Stabyhoun
Stabyhoun is one of the rarest breeds in the world. It is a calm, gentle and sensitive breed and has its origins in the Dutch province of Netherlands.
Breed Profile
Height
20 - 22
Inches
Weight
45 - 55
Pounds
Life Span
13 – 15
Years
Health
health
Epilepsy
What is it?
It happens due to recurrent, unprovoked seizures resulting from an abnormality of the brain. It is the most common neurological disorder found in dogs which affects about 1% of the entire population. It is usually inherited but in some cases, can also be caused due to some environmental factors.
Clinical signs
The clinical signs of this condition may include -
Sudden collapsing
Jerking while walking
Muscle twitching
Loss of consciousness
Excessive drooling
Tongue chewing
Foaming at the mouth
Treatment
The treatment is not present as of now for epilepsy in dogs. The only thing which can be done is to control the seizures. There are some anti-epileptic drugs available that can make most of dogs, seizure-free. It is very much possible that the dog will be on medication for the rest of its life.
Eligible vet bill
$1,000
*Hypothetical reimbursement examples illustrate reimbursement of an eligible vet bill at the noted reimbursement rate, assuming the annual deductible had already been satisfied and the annual coverage limit has not yet been met. Annual deductible, co-insurance, benefit and coverage limits, and exclusions may apply. Eligibility may vary. Visit https://www.spotpetinsurance.ca/sample-policy for full terms. For Canada enrollments only, reimbursement rate is based on the pet's age.
health
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)
What is it?
A large blood vessel, the ductus arteriosus, needs to close after birth. This when fails to close, it leads to PDA. It is diagnosed when a loud engine noise on the left side of the heart is heard during the examination of the pup when it is 6-7 weeks old.
Clinical signs
In most cases, there may not be any obvious signs at all. But once the PDA increases in size, more significant signs will be visible. These include –
Difficulty in breathing
Loud heart murmur
Abnormal pulses
Lethargy
Exercise intolerance
Treatment
A veterinary cardiovascular surgeon will be needed here to treat this as the goal of the treatment would be to stop the blood flowing through the open blood vessel. A surgical repair is recommended here, which should be done at the earliest once the signs are seen. If delayed, the condition can become irreversible and hence very difficult to control causing heart failure and eventually death.
Eligible vet bill
$4,000
*Hypothetical reimbursement examples illustrate reimbursement of an eligible vet bill at the noted reimbursement rate, assuming the annual deductible had already been satisfied and the annual coverage limit has not yet been met. Annual deductible, co-insurance, benefit and coverage limits, and exclusions may apply. Eligibility may vary. Visit https://www.spotpetinsurance.ca/sample-policy for full terms. For Canada enrollments only, reimbursement rate is based on the pet's age.
Personality
Rare
The breed claims a spot in the top 10 rarest dogs with a population of only about 6000 worldwide
Gentle
Stabyhouns do not bark a lot, are obedient, and very gentle most of the time
Calm
With a friendly and loving nature towards humans and especially family, they are found to be quite calm most of the time
Lifetime Care
Coat
It has a medium-length, silky coat with self-cleaning properties
Colors
A variety of colors available here are roan, white & chocolate, black & white and orange & white.
Hypoallergenic
No
Grooming
The grooming requirements are very minimal given the self-cleaning properties of their coats. Weekly brushing to remove the remaining sand particles, occasional baths if the dog has been playing in the mud, nail trimming, and teeth cleaning once in a while are all the things needed to keep the dog hygienic.
Training
An hour of exercise daily would be enough and it can include pieces of training like agility, hunting, scent training, and lure coursing. The breed is pretty intelligent and eager to please, hence it makes it easy for the owners to train them.
Stabyhouns are like a jack-of-all-trades. Historically, there were used for hunting foxes, small game, and birds due to their soft-mouth property. Later, they were used as all-around gun dogs. A fine pointer, an excellent tracker, a good alert dog as well as a good cart dog for farmers are all the additional applications of this breed. If this was not enough, they were also used to guard property and to catch pests such as rats, moles, and polecats.
To enhance all the above skills, they were often cross-bred with Wetterhoun. The rugged coats and huskier physiques of the latter made the Stabyhouns more robust. The breed is popular in the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, and North America apart from its Dutch natives. In modern times, these humans are now being used for activities like dog agility, obedience, hunting, triathlon, endurance, and frisbee, amongst others.
Stabyhoun: Introduction to the Breed
The breed has a longer physique as opposed to taller. Both genders here are also easily distinguishable. Some of the unique physical traits of the breed include -
Powerful well-rounded ribs
Slightly sloping croup
Long tail which reaches till the hock
Long, full, and bushy tail hair
Powerful and straight lower forequarters
Stabyhoun is best suited for:
Experienced pet owners
People with active lifestyles who can spend enough time with the dog
Houses without any small pets
Owners looking for a watchdog
Families with older kids
Things to watch out for before deciding to own a Stabyhoun
Although these dogs are rarely used for hunting now, the killing and preying spirits are still very evident in them. Hence it is not advised to bring in this dog with other small pets in the house, especially the ones which look like prey like cats, hamsters, etc.
Gentle, calm, and obedient most of the time, these dogs can however turn very stubborn at times. At those times, they will not move from what they have in their mind about what they want to do.
Shedding is a big problem despite the fact that it only sheds twice a year. This is because, in the shedding season, bales of fur will be lying around in the house. The good part is that this breed is not hypoallergenic.
Diseases like epilepsy, hip and elbow dysplasia, and cerebral dysfunction are more evident in this breed. There is a high chance your dog might suffer from one of these.
What should a Stabyhoun eat?
For a breed that has very high energy levels, is ready to play with you all day long, and excels at almost all sporting events, a healthy and nutrition-rich diet is mandatory. It is advised that you give good quality vet-recommended dry dog food. Raw meat, bones, and vegetables can comprise a healthy diet. And when the pup is small, 3-4 small meals would be better than serving 1 big meal.
Conclusion
Protectiveness, loyalty, obedience, agility, hunting spirit, willingness to please, and intelligence are all the terms that can be used to describe a Stabyhoun. It is a great breed for families with kids and even with other pets. You will be getting home an all-rounder when you opt for a Stabyhoun. Its high energy levels, affection, and at the same time calmness, will keep you smiling all the time.
Happy Mood and Health to your Doggo and lots of Love and Licks to you!
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