Tasy vs Norrbottenspets - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

The Norrbottenspets is an ancient dog breed whose purpose has been to hunt, although these days he is a companion dog.

Hailing from Noorbotten, Sweden, it was after the second world war that the breed almost became extinct. This was because hunting dogs were no longer needed.

Luckily a breeding program was started, and in 1967 the Swedish Kennel Club registered the dog and a new standard was written. His friendly, amicable nature makes him a sought after companion today.

Call them Tasy or Tazys these sighthound dogs from Kazakhstan have always been used for hunting. This Turkish dog is thought to be one of the oldest dog breeds in the world.

There aren’t many left in the world and the Kazakhstan government is putting steps into action to prevent the dog from becoming extinct.

These dogs are not recognized by the Federation Cynologique Internationale. Their ancestry is unclear, but the dog shares DNA with quite a few similar-looking breeds.

The Norrbottenspets is a small to medium sized spitz- type dog but he is muscular and compact. He stands at between 42 – 46cm in height and weighs in at between 8 and 15kg.

With good care he can live to be up to 15 years of age. The coat of the dog is straight and dense and you find quite a few colors such as white, yellow and reddish and sometimes there is a bit of ticking. He has a short to medium length waterproof coat which is dense.The outer coat is coarse with straight hair and the undercoat is soft and thick and the dog is a moderate shedder.

The head is wedge-shaped with erect ears, black nose and brown almond-shaped eyes. The muzzle is pointed and slim and the dog's tail is long and curls up over his back

Temperament:

Confident, alert and active, the Norbottenspets is an active, happy-go-lucky kind of dog, always looking for a game. It is why he gets on well with children in the home – he can sense that there is perhaps a better chance of a game with them.

He isn’t a prey-driven dog and gets on well with other pets in the home. He makes an excellent family pet and his very presence brings joy into a room as he is always cheerful.

He is stubborn and independent and will therefore require training and socialization to become obedient to your basic commands such as sit, lie-down and come.

The slender Tasy is a fairly large dog standing at between 55 to 72 centimeters in height and weighing in the region of 20 – 35g.

The dog has a short, silky coat and can be in a number of colors – fawn, grey, red.The tail is long and thin, the legs long and slender, the muzzle long and thin and the floppy ears are often folded back.

Temperament:

Independent and Intelligent, the Tasy will be easy to train. This is a gentle dog, not looking to get into trouble with other dogs. He gets on well with children and loves human companionship. They are known for their playfulness.

The Norrbottenspets is such an amicable, easy going pet and he is going to make you a loyal and loving canine companion. He bonds closely with his human family and will be bored and frustrated if left alone day after day in the back yard.

He is social and friendly and wants to be involved with the activities of his family. Feed him well, give him plenty of exercise and give him the love and care he deserves and he will make you an awesome canine companion.

The Tasy is such a beautiful dog and capable of making a splendid family pet and companion.

It is sad that these dog's numbers have dropped so much so that there is concern for its existence.

We hope that the Tasy's breeding programs meet with success and that this slender, attractive dog, such an ancient breed, will take his place firmly as man’s best friend.

The Norrbottenspets life expectancy is between 12 and 15 years. These dogs are fairly healthy but there are always health concerns with any dog breed.

There are small numbers of the breed which are prone to a genetic condition affecting the brain and the result is poor coordination. It is sad to see because there is no known treatment and some dogs reach the stage where they can’t eat and they can’t control their toilet habits.

Hip Dysplasia:

Dogs with hip dysplasia have an abnormal formation of the hip socket which can lead to arthritis, pain and the inability to get around. It is a genetic trait and you will need to get your pet to the vet for treatment and pain management.

Your Tasy is such a beautiful dog, you don’t want to see him getting sick, and yet there are some illnesses and conditions he can succumb to -

Hip Dysplasia:

Many large breeds, even slender ones, can be prone to hip dysplasia. This is where the joint’s ball and socket don't fit together properly. For your canine friend it can mean pain and arthritis, and you may find your pet making a huge effort to stand once he is lying down.

Obesity:

Any dog can become overweight, but it is more noticeable in slender-build dogs like the Tasy. Obesity pus unnatural pressure on the joints and it is also linked to other health problems. Every dog needs good food and good exercise.

Do research on other dog problems such as cancer, skin problems and bloat.

Diet:

Your Norrbottenspet will be requiring a high-quality dog food if you want him to stand the best chances of being healthy. Home made food is always a good choice, but there are also some good commercially manufactured dog foods which are convenient.

You want the food to have the necessary vitamins and minerals to ensure good health. Every dog will love a little bit of raw meat added to his kibble from time to time. Dogs love their meals to be consistent – no exotic, spiced foods to upset the stomach.

Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and cooked vegetables such as sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach can be chopped up and added to his kibble occasionally and this makes a splendid tasty treat for your pet.

You want to avoid your dog becoming overweight as this brings on a host of problems. Make sure he always has access to cool, fresh water.

Grooming:

The Norrbottenspets short to medium length coat will need brushing twice a week. They are clean looking dogs and you’ll find that they don’t have an unpleasant dog-smell around them.

Always check his eyes and ears for infections. Also check his teeth. A bad tooth may not be evident but it can negatively impact the immune system and cause illness with your dog.

The nails should also be cut to avoid them hooking on things.

Exercise:

The Tasy is a playful, energetic dog and will need to be exercised on a regular basis. He loves a good run and is the kind of dog that won’t do well in a small city property. He is far better suited to life in the country where he can run freely.

Grooming:

The Tazy is looked upon as being low maintenance. It’s always a good idea to get into the habit of brushing your dog’s coat once or twice a week to not only remove loose hairs but to have some bonding time with your pet.

It’s also time to run your hands over the lean body ad to make sure there aren’t any unusual lumps. Look inside his ears and make sure there is no sign of redness to indicate an infection. Remember, if you don’t like to do the grooming part for your pet, professional groomers can do all these things for you as well as trim his nails and clean his teeth.

Diet:

The Tasy is a fairly tall, lean, energetic dog, so if you opt to feed him one of the commercially manufactred dog foods there are, choose one that suits the age, size and energy levels of your pet.

Your dog can get sick if you feed him inferior dog food so read the packaging carefully and make sure its a good brand with vitamins and minerals instead of useless, toxic fillers.

Try to include some simple,home-made food devoid of spices or other exotic things that can give him a stomach ache. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots are a super healthy choice. Chop it up and feed it to your pet twice a week or so as a tasty treat.

Always make sure that your canine friend has access to fresh, cool water.