Pudelpointer vs Norrbottenspets - Breed Comparison

The Norrbottenspets is an ancient dog breed whose purpose has been to hunt, although these days he is a companion dog.

Hailing from Noorbotten, Sweden, it was after the second world war that the breed almost became extinct. This was because hunting dogs were no longer needed.

Luckily a breeding program was started, and in 1967 the Swedish Kennel Club registered the dog and a new standard was written. His friendly, amicable nature makes him a sought after companion today.

The Pudelpointer is cross between the Poodle and the English Pointer. The first Pudelpointer was bred in 1881 by Baron Von Zedlitz in Germany.

The idea was to bring about a gun dog highly skilled in tracking and retrieving. The Pudelpointer was introduced to North America in 1956, and in 1977 the Pudelpointer Club of North America was established.

Because breeders have avoided recognition by the American Kennel Club, the Pudelpointer never became a well known breed in the United States.

The Norrbottenspets is a small to medium sized spitz- type dog but he is muscular and compact. He stands at between 42 – 46cm in height and weighs in at between 8 and 15kg.

With good care he can live to be up to 15 years of age. The coat of the dog is straight and dense and you find quite a few colors such as white, yellow and reddish and sometimes there is a bit of ticking. He has a short to medium length waterproof coat which is dense.The outer coat is coarse with straight hair and the undercoat is soft and thick and the dog is a moderate shedder.

The head is wedge-shaped with erect ears, black nose and brown almond-shaped eyes. The muzzle is pointed and slim and the dog's tail is long and curls up over his back

Temperament:

Confident, alert and active, the Norbottenspets is an active, happy-go-lucky kind of dog, always looking for a game. It is why he gets on well with children in the home – he can sense that there is perhaps a better chance of a game with them.

He isn’t a prey-driven dog and gets on well with other pets in the home. He makes an excellent family pet and his very presence brings joy into a room as he is always cheerful.

He is stubborn and independent and will therefore require training and socialization to become obedient to your basic commands such as sit, lie-down and come.

The Pudelpointer stands at between 55 and 68cm in height and weighs between 20 and 30kg. He is a medium sized dog with a weather resistant, double-layered coat. The coat doesn’t shed much and is usually a brown, chestnut, liver or black color.

The coat is usually dense, harsh and wiry. They have floppy ears with quite a unique feature - the mustache on the muzzle. The tail is docked, with about 30% being removed, giving the dog an attractive, distinctive look.

Temperament:

Full of energy, the lively Pudelpointer will love to find himself in a family where they are active, outdoorsy types. He loves water too, and when out on a hike, if there’s water around, he’ll be the first to jump right in.

He’s an intelligent dog too, eager to please and ready to learn. He can easily be trained and socialized. He is loyal, calm and loving and will get on well around children and other animals in the home. He is also protective and makes a good watchdog.

The Norrbottenspets is such an amicable, easy going pet and he is going to make you a loyal and loving canine companion. He bonds closely with his human family and will be bored and frustrated if left alone day after day in the back yard.

He is social and friendly and wants to be involved with the activities of his family. Feed him well, give him plenty of exercise and give him the love and care he deserves and he will make you an awesome canine companion.

The Pudelpointer may well be a gun dog but when it comes to his human family he is a social, loving companion.

He is intelligent too and can be easily trained. When at home with his human family, he is calm and content. He will however need lots of exercise and mental stimulation. In exchange for your love and care, he will be a good watchdog, protector, pet and friend.

The Norrbottenspets life expectancy is between 12 and 15 years. These dogs are fairly healthy but there are always health concerns with any dog breed.

There are small numbers of the breed which are prone to a genetic condition affecting the brain and the result is poor coordination. It is sad to see because there is no known treatment and some dogs reach the stage where they can’t eat and they can’t control their toilet habits.

Hip Dysplasia:

Dogs with hip dysplasia have an abnormal formation of the hip socket which can lead to arthritis, pain and the inability to get around. It is a genetic trait and you will need to get your pet to the vet for treatment and pain management.

The Pudelpointer is active and healthy and can live up to 14 years and maybe even longer with good care.

Owners will do well to know about a couple of the common dog illnesses that can strike at any time -

Bloat:

Some dogs are more at risk for bloating. Larger dogs with deep chests are at greater risk. To help with preventing this deadly ailment, feed your dog a couple of smaller meals a day instead of one big meal that he gobbles up quickly.

Bloat is a medical condition which comes about with a rapid accumulation of gas in the stomach. Canine bloat or gastric dilatation and volvulus is a killer disease. The accumulation of gas can cause the stomach to twist and the dog can go into shock.

Your dog will be trying to vomit, he’ll be panting and pacing, drooling with a hard, swollen stomach.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is a common illness or condition seen in many dogs, young and old, large and small.It’s a disease which can lead to pain, arthritis and lameness.

Ear Infections:

The Pudelpointer has floppy ears and loves swimming. The floppy ears are at risk for developing ear infections. Check inside the ears that they aren’t red or have a discharge. Your dog will be scratching his ears a lot.

Diet:

Your Norrbottenspet will be requiring a high-quality dog food if you want him to stand the best chances of being healthy. Home made food is always a good choice, but there are also some good commercially manufactured dog foods which are convenient.

You want the food to have the necessary vitamins and minerals to ensure good health. Every dog will love a little bit of raw meat added to his kibble from time to time. Dogs love their meals to be consistent – no exotic, spiced foods to upset the stomach.

Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and cooked vegetables such as sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach can be chopped up and added to his kibble occasionally and this makes a splendid tasty treat for your pet.

You want to avoid your dog becoming overweight as this brings on a host of problems. Make sure he always has access to cool, fresh water.

Grooming:

The Norrbottenspets short to medium length coat will need brushing twice a week. They are clean looking dogs and you’ll find that they don’t have an unpleasant dog-smell around them.

Always check his eyes and ears for infections. Also check his teeth. A bad tooth may not be evident but it can negatively impact the immune system and cause illness with your dog.

The nails should also be cut to avoid them hooking on things.

Brush your PudelPointer twice a week to get rid of loose hairs.

Grooming can be an awesome bonding experience for you and your dog. While you’re brushing him, check him over for any unusual lumps.

Trim the nails if they don’t wear down naturally themselves.

Check inside the mouth for rotting teeth which can be a source of pain and lot of diseases in the body.

Exercise is very important and can come in the form of a walk every day or hikes, swimming as well as ball- and rope games and hide-and-seek.

Provide your dog with a nice warm, comfortable place to sleep.

Your PudelPointer can get to 14 years of age with good food. While you do get some excellent commercially manufactured dog foods, you want to be sure your pet gets some nutritious home-made food too.

Make sure that the kibble is the high quality ones with lots of vitamins and minerals. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots are a healthy choice for your pet – plain and simply just like dogs love it. Chop it up and add it into the dry kibble a couple of times a week.

Some raw meat added in from time to time will help his skin and coat remain healthy. Never leave him without a constant source of fresh, cool water.