Breed information

Norrbottenspets

Short introduction of Norrbottenspets

Norrbottenspets is a small breed, there are about 100 puppies registered at the Swedish Kennel Club every year. Many of these dogs are owned by hunters and used for their good hunting abilities, mainly on bird but also on other wild animals.

Just as the other spitzbreeds the Norrbottenspets is a healthy dog. According to an investigation of the 100 most popular breeds in Sweden, the Norrbottenspets is one of the healthiest. It is the breed that needs to visit the veterinary most seldom and it has the third highest life expectancy.

The Norrbottenspets is a dog who likes work of all sorts. They can enjoy many types of activation, for example agility and klicker-training. Indoors they are calm and love to cuddle on the couch, but outdoors they are 100 % active. These dogs don’t have much “doggy-smell” since they clean themselves just as cats do.
The Norrbottenspets usually don’t bark as much as some close breed relatives. They can sometimes be a little reserved towards strangers, witch can make them good guard dogs.
In Scandinavia they are mostly used for bird-hunting but they are intelligent dogs and they can take on other useful traits as well. In North America there are some Norrbottenspets dogs that are making a name for themselves in search and rescue.

The characteristics of the Norrbottenspets are: self-confident, alert and kind but they should never be nervous, shy or aggressive. The Norrbottenspets is a social dog who needs to be part of the family, so they should not be left alone during the days. They also need physical exercise and mental stimulation in form of long walks, hunting, play, or training.

Breed standard

Origin
Sweden

General Appearance
Small, squarish spitz dog, tightly built, with dry, powerful muscles. The dog should be of a very good structure, the head carried high and fearless. The dog should be extremely mobile. Differences in body structure due to sex should be well marked. Norrbottenspets should, as a hunting dog, be attentive and daring, giving impression of alertness, activity, kindness and self confidence. Never nervous, shy or aggressive. The ideal dog should give the impression of a typical, small spitz dog, very alert and attentive, with good anatomy and mentality.

Head
The head should be powerful, dry, well built and viewed from front and side wedge formed. The muzzle moderately long, sharply tapering. The length, half length of head or shorter. The skull moderately wide, stop well but moderately marked, the forehead slightly arched and the skull moderately flat. The superciliary arches should be well marked and the nose bridge straight. The nose should be black and the lips thin, dry and tight fitting.

Mouth
Scissor bite with well developed teeth.

Eyes
The eyes moderately big, bright and expression calm and energetic. Dark brown. The eyes should be almond shaped and obliquely set.

Ears
High set, slightly over medium size and stiffly erect. Tips slightly rounded.

Neck
Moderately long, dry and muscular, with slightly arched neck, carried erect.

Body
Back short, strong, muscular and elastic. Viewed from side, slightly sloping over the withers and then straight. Loins short and broad. Croup moderately long and broad, slightly sloping and with well developed muscles. Chest moderately deep and long, the back ribs well developed. Oval shaped viewed from front. Forechest well developed and well marked. Front of normal width. Viewed from side, the lowest part of chestline should reach the underarm just below the elbow and softly fit into bellyline. Belly moderately tucked up. Depth of body (the vertical distance from highest point of withers to lowest point of chest) should be about half height of withers.

Fore and Hindquarters
Shoulder blade long and broad, with well developed chest and muscles. Close fitting to chest and proportionately set back.

Upper Arm
Should be the same length as shoulder blade, strong, well fitting close to chest, but permit free movements and form a marked angle with the chest. Elbows directed backwards.

Underarm
Straight, strong bones, dry but flexible muscles.

Wrist and pastern
Strong. The underarm forming a straight line with wrist and pastern viewed from front. The pastern slightly angled forward viewed from side.

Forefeet
Small, strong, standing straight forward, well arched and closed, with well developed, solid pads.

Croup
Proportionately long, wide and strong, slightly sloping.

Thighs
Proportionately long, forming a straight angle to pelvis. Strong muscles.

Knee joint
Strong.

Lower thigh
Forming a marked angle to upper thigh.

Hock
Broad and strong, viewed from front and side.

Rear pastern
Dry, elastic and rather long.

Hind Feet
As fore feet. Standing straight forward. Hindlegs parallel, viewed from behind.

Tail
Proportionately high set, carried in a fairly high curve, loosely curled with the tip of tail touching side of thigh. The length of tail should not reach below hock. Bobtail not allowed.

Gait
Norrbottenspets should, in canter and trot, show smooth, even movements with great drive, covering the ground well. Topline must be firm. Hindlegs must be parallel.

Coat
Hard, short, straight and rather close fitting hair, fine and dense undercoat. Short on nosebridge, skull, ears and front of legs, longer on neck, back of thighs and underneath the tail.

Colour
All colours permitted. Ideal colour is white with yellow or red/brown markings.

Height
Ideal Height: Male: 17-1/2-18 inches (45 cm)
Female: 16-1/2-17 inches (42 cm)

Faults
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness of the fault should be in exact proportion to its degree.