Most breeds are descendants of the wolf, but the Norrbottenspets’ ancestor is the dingo, whose ancestors go back thousands of years.
The breed itself originated in Sweden in the 1600’s as hunting companions. It is believed that the Norrbottenspetz descended from small spitz-type dogs that lived in ancient times with people of the Nordic hemisphere, where hunting was necessary for both food and clothing. The small hunting spitz lived and survived under natural selection where only the strongest and bravest had a chance to live and produce. Legends abound of these faithful and courageous Norrbottenspets rescuing their masters from attacks by bear or other large prey.
In 1948, the Norrbottenspets was declared extinct, but enthusiasts sought out and found the few remaining dogs and started a successful breeding program, and the breed has made a strong comeback. In 1967 the Swedish Kennel Club accepted the breed into its registry again and a new standard was written.
Today, the breed is considered part of the hound (hunting) group. Although dedicated breeders such as Valhallasun Kennels have stabilized its numbers, the Norrbottenspets remains scarce outside of its original country; less than 100 exist in North America. For this reason, as the Collins introduce the rare Norrbottenspets to Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, they ask owners to agree not to neuter or spay their puppy. In this way, they hope to help this outstanding breed proliferate once more.