Norrbottenspets

18-26 lbs
17-18"
Sweden
Pohjanpystykorva, Norbottens-skollandehund, Norbottens

The Norrbottenspets (pronounced Nor-Boat-Ten-Spetz) is a fun, active dog that loves being with his family and playing games. He is a lighter built spitz-type dog with the typical spitz tail that curls over his back. He enjoys hunting and was built for endurance, but he also enjoys being inside relaxing with the family. Be sure to provide plenty of exercise to keep him healthy; this can include a lengthy walk or simply playing fetch in the backyard. He should never be left alone for long in the backyard without something to keep him occupied. He can easily become a nuisance barker or destructive when he becomes bored. 

purpose Purpose
Hunting Companion
history Date of Origin
17th Century
ancestry Ancestry
Spitz-type

Norrbottenspets Health

Average Size
Male Norrbottenspets size stats
Height: 17-18 inches Weight: 24-33 lbs
Female Norrbottenspets size stats
Height: 17-18 inches Weight: 18-26 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Usually A Very Healthy Breed
Minor Concerns
  • Elbow Dysplasia
Occasional Diagnoses
  • Hip Dysplasia
Occasional Tests
  • X-Rays
  • Full Physical Examination
  • OFA on hips and elbows

Norrbottenspets Breed History

The Norrbottenspets can be traced back to the 17th century and is thought to have originated in Norrbotten, Sweden or maybe in Lappland/Kainuuland, Finland. Finland and Sweden have argued for centuries about the origins of the Norrbottenspets. It is safe to say that he became a popular hunting companion for hunters in both countries. He was on the verge of extinction by the end of World War I and in 1948 the Swedish Kennel Club closed its studbook since there were such a small number of Norrbottenspets left. There were some Norrbottenspets preserved, however, those were located in the far north in non-Swedish speaking areas and he adapted to being an all-around farm dog and companion. Successful breeding of the Norrbottenspets began taking place in the late 1950s and early 1960s with a new official breed standard being put in place in 1966. Their name was also made official in 1966 by the Federation Cynologique Internationale. The Swedish Kennel Club opened the studbook for the Norrbottenspets again in 1967 under the new breed standard. Immigrant farmers in Sweden began calling him Norbottens-skollandehund. Finland accepted a new breed standard for the Norrbottenspets in 1973 and began registering dogs under the name Pohjanpystykorva. Finland closely monitors the breeding of these dogs in an effort to keep them a relatively healthy breed. Sweden has followed suit and is also beginning to regulate the breeding of the Norrbottenspets in an effort to preserve the breed. The Norrbottenspets is still a rare breed, especially outside of Sweden and Finland. Enthusiasts of the breed have imported a small number of these dogs into the United States. In 2007, the American Kennel Club began registering Norrbottenspets in its Foundation Stock Service. 

Norrbottenspets Breed Appearance

The Norrbottenspets has the trademark spitz-type tail that curls over his back with the tip of the tail touching his hip. He is a well-muscled, medium sized dog. He has ears that stand upright. His eyes are almond in shape and brown with dark brown pigment on his eye rims. His nose is black. He has a short, double coat. The topcoat is short and harsh, lying straight and close to the body. His undercoat is dense and fine to the touch. His coat is longer on his neck, the back of his thighs and his tail. A coat that stands away from the body in an erect fashion is a serious fault in the show world. The Norrbottenspets has a base color of white and is then overlaid with well defined body patches of either red or yellow. The patches should be well distributed over his body and he should have a mask on his face that covers the sides of his head and ears. 

Eye Color Possibilities
brown Norrbottenspets eyes
Brown
Nose Color Possibilities
black Norrbottenspets nose
Black
Coat Color Possibilities
white Norrbottenspets coat
White
red Norrbottenspets coat
Red
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
Norrbottenspets straight coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Norrbottenspets Breed Maintenance

Even though the Norrbottenspets has a dense double coat, he requires little grooming. He does shed his undercoat twice a year, usually in the spring and fall. During times of shedding, he will require more grooming. Routine grooming includes brushing with a slicker brush or a natural bristle brush once a week to remove any loose hairs and promote healthy coat and skin. The hair between his toes and paw pads should be trimmed regularly. Since the Norrbottenspets does not have a doggy smell, he does not require many baths throughout the year. He will need a warm bath when he begins his seasonal shedding. The only other times he may require a bath is when he rolls in something dirty or smelly. His nails should be kept trimmed and will require trimming every few weeks. Clean his ears weekly to avoid any possible infection. Set up a routine dental plan to ensure that his teeth and gums remain healthy. 

Brushes for Norrbottenspets
Slicker Brush
Slicker Brush
Scissors
Scissors
Nail Clipper
Nail Clipper
Brushing Frequency
fur daily fur weekly fur monthly
Norrbottenspets requires weekly brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

Norrbottenspets Temperament

The Norrbottenspets is a very loyal and loving family companion. He will bond closely with his family and does expect to be allowed to be with the family and not left out in the yard alone. Children make great playmates for the Norrbottenspets and he is generally gentle during playtime, however, he does expect children to respect him and will avoid children who do not show respect. He is a wonderful guard dog because he is a very vocal dog. He can easily become a problematic barker if he is not taught limits or is left to his own devices for too long. Other dogs and smaller pets are usually accepted however, he should be watched when first introduced. Daily exercise is essential to keep him happy. He loves games that make him think and challenge him physically, this is why he can excel in dog sports such as agility and obedience. 

Activity Level
low activity medium activity high activity
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
9 miles
walk mileage
Minutes of Activity Per Day
45 minutes
activity minutes

Norrbottenspets Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
2.4 cups
cup per day cost cup per day cost
Daily Cost
$1.20 - $1.40
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$34.00 - $45.00
food bag monthly cost

Norrbottenspets Height & Weight

6 Months
Male Norrbottenspets size stats at six months
Height: 13.5 inches Weight: 12.5 lbs
Female Norrbottenspets size stats at six months
Height: 13.5 inches Weight: 11.5 lbs
12 Months
Male Norrbottenspets size stats at 12 months
Height: 16.5 inches Weight: 23.0 lbs
Female Norrbottenspets size stats at 12 months
Height: 16.5 inches Weight: 18.5 lbs
18 Months
Male Norrbottenspets size stats at 18 months
Height: 17.5 inches Weight: 28.5 lbs
Female Norrbottenspets size stats at 18 months
Height: 17.5 inches Weight: 22.0 lbs

Norrbottenspets Owner Experiences

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