Norrbottenspitz

American Rare Breed Association

FCI-Standard N° 276 / 01.10.1997  / GB

NORRBOTTENSPITZ

(Norrbottenspets) 

TRANSLATION : Brought up to date by Dr. Paschoud.

ORIGIN : Sweden.

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 22.07.1982.

UTILIZATION : Hunting dog.

CLASSIFICATION F.C.I. : Group 5 Spitz and primitive types. Section 2 Nordic hunting dogs.  With working trial.

GENERAL APPEARANCE : Small, squarish spitzdog, tightly built, with dry, powerful muscles.  The dog should be of very good structure, the head carried high and fearless.  The dog should be extremely mobile.  Difference in body structure due to sex should be well marked.  The ideal dog should give the impression of a typical, small spitzdog, very alert and attentive, with good balance and temperament.

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.

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.

Stop : Well, but moderately marked.

FACIAL REGION :

Nose : Black.

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 teeth.

Eyes : Moderately large, almond-shaped and obliquely set.  Dark brown, bright.  Expression calm and energetic.

Ears : High set, slightly over medium size and stiffly erect.  Tips slightly rounded.

NECK : Moderately long, dry and muscular, slightly arched ; carried erect.

BODY : Depth of body ( the vertical distance from highest point of  withers to lowest point of chest ) should be about half the total height at withers.

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.  Forechest well developed and well marked.  Front of normal width.  Viewed from side, the lowest part of the ribcage should reach just below the elbows and softly merge into the bellyline.

Belly : Moderately tucked up.

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.  Bobtail not allowed.

LIMBS

FOREQUARTERS :

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 : Directed backwards.

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.

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.  Hindlegs must be parallel in action.

COAT

HAIR : Hard, short, straight and rather close fitting, with fine and dense undercoat.  Short on nasal bridge, skull, ears and front of legs, longer on neck, back of thighs and underneath the tail.

COLOUR : All colours permitted.  Ideal colour is white with yellow or red/brown markings.

HEIGHT :

Ideal height at the withers :  Males: 45 cm,  Females : 42 cm.

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.

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.