The Norrbottenspets is a nimble and courageous little hunting spitz. Don’t let their small size fool you… although they max out at 30 pounds, they were used in the Scandinavian region to hunt all sorts of prey… from birds up to moose! The breed is built tough to work with dangerous game in unforgiving climates and terrain. Their hunting background means that this breed is alert and at-the-ready when prey appears, but they are generally calm in the home as long as nothing exciting is going on. They are friendly and affectionate with their families, as well as being long-lived and fairly healthy.
The Norrbottenspets is a lively and active breed that loves to engage and play with his owners. He does need regular exercise and although he doesn’t require an intense amount of it, this is definitely not a couch potato breed. He is able to live in small spaces such as apartments… but only as long as the owner provides extra exercise and has neighbors that won’t mind his noise. While a few members of the breed are fairly quiet, most of them can be exceptionally loud, especially if there’s something exciting going on. They are one of the barking bird dogs, after all! A smart breed, he needs things to keep him occupied and can get into trouble if not allowed to do anything fun (fun meaning work).
The Norbottenspets can be difficult to train and sometimes even difficult to contain because of their escape-artist mentalities. This is a very independent breed that was created to figure out problems on his own. Whether that be “how to escape the yard” or “how to get what I want”, he isn’t naturally wired to pop up and do obedience commands all day, at the drop of a hat. That said… this breed is quite trainable by experienced dog owners, and will perform well when given the right motivation. Make sure to work extensively on a solid recall – this breed likes to run and can be surprisingly fast, making them hard to catch.
The Nob’s coat is considered weatherproof, with a thick double coat that requires weekly brushing and occasional baths. They tend to keep themselves fairly clean and don’t exhibit much of a “doggy smell” like some other breeds, so their grooming needs are fairly low. Their white and red (or yellow) parti-colored coat sheds moderately, and does need to be brushed out regularly. The hotter the climate, the more likely the dog is to shed. Keep teeth brushed, and – like other dogs with prick ears, dirt can accumulate in the ear canals which means ears must be regularly cleaned as well.
Norrbottens are great dogs for people with children, tending to be very gentle with them. If the child is too obnoxious, they will normally just walk away rather than react with a bite (although every dog can bite and one should always supervise to make sure the dog isn’t being picked on). They also do well with other dogs (particularly around their same size), although pocket pets may pose some problems for those with a higher prey drive. Keep hamsters and the like out of reach in cages!
The Nob is a very loving and loyal breed and prefers to be in close proximity of “his people” whenever possible. Some owners may find that this constant need to be near may result in separation anxiety issues. This love of people also extends to strangers and friends – while he will bark (a shrill, loud noise) when someone comes to the door, he does not make a good protection dog as he is far too friendly. Overall, he has a very stable temperament and gets along with almost everyone!
