Norrbotten's spitz dogs are a breed originating in Sweden whose main purpose was hunting and work. It is a medium-sized breed that needs a lot of daily physical activity, making it ideal for rural environments. They have a good character, although training can be difficult without professional help.
Keep reading this breed of dog on our site to find out all the characteristics of the Norrbotten spitz, its origin, character, care, education and he alth.
Origin of the Norrbotten spitz
The Norrbotten spitz is a breed originating in North Bothnia, Sweden, specifically the Norbottencounty, from which it gets its name. Its origin dates back to the 17th century. This breed was thought especially for its use in hunting, but also for herding cattle, for pulling sleds and carts, as a guard dog for estates and farms and even as a pet.
The breed almost became extinct during World War I, but because some of these dogs had been kept on Swedish farms, the breed was able to persist and breeding programs for the breed began over the years. 50 and 60 of the last century. In 1966, the International Cinological Federation accepted the Norrbotten Spitz as a breed and in 1967 the Swedish Kennel Club registered the breed and its new standard. Currently, about 100 dogs of this breed are registered in Sweden each year.
Characteristics of the Norrbotten spitz
Norrbotten spitz are not large dogs, but rather small-medium-sized that measure up to 45 cm in height for males and 42 females. Males weigh between 11 and 15 kg and females between 8 and 12. They are dogs with a body shape that resembles a square, with a slender constitution and strong forelimbs with straight shoulders. The chest is deep and long and the belly is retracted. The back is short, muscular and strong and the croup is long and broad.
Continuing with the characteristics of the Norrbotten spitz, the head is strong and wedge-shaped, with a flattened skull, a well-marked nasofrontal depression and a slightly arched forehead. The snout is sharp and the ears are straight and set high, small in size and with a moderately rounded tip. The eyes are almond-shaped, large and oblique.
The tail is heavily furred and curves over its back, touching one side of the thigh.
Norrbotten spitz colors
The coat is short, longer on the back of the thighs, nape and under the tail. It is double-layered, with the outer layer being rigid or semi-rigid and the inner layer soft and dense. Coat color should be white with large wheaten patches on both sides of head and ears. No other colors or patterns are accepted.
Norrbotten spitz character
Norrbotten spitzes are very loyal, dedicated, hard-working and sensitive dogs. Its ideal environment is rural places where it can develop moderate to intense activity due to its origin as a hunting dog.
They love to run, play, exercise and be constantly on the move. They are cheerful dogs that protect their home and theirs well. They are very intelligent and lively, as well as obedient, affectionate, docile and tolerant of people of all ages. However, excessive loneliness or quiet will cause them anxiety and they can become barkers and destroyers.
Norrbotten spitz education
Norrbotten Spitz are very independent working and hunting dogs that do not need human decisions to act, so training them can be a challenge. For this reason, if you do not have experience in dog training, it is best to hire a professional to establish a work plan. Of course, we do not recommend completely disregarding this process, we advise getting involved with the trainer to be part of the education, since in these cases not only the dog must be educated, but also the human to understand it.
Regardless of whether you go to a professional or not to train the Norrbotten spitz, the most appropriate thing for this dog, and for any animal, is to opt for training in positive, which is based on reinforcing good behaviors. We should not punish or quarrel because this would only make the situation worse.
Norrbotten Spitz Care
Being a dog that was originally a hunting and working dog, although today it lives with us in our homes, it requires a lot of daily activityand release all your energy, so you need active caregivers with time to dedicate to your dog. They need rural environments or long walks, lots of games, activities and going outside.
To care for a Norrbotten spitz properly, its need for exercise should always be met. The rest of the care is common for all dogs:
- Dental hygiene to prevent tartar and periodontal disease, as well as other dental problems.
- Hygiene of the ear canal in order to prevent painful otitis.
- Frequent brushing of the hair to remove dead hair and accumulated dirt.
- Bathrooms when necessary for hygienic reasons.
- Deworming Routine to avoid internal and external parasites which, in turn, can carry other infectious agents that cause other diseases.
- Routine vaccination to prevent the development of common infectious diseases in dogs, always following the specialist's recommendation.
- Balanced diet intended for the canine species and with sufficient quantity to cover their daily energy needs according to their particular conditions (age, metabolism, environmental conditions, physiological state, etc).
- Environmental enrichment at home to keep you from getting bored or stressed.
Norrbotten spitz he alth
Norrbotten Spitz are very strong and he althy dogs, with a life expectancy of up to 16 years. However, even if they are in good he alth, they can get sick from any disease that affects the canine species, whether transmitted by vectors, organic diseases or tumor processes.
Although they do not particularly suffer from specific hereditary diseases or congenital defects, in recent years specimens have been found with progressive cerebellar ataxia This disease It consists of a degeneration of the nervous system, specifically the cerebellum, which controls and coordinates movements. Dogs are born normal, but from 6 weeks of age the cerebellar neurons begin to die. This results in cerebellar signs in the first years of life, such as head tremors, ataxia, falls, muscle contractions, hypermetria and, in advanced stages, inability to move. For this reason, before reproducing two Norrbotten spitz, the DNA of the parents must be analyzed in order to detect this disease and avoid their crosses, which would pass the disease to their offspring. However, from our site we always recommend sterilization.
Where to adopt a Norrbotten spitz?
If you think you are suitable to have a dog of this breed because you have the time and the desire for it to have its daily portion of exercise and games, the next step is to ask atprotectors and shelters local on the availability of a dog. If this is not the case, you can search the Internet for associations responsible for rescuing dogs of this breed or mestizos.
Depending on the location, the probability of finding such a dog will be reduced or increased, being more frequent in Europe and practically non-existent in other continents such as America. In any case, we recommend not ruling out the option of adopting a mongrel dog. When choosing a canine companion, the most important thing is not its breed, but that we can cover all its needs.
