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NORRBOTTENSPETS
Short history
The Norrbottenspets descends probably from small spitz-type dogs that in ancient times lived with the hunter peoples in the nordic hemisphere. The small hunting spitz has lived centuries and survived under natural selection where only the strongest and most effective individuals had a chance to live and produce. In these regions hunting was necessary for both food and clothing. The fur hunters of the regions used the only possible means of trade – eligible furs such as sable, marten and ermine. After the price of furs collapsed after the WW2 – also the interest for Norrbottenspets vanished. The Swedish Kennel Club removed the breed as extinct. However it was shown that the breed had survived, mostly as a farm guard dog and family dog in the Norrbotten region. The work of some enthusiastic hunters to find typical and thus studbook registerable dogs in late 1960s confirmed that the breed retained as a hunting breed. In 1967 the Swedish Kennel Club accepted the breed to the register again and a new standard was written. Nowadays the Norrbottenspets is mostly used as a barking bird dog for black grouse, capercaillie and hazel-grouse, but it is also effective with small fur-bearing animals and in addition capable to halt an elk.
Norrbottenspets Functional Type
Excerpts from Judge Harry Tast's article in the Pystykorva-magazine
The Norrbottenspets is used mainly for hunting black grouse, capercaillie and hazel-grouse, but it is also effective with small fur-bearing animals and in addition capable to halt an elk.
The breed type shows mainly in the proportions of the head and body, overall style, outline and angulations. Also details indicate type. In proportions the Norrbottenspet is slightly longer than tall – fit for the original use.
The movements have always been the crucial factor for the utility of the dog. When breeding for fast dogs one has to do it in favor of endurance and strength, when breeding endurable dogs it is in favor of strength and speed and when breeding strong dogs it is in favor of endurance and speed. The head type and skull style can be seen in the shape of the eyes. Wedgelike head refers to a galopper. With endurance trotters the paws are tight, round catfeet, but with the fast galloper they are longer harelike paws. Most dogbreeds are mixtures of types and the selection for or against a trait influences the other.
The Norrbottenspets is also a mixture of elements from endurance, speed and strength. The ribcage has elements to both speed and strength. Viewed from the front the ribcage is oval and relatively deep, half from height. The ribcage is also relatively long with well developed last ribs. The arced neck, distinguishable withers and slightly slanting croup makes the lines of the body very speedy. The underline has only a slight tuck up, which with the long ribcage reflects endurance.
Viewing the legs one can see both elements of speed and endurance. The relatively slanting shoulder blades, long upper arms and strong back angulations reflect endurance. The upper thigh forms a nearly 90 degree angle with the pelvis. Small, tight paws belong to an endurance trotter, but relatively long hocks add to the speed in gallop, especially in the start.
In the beginning. Foundation dogs
 
Left: Picture of a female with pups from an old book published 1936. Right: Photo from an old Russian book.
Norrbottenspets- CKC breed standard interpreted with photos.
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.
NORRBOTTENSPETS FANCIERS COMMENTS:
The Norrbottenspets should give the impression of being compact but light, with well built, moderate bone and well defined muscles. It should be neither heavy nor spindly.The body build should be dry and give an impression of strength and robustness. During the dog show the judge should be able to check the teeth and bite and measure the dog [whiters]without too much difficulty. If this is not possible due to lack of training shall the dog be given a quality prize of “cannot be evaluated”.
The differences between sexes are well marked
The male is more stately (left) and the female longer in body (right)
This time the male (left) was BOB and the female (right) BOS. Judge Hannu Talvi
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 nosebridge 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.
NORRBOTTENSPETS FANCIERS COMMENTS:
-the length of the muzzle is as long as, or slightly shorter, than the skull.
-the muzzle and the skull should be rather parallel.
-the stop should be average but distinctly marked.
-the forehead should be slightly arched; crown of the head moderately level.
-the ideal length of the ear on an ideal long head extends to the inner corner of the eye.
-the end of the muzzle/nose is moderately flat.
Skull- Narrow as well as too rounded skulls appear and are a fault. Narrow as well as too rounded skulls appear and are a fault. Note, that flesh and liver coloured noses are under “Severe faults”. It is important that the underjaw has correct length and breadth, and that teeth are well developed. Judges should take this in consideration. Lop-/semi-prick ears are clearly untypical for the breed. Note that other missing teeth than P1s (first premolars) are under “severe faults”. Pale eyes appear as well as too round and protruding. This is a fault and changes the expression of the otherwise good head
Good Heads
Good heads cont.
Poor heads:
Too Round of Eyes and Cheeks, Too Marked Stop
Head lines not parallel - incorrect
Neck
Moderately long, dry and muscular, with slightly arched neck, carried erect.
NORRBOTTENSPETS FANCIERS COMMENTS:
The neck should be a little stronger on the male than on the female, is should beautifully connect to the clearly marked withers. The dog must not have loose skin on neck or double chin.
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.
NORRBOTTENSPETS FANCIERS COMMENTS:
Overweight dogs with weak bone and bad muscle mass as well as coarse and heavy dogs with bad posture do not correspond to the standard. Nothing of these are functional in a small hunting spitz. Especially males must have marked withers, which is considered a part of the stamp of the male gender. Slack back as well as roach back are faulty. Preferably the deepest point of the chest DOES NOT extend lower than precisely to the elbow. A deeper chest interferes severely with the dog’s mobility, as well as a too round chest.
Too little of everything spoils type
Otherwise good but deep in chest – the chest should not exceed the elbows
Fore and Hindquarters
Shoulder blade long and broad, with well developed chest and muscles. Close fitting to chest and proportionately set back.
NORRBOTTENSPETS FANCIERS COMMENTS:
The good shoulder layback together with a correctly angulated upper arm, gives a good reach and drive in canter and trot.
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.
NORRBOTTENSPETS FANCIERS COMMENTS:
Long, flat and splayed feet are a fault.
Croup
Proportionately long, wide and strong, slightly sloping.
NORRBOTTENSPETS FANCIERS COMMENTS:
Note that steep croups and low set tails are relatively common in the breed. Steep croup gives short and strength less stride and when standing back legs are under the body. This is neither functional nor beautiful!
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.
NORRBOTTENSPETS FANCIERS COMMENTS:
The hindlegs should be well angulated. Straight angles between knee and hock give short, choppy gait without enough strength.
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.
NORRBOTTENSPETS FANCIERS COMMENTS:
The ideal tail should be long enough to be carried in a beautiful curve. This can never be achieved with short tails! Tightly curled as well as thin tails are also faulty. Note that tails that are set low do appear, these can sometimes be carried quite correctly.
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.
NORRBOTTENSPETS FANCIERS COMMENTS:
The natural gait of the Norrbottenspets at work is gallop, most often on rough terrain. The conformation the breed has gives the individual quite a long stride in gallop. He is quick and lively in his work, which is represented in the way of his movements. In the show ring he is judged at trot which should be free and parallel and cover a lot of ground.
Movement and gait
Gait is extremely important for a functional hunting dog. It must show smooth, even movements with great drive, covering the ground well. The top-line must stay firm. Legs must be parallel in action.
Good strength, balance, co-ordination and agility is needed when
working on rough terrain or crossing waterways.
 
The Norrbottenspet is a bold hunting dog. Besides the elk some individuals dare to halt a bear.
After the hunt, a treat from the master crowns the day.
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.
NORRBOTTENSPETS FANCIERS COMMENTS :Lack of undercoat, too short (houndlike) or wavy coat as well as too long guard hair, which gives an open coat is a fault for a dog who should be able to function in all types of weather.
Colour
All colours permitted. Ideal colour is white with yellow or red/brown markings.
NORRBOTTENSPETS FANCIERS COMMENTS:
The Norrbottenspets should give an impression of a piebald dog. The ground colour should dominate. Dogs that only are coloured on the face and/or are not coloured on both sides of the face should be considered as too lightly coloured.
Note that the standard has been tightened on what concerns the colour and the markings!
Colour :
Ground colour is white, with yellowish red or reddish brown markings.
Also markings of other colours are permitted.
The ideal amount of white varies from 30% to nearly 100%, but in extreme cases it should have colour at least on the ears and a small spot near the tail. The more coloured dogs to be highly awarded should also have a broken saddle with the white clearly dominating.
The increase of white colour in coat
Head pieces of different colours
Split head allowed, but not desired.
two nearly white females
 
Two males of different age, an adult and a young male, with 30% white and broken saddle.
The saddle break must be present, regardless of overall colouring.
Ticking is allowed, as is a dark face
But too much ticking is NOT DESIRABLE, as shown below.
  
Colour has become something to consider !
Not Desirable - Blackish and to long of a coat
Not Desirable – tanpoint
Not Desirable - Wolf grey and too little white
Not Desirable – Wolf grey and too little white, no broken saddle
Not Desirable – Tan point and too little white
Height
Ideal Height: Male: 17-1/2-18 inches (45 cm)
Female: 16-1/2-17 inches (42 cm)
Weight is not mentioned in the standard.FCI has a height disqualification of .8inch or 2cm.
Size
The difference in size among the Scandinavian Hunting Breeds (Karelian Bear Dog, Finnish Spitz and Norrbottenspets) cared by The Finnish Spitz Club is distinct. The Norrbottenspet is clearly the smallest, without being toybreed like. The height should be measured. The standard calls for ”a small and light spitzdog”. Males over 47cm and females over 44cm should be disqualified (FCI standard).
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.
SERIOUS FAULTS :
Flesh or liver coloured nose
Lack of other teeth than P1.
DISQUALIFICATION : Bobtail
Some of this material was compiled for the "Simply Spitz Symposium" held March 18 & 19, 2006 at Prospect Lake Hall, Victoria, BC, Canada and is used with permission. For the Symposium the Original Standard was translated as accurately, word by word as possible to avoid misunderstandings. The result is a precise translation. Translation © Inkeri Kangasvuo. The comments have been placed into the CKC standard where appropriate. The material includes a presentation of Norrbottenspetz functional type, a short history and the standard interpreted with comments and guidelines for Show Judges and Breeders. All photographs used are from the archives of The ”Pystykorva” –magazine and/or copyright of Finnish Norrbottenspetz fanciers. Other pictures come from Finnish Norrbottenspetz fanciers to the Canadian breeders for education purposes, or from online resources about the Norrbottenspets/Pojhanpystykorva.
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