Overview
The Stabyhoun is a sturdy, medium-sized Dutch dog from the province of Friesland. Its name is often explained as meaning "stand by me dog", and it is treasured locally as a national breed.
Bred as a versatile farm companion, it hunts, points, retrieves and guards, and it is a calm and loyal housemate. It remains one of the rarest breeds in the world.
History
The breed is mentioned in Frisian literature from the early 1800s and lived mainly on farms, where owners needed one dog to hunt, guard and catch rats, moles and polecats. Some were even used to pull small dog carts.
The Stabyhoun was sometimes mixed with the Wetterhoun to add toughness, but this stopped when the breed received official recognition in 1942. It became known outside Friesland in the 1960s and reached other countries only in the 2000s. Numbers are growing slowly.
Appearance
A sturdily built dog, a little longer than tall, with a soft, sleek coat. Males are around 53 cm at the withers and females about 50 cm, with weights of roughly 20 to 25 kg.
Most are black and white with a black head and white-tipped tail, while brown and white and orange and white are less common. The ears are trowel-shaped with feathering, and the expression is gentle and intelligent.
Temperament
The Stabyhoun is gentle, sensitive and biddable, and is extremely tolerant of children and other animals. Indoors it is calm, though it may be stubborn at times.
It responds best to steady, kind training and wants to be near its people. It enjoys exercise and loves to swim.
Care and exercise
The Stabyhoun needs a good daily outing and enjoys swimming, dog sports and nose work, but settles quietly at home afterwards. It is not suited to a life alone in a kennel.
Regular brushing prevents tangles, especially behind the ears, and the coat is shed heavily twice a year. Avoid harsh shampoos, as the coat naturally sheds dirt and mud.
Health
Generally healthy, with a lifespan of 13 to 15 years. Recorded conditions include patent ductus arteriosus, epilepsy, hip and elbow dysplasia, von Willebrand disease type 1 and steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis. Careful breeding has reduced many of these.
