Stabyhoun as a Reading Therapy Dog
Chris Sprague tells the story of how his Stabyhoun became a Reading Therapy Dog for children in America…. Ever since I was in my 20s, I knew I wanted to work with children. We all know how smart our Stabys are, so I really put Chance through his paces. When I retired from 25 years...
The Great British Stabyhoun Inventory
At our September event, Klaas Zonnebeld from Stabijhounkennel Fan it Heideheim and Gerrit V. D. Veen had travelled from the Netherlands to perform and teach us about the ‘inventory’. Now, Klaas explains why… We always love to see Stabijs and, in such a small breed, dogs in other countries are very important. In isolation, it...
Selling a Stabijhoun to the UK
If you are a breeder thinking about selling a puppy to England, we have tried to answer some of the most common questions you might have. If you want to speak to other breeders who have previously exported a Stabij to the UK, we will be happy to put you in touch with several who can share...
Rikje and Skipper’s litter of Stabyhoun puppies
On 23 November 2015, Aquila (Rikje) delivered a fabulous litter of 10 Stabyhoun puppies: 5 girls and 5 boys. The father is Danish stud dog, Trazzeltazz Chewing Gum of Atlas (Skipper) and this was his first litter. The mating was approved by the NVSW. This is the 4th litter of Stabyhoun born in the UK – taking the...
The dog trainers’ view on the Stabyhoun
Don’t just take our word for it; below are some honest thoughts and observations of the dog trainers who have so far had the pleasure of working with a Stabyhoun in the UK. “The feedback from all instructors here who have worked with Emo is unanimous and enthusiastic: he is attentive and, without exception, has a very calm,...
Mieke and Abe’s litter 2015
On 12 November 2015, Minke v.’t Hondsdraf (Mieke) gave birth to four beautiful girls and three handsome boys – sired by stunning Dutch stud dog, Abe fan it Roekebosk. As always, the mating went ahead with the blessing of the breeding experts in the NVSW. You can follow the progress of the UK’s third litter of Stabyhoun puppies as...
First Stabyhoun in Scotland: Emo moves to Perth
With just 34 in the UK and 6,000 worldwide, Emo is one of the world’s rarest dogs and the first Stabyhoun in Scotland. Born in May in Manchester, he and his six brothers and sisters are part of a project to introduce the breed to the UK. Generally considered amongst one of the world’s rarest...
Jelske & Hoover’s puppies – week 8
That’s it – the end of one journey and the beginning of a new and wonderful one. The pups have flown the nest and joined seven wonderful new families across England and Scotland. It has been an exciting eight weeks and everything has gone to plan – from birth through socialisation, vet visits and departure....
Jelske & Hoover’s puppies – week 7
Just one week to go before their new families collect them. These are seven happy, healthy and very naughty puppies – ready to make their mark on a new family. They will be missed but also followed from a distance with great pleasure as they enter a new chapter in their lives. Birth———- Week 1———-...
Jelske & Hoover’s puppies – Week 1
Jelske and Hoover’s seven puppies are now exactly a week old; growing fast and doing really well. Birth———- Week 2———- Week 3———- Week 4———- Week 5———- Week 6———- Week 7———- MISC Arjen ♂ Weight: 836g Blijke ♀ Weight: 900g Ditske ♀ Weight: 872g Emo ♂ Weight: 910g Weight at 4 days...
Jelske & Hoover’s 2015 litter 1-3 weeks old
In May 2015, Jelske gave birth to seven puppies; four females and three males, including a very rare brown one. In these pictures from the whelping box and beyond, they are 0-3 weeks old… For full details of the litter, click here
Jelske & Hoover’s puppies – Just born
On 8 March 2015, Gaaske Jelske fan de Moaie Hôvingen successfully mated with Gysbert Jurre v. ‘t. Hollandse Hout. The mating was endorsed by the breed experts in the Dutch Stabyhoun Association (NVSW) – based on an evaluation of the dogs’ pedigree, health records and show conformation results. Exactly nine weeks later, on 10 May, Jelske gave birth to...
Teaching a Stabyhoun to work
By Brigitte Elsman When Floran was just a puppy, I went to puppy training with a lady called Willeke. It was she who told me about hunting training and the demonstration she gave with her dog left a big impression on me: I wanted to do that too! Together we attended hunting training of the...
One dog or two?
Dog Trainer and Behaviourist, Helen Withey on what to consider before introducing a second dog into your home. Do you think it would be a good idea for me to get another dog? This is a question I get asked often. The answer, however, is far from simple and depends in particular on the character...
Dog breeding: A leaf out of nature’s book
UKSA Vice President, Janice Vittachi sets out why she believes we could learn a thing or two from nature when breeding. We are all familiar with Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection: healthy, successful animals thrive and ultimately pass their genes on while unhealthy, unsuccessful and (let’s face it) ugly animals do not. In this...
Dog training: Best rewards and how to succeed
By James Carroll MSc, Dog Behaviourist and Trainer The crux of most dog training problems I see can be summed up in two sentences: Owner: “My dog will not do what he is asked to do.” Dog: “My owner does not make it worth my while to do the things he asks of me.” To...
Family dog: 10 Good Reasons why all children should have a dog
Have you got children and are you thinking about getting a dog? Below are a number of reasons why that might be a wise decision – if you have the time, resources and commitment to care for it of course. Finding the right breed is essential. If you are an active family with a schedule...
Scent tracking with a Stabyhoun: the all-rounder
Having owned, trained and judged scent tracking dogs for more than two decades, Helga-Mari Tessem from Norway explains why the Stabyhoun has become her breed of choice… Originally the Stabyhoun was used as a combined watch, hunting and family dog. Today, most of them live as contented members of active families. The key is in...
What to feed your Stabyhoun
By Helen Withey, author of ‘A Dog Knows Best – the owner’s guide to healthy feeding’ I am often asked What is the best food to feed my dog? There is usually a simple answer: whatever you are happy with. But here are some things you might want to know… Probably the easiest way is...
Stabyhoun breeding: What to expect from a Breeders Day
Qualified Stabyhoun judge and Stabyhoun breeder, Angélique Plasman explains what all the fuss is about and points out why accepting your dog’s invitation to Holland is so important for the breed. In the 1940s the Stabyhoun breed was on the verge of extinction because the area it originated from became less secluded and people began...
Life with Labradors and a Stabyhoun
In October 2013, Claire Overvoorde from Waterlooville became the proud owner of a Stabyhoun puppy from the first UK litter. Here she gives us her take on the breed compared with the good old Labrador. Our little bundle of black and white fun, Ninke joined our three Labradors Arnie, Rocky and Gracie, and our two...
Breeding one of the world’s rarest dogs
Following two 20-hour matchmaking round-trips to Maryland, Judy Wiltsek and her family could soon be welcoming a litter of extremely rare Stabyhoun puppies to her home in Mill Spring, North Carolina. Widely considered amongst the world’s top ten rarest dog breeds, the Stabyhoun has a population numbering just 6,000 globally. Now, small animal vet and dog trainer, Judy, is determined to increase the population...
Being a Stabyhoun visiting home
If you are reading this then you are already the lucky owner of a Stabyhoun. Your first step on that journey was most likely a visit with a Stabyhoun in your area, arranged by the UKSA. The chance to see and interact with a Stabyhoun is absolutely essential for people who think that this might...
FCI International Breeding Strategies
1. Introduction The goal in dog breeding is functionally healthy dogs with a construction and mentality typical to the breed, dogs that can live a long and happy life for the benefit and pleasure of the owner and the society as well as the dog itself. Breeding should be carried out in such a manner that it...
UK Stabyhoun litter – 6 weeks old
Amazing how fast they grow. Here they are on 6 October – nearly 6 weeks old and a complete delight. 3 girls, 7 boys and 1 very proud mum. Janneke Kike Laanke Mork Ninke Ouke Pylgrim Rembrandt Sander Tynke
Best family dog breeds: how to choose a puppy
You have probably landed on this page because you are looking for the perfect family dog. If you have young children, other animals such as cats or rabbits, then making the right choice is even more important. Some people will say that any dog breed has the potential to make a great family pet. That...
Reliable agility dog – meet the Stabyhoun
I was born in Denmark and my very first memory of a dog was soft, gentle and black and white. She was called Blijke and was the Stabyhoun of a Danish/Dutch family who became very close friends. Little did I know that this was a breed counting only a few thousand members, but she had...
UK Stabyhoun litter 2013
Here they are; Rikje’s magnificent 10 born on 27 August! Click here to see them at 6 weeks old Janneke Kike Birth weight: 342g Birth weight: 332g Laanke Mork Birth weight: 327g Birth weight: 332g Ninke Ouke Birth weight: 375g...
The Stabyhoun; devoted family dog and reliable worker
It is not for nothing its name translates to ‘Stand by Me’. The Stabyhoun is a loving, loyal and devoted companion with a temperament that means they most often live in contented harmony at the centre of the family alongside children and other household pets. Defined as spaniel-type pointer by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI),...
Official Stabyhoun breed standard
UTILIZATION: Pointing dog. The Stabijhoun is a very versatile dog. He is an all-round hunting dog and has a good reputation as a mole and polecat catcher. FCI-CLASSIFICATION: Group 7 Pointing Hunting Dogs. Section 1.2 Continental Pointing Dogs. Spaniel type. With working trial. BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY The Stabijhoun is related to the Drentsche Patrijshond and...
The Stabyhoun (Frisian pointer): a standing dog
Klaas Zonnebeld from Stabijhounkennel Fan it Heidehiem is one of the people who works with his Stabyhoun in the field. Here he describes a recent journey to Sweden to see whether his gun dog, Baike would live up to its description as a Pointer. According to the FCI and the Dutch kennel-club our Stabij is a...
Neutering
Historically, vets in the UK have been keen to encourage early neutering of both male and female dogs for health reasons and to prevent unwanted breeding. Recent research, however, is suggesting that allowing your dog to fully mature before having them neutered might be the best option. Read more by following this link… And this one…
