Norrbotten Spitz: features, character and rules of care

Laiki is an amazing breed that attracts with its charming appearance, intelligence, and behavioral qualities. However, not everyone can afford to have a large husky, especially in an apartment.

In such cases, dog breeders recommend paying attention to the Norbotten husky. It is also called the Norbotten Spitz. The Swedish breed, although it belongs to hunting, is the smallest of all the varieties. These beautiful little dogs conquer with their quick wit, excellent properties of a companion and friend, a family pet. The hunting instinct is not lost, but it is no longer so strong.

The ancestors of the Northern Spitz appeared in Scandinavia long ago, before our era. They were very small. Archaeologists have found confirmation that in the XIV century BC there was a breed that is incredibly similar in appearance to modern huskies. Then the Scandinavian lands were inhabited by people from the south, who were accompanied by the first huskies.

Evolution influenced the dogs: they became larger, more enduring, because this was required by the conditions of the north. At all times the Laika was a hunting breed specializing in fur-bearing animals.

Since this type of hunting was very profitable, people happily bred dogs. The Northern Spitz was incredibly smart, capable, knew how to keep the beast until the owner arrived.

The popularity of the dog did not go beyond the boundaries of Swedish and Finnish lands, but in the 19th century they were officially registered in canine communities, after which a description of the exterior was recorded.It would seem that the breed should have started to develop, spread, but this did not happen - the Swedish Laika almost disappeared as a species by the beginning of the 20th century.

Livestock declined inexorably until the first decade of the 20th century, when studies of breed characteristics were published. It turned out that this husky has the perfect qualities of a group, which prompted the dog handlers to start restoring and developing the species.

Nevertheless, in the 30s, the Spitz was nevertheless deleted from the list of breeds in the kennel club, since all attempts of breeders were in vain. In the 50s, enthusiasts were found, they found dogs in the Scandinavian forests with foresters. It took only ten years for the Norbotten Spitz to appear at the dog handlers' exhibition forum as one of the most promising breeds.

First of all, experts note the miniature size of this breed in comparison with other huskies. Dimorphism of a sexual nature is revealed quite obviously. As for the description of the appearance, the main characteristics are as follows:

• the head is wide, flat at the back of the head;
• the transition from ears to nose is extremely smooth, narrowed;
• the muzzle is narrow, without excessive wrinkling;
• the body is elongated, with well-developed muscles;
• the neck is very powerful, moves easily;
• the back is straight, the chest is strong;
• the tail is placed high, rises above the line of the back, does not curl, slightly leaning towards the body;
• the hair on the tail is longer than on the body;
• legs are strong, with well-developed muscles, straight;
• the nose at the end is black;
• oval eyes, brown color, dark shade;
• the coat is not too long, coarse, with a dense undercoat of a dense type.

The greatest advantage of the character of this breed is endurance and calmness. Her temperament is so balanced that it is very difficult for the dog to lead to aggression. The exception is attack, swinging, threats of another obvious order. Moreover, it is not necessary to threaten the dog itself - it can violently rush to protect its owner. This dog is very courageous and daring by nature, it is a valuable addition to natural restraint.

The dog is distinguished by prudence, logical behavior. If you need to make a decision, then it will not be difficult for her.

The difficulty lies in the fact that the instinct of a hunter in norbotten is fixed and prevails over reason, therefore it is simply necessary to educate and socialize it from an early age. If this is not done, the dog will react to other animals as if it were game. It's easy to train them, but sometimes the Norbotten are stubborn. People who do not have a special skill in training, starting a dog for the first time, it is better to turn to specialists of the appropriate profile.

By nature, the Norbotten Laika is active, mobile and cheerful, you can keep it in the apartment, but you need to walk with your pet every day. The dog loves to play, run, you need to move a lot with him. The organization of active leisure is a very important part of the educational process. It relieves the dog of excess energy that can be directed towards destructive goals.

Caring for this breed does not include complex procedures and activities, after all, the dog is clean, and all it needs is regular care and attention:

• sleeping place kept clean;
• observance of hygienic norms during feeding - the dishes must be clean;
• fresh water is always available;
• complete balanced nutrition.

Poor quality feed is one of the most common causes of illness and malformation in norbotten. Despite the unpretentiousness, feeding must be organized correctly, including lean meat, boiled buckwheat and rice, fruits, vegetables in the diet. Experts recommend choosing dry or wet specialty dog ​​foods for a truly balanced diet. It is important to choose quality feed from reputable manufacturers. In any case, it is not allowed to feed the dog:

• expired feed and food;
• sweets;
• pork, fat;
• tubular bones;
• food from your table;
• do not add salt, pepper, spices to food.

If you plan to keep the dog in a private house, then an aviary is best suited for it. The quality of the wool allows the Norbotten to live outdoors even in harsh climates. The aviary must be equipped with:

• booth;
• a place for feeding.

Norbotten have a pretty good immune system by nature, they are very hardy in any conditions. Of the frequently recorded diseases, experts note esophagitis. It is quite dangerous, as the disease causes inflammation in the esophagus. Among the causes of esophagitis:

• feeding with hot food;
• finding a foreign object in the esophagus;
• infections, frequent vomiting.

Symptoms:

• poor appetite or complete refusal to eat;
• drastic weight loss.

Another common disease of norbotten is liver problems, insufficient functioning of this organ. You can cure it if you do not start the process, so you should definitely observe the behavior, appetite, and stool of your pet. It is important to carry out timely vaccination, which will save the dog from many health problems.

Since Norbotten is not a very common breed, it is not so easy to buy them in Russia. It is necessary to find a proven kennel or breeder with good reviews. Most often they turn to Swedish and Finnish kennels for these puppies, where the breed is extremely popular.

For more information about the Norbotten Spitz dog, see the following video.