeds in several Western countries. It is a frequent competitor in dog shows and obedience trials; it is also used as a gundog, and may be trained for use as a guide dog.
The Karelo-Finnish Laika is a breed of spitz-type dog from the Karelia area of Russia.
Hällefors Elkhound is a Swedish dog breed.
Dogs originating in Sweden | ||
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