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Norrbottenspets

fearless / agile / attentive
Miscellaneous Class >>

Average sizes and life
expectancy of the breed.

Height

16.5-18 inches

Weight

20-30 pounds

Life Expectancy

14-17 years

Breed Traits & Characteristics

Affectionate With Family
  • Independent Lovey-Dovey
    100% 100%
How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.
Good With Young Children
  • Not Recommended Good With Children
    60% 60%
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.
GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS
  • Not Recommended Good With Other Dogs
    60% 60%
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.

Shedding Level

  • No Shedding Hair Everywhere
    60% 60%
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.

Coat Grooming Frequency

  • Monthly Daily
    40% 40%
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.

Drooling Level

  • Less Likely to Drool Always Have a Towel
    20% 20%
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.

Coat Type

Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.

Coat Length

Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.

Openness To Strangers

  • Reserved Everyone Is My Best Friend
    60% 60%
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!

Playfulness Level

  • Only When You Want To Play Non-Stop
    60% 60%
How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.

Watchdog/Protective Nature

  • What's Mine Is Yours Vigilant
    60% 60%
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.

Adaptability Level

  • Lives For Routine Highly Adaptable
    80% 80%
How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.

Trainability Level

  • Self-Willed Eager to Please
    80% 80%
How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!

Energy Level

  • Couch Potato High Energy
    80% 80%
The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.

Barking Level

  • Only To Alert Very Vocal
    60% 60%
How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.

Mental Stimulation Needs

  • Happy to Lounge Needs a Job or Activity
    60% 60%
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.

Affectionate With Family

  • Independent Lovey-Dovey
    100% 100%

How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.

Good With Young Children

  • Not Recommended Good With Children
    60% 60%
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.

GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS

  • Not Recommended Good With Other Dogs
    60% 60%
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.

Shedding Level

  • No Shedding Hair Everywhere
    60% 60%
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.

Coat Grooming Frequency

  • Monthly Daily
    40% 40%
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.

Drooling Level

  • Less Likely to Drool Always Have a Towel
    20% 20%
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.

Coat Type

Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.

Coat Length

Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.

Openness To Strangers

  • Reserved Everyone Is My Best Friend
    60% 60%
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!

Playfulness Level

  • Only When You Want To Play Non-Stop
    60% 60%
How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.

Watchdog/Protective Nature

  • What's Mine Is Yours Vigilant
    60% 60%
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.

Adaptability Level

  • Lives For Routine Highly Adaptable
    80% 80%
How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.

Trainability Level

  • Self-Willed Eager to Please
    80% 80%
How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!

Energy Level

  • Couch Potato High Energy
    80% 80%
The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.

Barking Level

  • Only To Alert Very Vocal
    60% 60%
How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.

Mental Stimulation Needs

  • Happy to Lounge Needs a Job or Activity
    60% 60%
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.

About the Breed

The Norrbottenspets is a tiny, slightly rectangular spitz dog with well-balanced, muscular sinew. They are bold and incredibly nimble, alert with their heads held high. They have a gentle demeanor and are composed, sharp, and attentive. Nobs aren’t particularly big canines (a big male stands just around 20 inches tall), but their hard, sinewy physiques are made to handle challenging environments. They are a small-sized Spitz-type hunting dog that was once believed to be extinct but has since flourished as a farm and hunting dog in northern Sweden and Finland. Norrbottenspets developed to be exceptionally agile, tough, waterproof, and brave with a fearless attitude, but at the same time being gentle and lovable companions at home, in order to be able to handle the challenging terrain and climate of the Scandinavian woodlands and hold large dangerous prey, like moose. They don’t have any extreme physical traits because they have to do everything perfectly.

What To Expect When Caring For a Norrbottenspets

Owning a dog is not just a privilege; it’s a responsibility. They depend on us for, at minimum, food and shelter, and deserve much more. When you take a dog into your life, you need to understand the commitment that dog ownership entails.

Health

Some dogs may be faced with health challenges in their lives, but the majority of Norrbottenspets are healthy dogs. Prospective owners can acquire the knowledge they need to understand about particular health issues within the breed by working with a responsible breeder.  
Recommended Health Tests From the National Breed Club:
  • Hip Evaluation
  • Ophthalmologist Evaluation

Grooming

The Norrbottenspets have two coats: a dense, fine undercoat beneath a hard, short, and straight topcoat. They are exceptionally intelligent, odorless dogs. A very rare bath will keep them clean and looking their finest in addition to weekly grooming. To prevent overgrowth, splitting, and cracking, use a nail clipper or grinder to trim their nails as needed. Regular ear examinations are necessary to prevent wax and debris buildup, which can lead to infection. When necessary, brush your teeth.

Exercise

Nobs have an engaging and loving nature and are vibrant, active, and fun. Exercise options include playing outside, especially in a fenced-in area, or going on daily walks. Exercise can also be obtained through indoor games like hide-and-seek, chasing a ball that has been rolled across the floor, or practicing new moves. Swimming, hiking, and retrieving balls or flying discs are some examples of outdoor activities that can be a wonderful way to burn off energy. Even quick walks through the halls in your apartment can provide your dog with exercise, especially when it's bad outside. Getting your dog ready for canine sports like agility, obedience, and rally can be a terrific way to get him or her moving.

Training

Nutrition

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 getting overweight, so watch your dog's calorie consumption and weight level. Treats can be an important aid in training, but giving too many can cause obesity. Learn about which human foods are 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.

History

People in the world’s coldest regions have bred the spitz breed of dog for millennia. Whether they are stocky like the Alaskan Malamute or delicate like the Pomeranian, these Nordic breeds all have characteristics in common with spitz types. These include erect, pointed ears, a tail that is thickly coated and curves tightly over the back, and a wedge-shaped head that typically has a foxlike expression. The Norrbottenspets, pronounced “nor-bo-TEN-spets,” is a members of this venerable group of arctic hunters and laborers.

 

The Norrbottenspets, also known as the Norrbottenspitz in English, is a small hunting spitz that has persisted for thousands of years due to natural selection. It is from the county of North Bothnia and is thought to have descended from small Laika spitz that were known to coexist with hunters in the North Cape region in prehistoric times. Hunting for food and fur was essential for ensuring one’s life in the extremely harsh regions of the northern parts of the Scandinavian Peninsula. For many years, only valuable furs like sable, marten skin, and ermine served as legal tender. Following World War II, fur prices plummeted, and interest in the Norrbottenspitz followed suit. The breed was declared extinct by the Swedish Kennel Club (SKK) since it no longer existed and had no registrations for many years.

The discovery of several true-to-type animals, however, as pets and watchdogs on small homesteads in the inland region of North Bothnia was reported only ten years later. A small group of men worked really hard to save an old-style hunting spitz. A new standard was created in 1967 and the Norrbottenspitz was reinstated to the Swedish Registry. The Norrbottenspets’ official name was changed once the FCI approved the revised breed standard.

 

Finns started searching the isolated countryside of North Finland for native dogs that matched the standard to widen the gene pool, as requested by the Swedish Kennel Club. The majority of the foundation canines were successful and were from Finland. In Sweden, the studbook was shut down in the 1980s, but it is still available in Finland. With scattered individuals counted in few tens all over the world, the Norrbottenspets population is roughly 1600 in Sweden and 1300 in Finland.