Norrbottenspitz
A small, lively Nordic bark pointer that hunts forest birds and makes a cheerful, active family dog.
At a glance
- Size
- Medium
- Height at the withers
- Males 42–47 cm · Females 39–44 cm
- Weight
- Males 11–15 kg · Females 8–12 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–15 years
- Exercise
- 60–90 min a day
- Grooming
- Once a week
- Coat
- Double coat, short
- Colours
- White, Yellow, Red
- Bred for
- Hunting by scent, Companionship
- Country of origin
- Sweden
- FCI
- Group 5, no. 276 · Spitz & primitive types
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 4/5 – High |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 4/5 – High |
| Good with other dogs | 4/5 – High |
| Good with cats | 2/5 – Low |
| Open to strangers | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Energy | 4/5 – High |
| Playfulness | 4/5 – High |
| Needs mental stimulation | 4/5 – High |
| Easy to train | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Prey drive | 5/5 – Very high |
| Watchful and protective | 2/5 – Low |
| Barking | 4/5 – High |
| Shedding | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Grooming effort | 1/5 – Very low |
| Drooling | 1/5 – Very low |
| Good for first-time owners | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Suits apartment living | 2/5 – Low |
| Adaptability | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with being alone | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with heat | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with cold | 5/5 – Very high |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- want a medium-small, active and friendly dog
- enjoy forest walks and outdoor life
- like a low-maintenance coat
Think twice if you …
- need a quiet dog
- keep small pets like rabbits or birds
- are often away for long hours
Care
Temperament
Lively, friendly and alert, it is affectionate with family and generally sociable with people and dogs. It is independent while hunting.
Exercise
Plan an hour or more daily of walks, forest outings, tracking or agility. It enjoys hunting work if you can offer it.
Grooming
The short, dense double coat needs a weekly brush and a little more during seasonal shedding.
Training
Eager and clever, it responds well to friendly, varied training; recall needs practice because of its hunting drive.
Health
A generally healthy breed; hip dysplasia and inherited eye problems are occasionally reported. Ask the breeder for hip and eye results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
- Eye examination
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Norrbottenspitz comes from Norrbotten in northern Sweden and the neighbouring Finnish region, where farm families kept it to hunt game birds and squirrels in the forest and to watch the farm. The breed nearly died out in the mid-twentieth century and was revived from a small number of dogs found on remote farms.
It is a light, agile dog with a friendly, outgoing nature. It points game by barking at the tree, so it uses its voice freely. At home it is affectionate and adaptable, provided it has enough exercise and something to do. Its hunting instinct means small animals and wildlife will tempt it.
Did you know?
When hunting, the Norrbottenspitz marks a bird in a tree by barking steadily until the hunter arrives.