The Stabyhoun Spaniel, sometimes known as the Stabij, is one of the world’s top five rare dog breeds. It comes from the Dutch province of Friesland, specifically the Frisian woodland area, which is located in the southeast and east of the province. The breed has been described in Dutch literature from the early 1800s, but it did not expand its territory outside of Friesland until the 1960s, and it was not until the 2000s that the range was officially extended beyond the Netherlands. The name Stabij essentially translates to “stand by me,” with the final element simply Frisian, which means dog and is pronounced “hoon.” The dog is regarded as a national treasure in the Netherlands. There are only a few thousand Stabyhouns left on the planet today.
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Dog Breed Group: Working Dogs
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The normal life expectancy of a Stabyhoun is 13–15 years. They are a relatively robust breed with no current common health concerns. Diet, activity, care, and the environment are now the aspects that have the largest overall impact on the health and lifespan of the breed.
Overall, the Stabyhoun is a healthy dog. Patent Ductus Arteriosis (PDA), Epilepsy, Elbow Dysplasia, Hip Dysplasia, and Type 1 von Willebrands Disease are known congenital health issues in the breed (vWB). Radius Curvus, Hereditary Cataracts, Steroid Responsive Meningitis-Arteritis (SRMA), and non-specific Cancer are among the other disorders noted.
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The Stabyhoun is a gentle creature. Friendly, sensitive, clever, quiet, patient, and willing to please, this breed can be stubborn at times. Children and other animals are tolerated well by the Stabyhoun. This breed will be docile and devoted to its owner with consistent yet gentle training. Stabyhouns should never be savage or abrasive.
Although a Stabyhoun can be extremely peaceful inside, it enjoys plenty of physical activity, as do many sporting breeds. Swimming is a favorite pastime of Stabyhouns.
Apart from frequent brushing to prevent tangling, the Stabyhoun requires no particular maintenance. Moulting (shedding) occurs twice a year in dogs, and vigorous brushing aids in the process. Stabyhoun hair can become tangled and matted if not brushed regularly, similar to dreadlocks. Tangling and matting are particularly common in the hair behind the ears. Soap should be avoided whenever feasible because it depletes the coat’s natural oils and sheen. The dirt and mud will be naturally removed from the Stabyhoun coat. The dog is normally clean and dry after a swim in a matter of hours.
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The Stabyhoun can be found in early 1800s historical literature by Joost Halbertsma, Waling Dijkstra, and Nynke fan Hichtum. It was originally used to hunt foxes, small animals, and birds. Stabyhouns was a skilled mole-catcher while working on fields. It was utilized as an all-around gundog during the hunting season. Although British and German varieties are more popular today, the Stabyhoun is still a capable hunter. The Stabij is a soft-mouthed retriever, a fine pointer, an exceptional tracker, and a good watchdog known for its calm demeanor. It has also been used as a cart-dog by dairy farmers.
Historically, these dogs were almost entirely owned by farmers, whose limited financial resources necessitated the requirement for a single farm dog capable of working, hunting, guarding, and being a gentle house breed.
The appearance and usefulness of the breed have not altered. In the past, the Stabyhoun was frequently crossed with another old and rare Friesian breed, the Wetterhoun, in order to improve the working traits of the working farm dog.
In an effort to avoid the extinction of the increasingly uncommon breeds, Stabij owners organized for official breed registration in 1942, and crossbreeding between the Stabyhoun and Wetterhoun was halted.
Today, among Dutch sportsmen and homeowners, the Stabyhoun has a tiny but devoted following. Its population is slowly but gradually expanding. Dog lovers in the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, and North America have taken notice of this breed.
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