| Country of Origin: Holland Breed Status: The Stabyhoun is an internationally recognized, though numerically rare, purebred. Distribution: Despite being recognized by the Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI), the Stabyhoun has yet to develop a significant following outside of Holland. Etymology: It is speculated that the first part of the Stabyhoun’s name, Staby, comes from the Dutch words sta me bij, which translates as stand by me. Houn is the Friesian word for dog. Other Names: Bijke, Stabij Breed History: When the Spanish occupied Holland in the mid-sixteenth century, they brought with them a variety of dogs from around Europe. It is thought that the mixture of these dogs with breeds native to the Dutch province of Friesland gave rise to the Stabyhoun. Written evidence exists that the breed had already attained its present form by the early 1800s. In the past when the ability to work was all that mattered the Stabyhoun was frequently crossed to the Wetterhoun. This practice ended though in 1942 when the Raad van Beheer (national kennel club of Holland) recognized both breeds. The Stabyhoun has since then has been granted international recognition, although it has never become a very numerous breed. Since only aproximately 3,500 members of the breed exist today, breeding is strictly supervised by the breed club so inbreeding does not become a problem. These efforts are working well and the Stabyhoun is slowly but steadily gaining in numbers. Appearance: The Stabyhoun is a balanced, sturdily built, rectangular shaped pointing breed of spaniel type. The ideal height for males is 20.87 inches (53 cm) at the withers. The ideal height for females is 19.69 inches (50 cm). The dry head is longer than it is wide. The skull is slightly rounded and neither narrow nor broad. The stop is slight. The muzzle is the same length as the skull and tapers gradually towards the nose without getting pointed. The bridge of the nose is straight and wide. The well-developed nose has wide-open nostrils. The color of the nose is either black (for dogs with a black ground color) or dark brown (for dogs with a brown or orange ground color). The lips are tight and not pendulous. The Stabyhoun has a scissors bite. The medium sized eyes are round and set horizontally. Eye color may be either black (for dogs with a black ground color) or brown (for dogs with a brown or orange ground color). The fairly low-set ears are moderately long, shaped like a mason’s trowel, and hang close to the head without any folds. The neck is short, round, slightly arched, and tight. The head is carried mostly low so that a blunt angle is formed between the neck and the top line. The back is straight and rather long. The chest is broad when viewed from the front, showing more width than depth, so that the forelegs are set wide apart. The chest should not reach below the elbows. The ribs are well rounded. The belly is moderately tucked up. The legs are strong and vertical. The feet are round and possess arched toes and tough pads. The long tail reaches to the hocks and is no high-set. When at rest, the tail is carried downwards, although the last third may curve upwards in a gentle curve. In action, the tail is lifted but never curled. The coat is long and smooth all over the body. Only over the croup may the coat show the slightest hint of a wave. The hair on the head is short. The feathering of the ears is a typical characteristic of the breed. The hair at the base of the ears is rather long and gradually decreases in length, until the bottom third of the ears are covered in short hair. The coat on the back of the legs is well developed and bushy rather than feathered. The tail is covered with long, straight hair all around, and like the back of the legs is bushy rather than feathered. A somewhat curly coat is considered a sign of crossbreeding. The Stabyhoun may be black, brown, or orange with white markings. Ticking or roan within the white is permitted. Personality and Uses: Like many other gundogs from continental Europe, the Stabyhoun developed as a versatile breed. The breed has a fine sense of smell and is capable of both pointing and retrieving. The Stabyhoun works well on water and is particularly effective on ducks. The breed also acts as a yard dog, killing moles and other vermin with a bite to the neck. In addition to its role as a hunter, the Stabyhoun serves as a watch and guard dog. In Holland, larger sized dogs are even used as draft animals. The Stabyhoun is a friendly, peaceful breed that is always willing to please. The breed is obedient and devoted to its owner, making it easy to train. The Stabyhoun is tolerant of smalll children and other animals. Although laid back at home, the breed needs plenty of exercise. Aside from thorough brushings during moults, the coat does not require any special care other than an occasionl brushing to keep it free of tangles. Washings should be avoided whenever possible, as it effects the natural sleekiness of the coat. The Stabyhoun is a relatively healthy breed with an average life expectancy of 13 to 14 years. |