Norrbottenspets
About the Norrbottenspets
Temperament
Physical Characteristics
| Size Category | Small (10-25 lbs) |
|---|---|
| Height | 16-18" |
| Weight | 20-30 lbs |
| Coat Type | Double |
| Coat Length | Short |
| Colors | |
| Hypoallergenic | No |
Care Requirements
Exercise Needs
High (60-90 min/day)
60 minutes per day recommended
Grooming
Moderate - Weekly
Mental Stimulation
★★★★★Needs plenty of mental challenges
Drooling
★★★★★Living Conditions
Cost of Ownership
| Purchase Price | $1,000-$2,000 |
|---|---|
| Annual Cost | $1,100/year |
Costs vary based on location, breeder, and individual needs. Annual costs include food, veterinary care, grooming, and supplies.
Health Considerations
Like all breeds, Norrbottenspetss may be prone to certain health conditions:
Regular veterinary check-ups and proper care can help prevent or manage many health issues.
Best For
- Families with Children
- Active Owners
May Not Be Ideal For
- Long Work Hours Away
- Sedentary Lifestyles
Guides for your Norrbottenspets
The story behind the Norrbottenspets
The Norrbottenspets is named for Norrbotten, the northernmost county of Sweden, where small hardy spitz dogs were long used to hunt forest game, particularly capercaillie, black grouse and other birds, along with squirrel, marten and occasionally larger quarry. The dog located game, drove it into a tree, and held it by barking. Demand collapsed in the earlier twentieth century as fur and game markets changed, and the breed was considered effectively lost, with the Swedish Kennel Club closing its register. Enthusiasts subsequently found surviving farm and hunting dogs in northern Sweden and Finland, and breeding resumed from that base. The breed was recognised again by Nordic authorities and by the FCI, and Finland maintains a substantial population. It remains rare elsewhere, with a small following in North America.
Originally bred for: Bird hunting, Treeing game, Small-game hunting. You can trace how working roles shaped today’s breeds across our dog guides.
Feeding a Norrbottenspets
A small, hardy hunting spitz suits a balanced complete diet with good protein, fed twice daily and raised during cold-weather hunting seasons. These dogs are typically efficient and hold condition easily, so portions should reflect actual work rather than habit.
Watch for: No breed-linked intolerance is documented. Nordic hunting dogs that eat game or scavenge in the field commonly pick up digestive upsets unrelated to their regular food. Change diets gradually, and have a veterinarian investigate ongoing skin irritation or persistent loose stools.
Not sure what to put in the bowl? See our picks for the best dog food for small breeds.
Mealtime extras: training treats worth keeping in your pocket. Everything else lives in our dog nutrition and feeding hub.
Living with a Norrbottenspets
Day to day, the basics matter most: how much exercise your dog needs, how often to get out for a walk, and how much sleep is normal.
For play and enrichment, browse our favorite dog toys and interactive toys for rainy days.
Gear that fits the breed makes life easier: a well-sized dog bed, a comfortable no-pull harness.
Raising a puppy? Work through crate training and the teething timeline — or see how old your dog is in human years with our dog age calculator.