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This material was compiled for the "Simply Spitz Symposium" held March 18 & 19, 2006 at Prospect Lake Hall, Victoria, BC, Canada. For the Symposium the Original Standard was translated as accurately, word by word as possible to avoid misunderstandings. The result is a precise translation. The reader can discover that the FCI Standard is somehow inaccurately translated. The differencies in the Original Standard and the FCI Standard are marked with yellow colour. 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. Translation © Inkeri Kangasvuo
Norrbottenspetz Functional Type
Excerpts from Judge Harry Tast's article in the Pystykorva-magazineThe Norrbottenspetz 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 Norrbottenspetz 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 strenght 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 Norbottenspetz 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.
Short history
The Norrbottenspetz 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 Norrbottenspetz 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 Norbottenspetz 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.
Revised translation of the Original Standard
Origin: Sweden
SKK Orginal Standard 1997-11-25
Nordic hunting dogs.
With working trial.
GENERAL APPEARANCE : The Norrbottenspetz is small and light spitzdog. It is tightly built, with dry, powerful muscles. The dog should be of very good structure, the head carried high and fearless and at the same time the dog should be very agile. (Photopage) Difference in body structure due to sex should be well marked .BEHAVIOUR/ CHARACTER : As a hunting dog, the Norrbottenspitz should be attentive and daring, giving impression of alertness, activity, kindness and self confidence. Never nervous, shy or aggressive.
. Stop : Well, but moderately marked.
COMMENT: Body length is only slightly longer than height. A female may anyway be proportionally longer than a male. It should have a firm and dense, but light nonetheless proper bone for size, it should not be heavy nor too fragile. The body structure should give an impression of strenght and adequate fitness and firmness. The Norrbottenspets character is of a typical spitz dog. It should not be nervous, shy or offensive towards people nor too slow and flegmatic or too prone to overly bark. A dog whose temperament restricts judging, is to be disqualified. The posture of the dog is seen in overall flexibility, light movements and head that is held high. The male gender is shown characteristically in a strongly developed head, erect front, proportionally strong neck, and more slender chest and pelvis than the female, short loin and well developed muscles. A female has a broder pelvis and longer loin. The front does not have to be markedly higher than the rear, and it may overall be more modest in appearance. Faults in general appearance are a too flat, scrawny and longish body, small weak head or a toybreed like apple head with short, pointed muzzle, weak bones and muscles together with straight angulations. Special consideration to the temperament is to be taken. An aggressive dog – towards people or other dogs or overly shy dog should be disqualified.
HEAD : Strong, dry, well shaped and viewed from side and above wedge-shaped.
CRANIAL REGION :
Skull : Moderately wide and rather flat; the forehead is slightly arched. The superciliary arches should be well marked
FACIAL REGION :
Nose : Black.
COMMENT: A dog that clearly has a liver or flesh coloured nose, should not be awarded.
Muzzle : Moderately long, sharply tapering. Its length is half the length of the head or somewhat shorter.
Nasal bridge : Straight.
Lips : Thin, dry and tightly fitting.
Teeth : Scissor bite with well developed jaws and teeth.
COMMENT: Stong and proper dentition, bite and jaws are essential. Clearly over- or undershot is a fault.
Eyes : Medium sized, almond-shaped and slightly obliquely set and of dark brown colour. Expression calm and energetic.
COMMENT:Eyes should not be too big, round or protruding as that will affect the characteristic expression. Yellow or amber eyes are not accepted and should not be awarded.
Ears : High set, slightly over medium size and stiffly erect. Tips slightly rounded.
COMMENT: Soft, not stiffly erect ears are not typical and cannot be awarded. Broad and long bat like ears are not accepted and ears should not be low set.
NECK : Moderately long, dry and muscular, slightly arched ; carried erect.
COMMENT: A short neck affects the general appearance and especially males should have a neck profile slightly arched.
BODY :
Withers: clearly marked.
Back : Short and straight, strong, muscular and elastic.
Loins : Short and broad.
Croup : Moderately long and broad, slightly sloping and with well developed muscles.
Chest : The thorax is moderately deep, about half of height at withers and relatively long, with well developed last ribs. Seen from the front it should be oval. Forechest well developed and well marked. Front of normal width.
Belly : Viewed from side, the lowest part of the ribcage should reach just below the elbows and softly merge into the bellyline. Moderately tucked up.
COMMENT: Ideal back is not horizontal, because the withers are higher and the croup is sloping. It should not be slack from exess lenght nor a roach back. Long ribcage with well developed ribs give room for the heart and lungs. The front assembly should be developed so that the outline is smooth. A barrel formed ribcage gives an undesired broad front assembly and a too flat ribcage a narrow front assembly, which both affect the movements in a negative way.
TAIL : Proportionately high set, carried in a fairly high curve, loosely curled with the tip of tail touching side of upper thigh. The length of the tail should not reach below hock.
COMMENT: The characteristics of a spitz dog is a curled tail. If when judging the dog never raises his tail it should not be awarded. A dog with too long hair on tail should not be awarded.
LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS : Seen from the front the legs should be straight and parallel .
Shoulder-blade : Long and broad, with well developed crest and muscles. Close fitting to chest and proportionately set obliquely.
Upper arm : Should be the same length as shoulder-blade, strong, well fitting to chest but permitting free movement, forming a marked angle with the crest of the shoulder-blade.
Elbows : Elbows should not point inwards or outwards .
Forearm : Straight, strong bones, lean but flexible muscles.
Pastern joint and Pastern : Strong, forming a straight line with the forearm, when viewed from front. The pastern slightly sloping, viewed from side.
Forefeet : Small, strong, pointing straight forward, well arched and tight, with well developed, solid pads.
HINDQUARTERS : Hindlegs parallel viewed from behind.
Thighs : Proportionately long, forming a right angle with the pelvis. Strong muscles.
Stifle : Strong.
Lower thigh : Forming a marked angle to the upper thigh.
Hock : Broad and strong, viewed from front and side.
Rear-pastern : Dry, elastic and rather long.
Hind feet: As forefeet. Pointing straight forward.
COMMENT: The good shoulder layback together with a correctly angulated upper arm, proportionally long and broad pelvis with a nearly straight angle to the upper thigh of equal lenght with the pelvis, gives a good reach and drive which gives a power saving, endurable gallop that is essential for overcoming hurdles in the forest terrain.
GAIT/MOVEMENT : Norrbottenspitz should, in canter and trot, show smooth, even movement with great drive, covering the ground well. The top-line must stay firm. Legs must be parallel in action.(Photopage) Correct movements are important to a hunting spitz
COAT
HAIR : Double coat; hard, short, straight and rather close fitting guard hair, with fine and dense undercoat. Shortest on nasal bridge, skull, ears and front of legs, longer on neck, back of thighs and underneath the tail.
COLOUR : Ground colour is white, with yellowish red or reddish brown markings. Also markings of other colours are permitted.
COMMENT: Soft, too long, wavy or curly coat and absence of undercoat is very unpractical in a hunting spitz that has to manage in variable weather, cross waterways by swimmig and it affects the overall entity. Solid colored white dogs should not be awarded. 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 and the white clearly dominant.(Photopage) Colour explained, head colours (Photopage) Dogs of different colour
HEIGHT :
Ideal height at the withers : Males - 45 cm (17,7”), Females - 42 cm (16,5”). Variation of +/- 2cm (0,8”) acceptable. (1 inch is 2,54cm)(Photopage) The Norrbottenspetz is the smallest of the three "Native" Finnish hunting Spitz
WEIGHT: Not mentioned
COMMENT: Males over 47cm and and females over 44cm should be disqualified. The proper weight is according to size, but with ideal height the normal weight ranges from 11kg (females 24lbs) to 13kg (males 28,6lbs)
FAULTS : Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.
Lack of more than four teeth.
DISQUALIFICATION : Bobtail
Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
N.B. : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
General Guidelines for Show Judges
Every judge is familiar with the anatomy of the dog with all its good and bad aspects. In these guidelines we concentrate on the special aspects that reflect the general appearance and breed characteristics of the Norrbottenspetz. The general idea is to unite the judging norms and by this get information for breeders of the Norrbottenspets.
Height: Males - 45 cm (17,7”), Females - 42 cm (16,5”). Variation of +/- 2cm (0,8”) acceptable.
Disqualification
clearly oversized, must be measured
agressiveness towards people
floppy eartips, or semi-prick ears
clearly long, wavy or curly hair
tail that does not curl over the back during judging
solid colour other than white Reasons for lowering merits (no Award of Merit)
other than black nose leather
solid coloured saddle (saddle should be broken)
lack of premolars
General appearance faults
too fragile or heavy bone
lack of posture
insufficient gender display Colour
big, other than yellowish red or reddish yellow markings. Head
small, light, fragile or round appearance
narrow skull
short, light muzzle
weak underjaw
liver or flesh coloured nose leather Eyes
yellow or amber
protruding, big, round Ears
soft
big, broad and long Teeth
abnormal bites
lack of more than four (4) premolars Body
too slender or heavy
broad and heavy or narrow and light ribcage
steeply tucked up belly Tail
tightly curled (like the Norwegian Elkhound)
sickle tail that does not touch the body Coat
off standing, soft, short, curly coat
lack of undercoat
Temperament
clearly shy
aggressive Gait
normal gait is essential to be ascertained
ALL DEVIATIONS FROM THE STANDARD SHOULD BE EVALUATED AS FAULTS ACCORDING TO THE SEVERITY OF THE FAULT.
When judging the Norrbottenspetz the judge should pay special attention to all following details in the following order:
Colour
Size
Proportions
General Appearance
Head
Neck
Body: withers, back, loin, croup, ribcage and underline.
Limbs
Tail
Coat texture
Movements
Temperament
Guidelines for judging the Norrbottenspetz
1. COLOUR OF THE NOSELEATHER
The breed should have a black nose leather. Liver or flesh coloured nose leather is clearly a fault and is in contradiction to the Standard. A dog whose pigmentation is not normal should not be awarded.
2. COAT
The norrbottenspetz coat structure and quality clearly differs from the coat of the Finnish Spitz. The coat should be rather close fitting and the guard hair is hard, short and straight. Off standing coat on the Norrbottenspetz is not typical and according to the Standard.
3. SIZE
The ideal size for males is 45 cm (17,7”) and for females 42 cm (16,5”) with a variation of +/- 2cm (0,8”). (1 inch is 2,54cm) It should be clear that these limits are not to be passed. The height should be measured. We should remember that the Standard calls for ”a small and light spitzdog”. A dog that is over the Standard limits should be disqualified even if it otherwise is excellent.
