12 Things to Consider Before Buying a Stabyhoun Puppy

The Stabyhoun is from the Netherlands, and its origin dates back to the 17th century. This Dutch pointing dog breed is known for its sturdy build and practical nature. It is also known as the Netherland Stabyhoun, Staby, or Frisian Pointer in English, and the Stabij, Stabijhoun, Fryske Stabij, and Beike in Dutch. This breed is more elongated than it is tall, and its head is also narrower. The Staby appears longhaired due to the feathering on its chest, collar, forelegs, trousers, and tail, but the coat is relatively short. These days, the dog is most often kept as a pet by families rather than for its working abilities as a tracker, pointer, retriever, cart-dog, or watchdog. Here’s the list of things you must consider before deciding to take one home!

Stabyhoun is a multi-purpose dog.

Stabyhouns are obedient, gentle, and patient dogs who sincerely love their families and wish to please their owners despite their occasionally stubborn personalities.

It is an invaluable asset when hunting ducks and upland birds, both a soft-mouthed retriever and a pointer. It also excels at water work and is a good tracker and watchdog. It is quick on his feet, has a keen nose and natural talent, and gets the job done effectively and efficiently.

The Stabyhoun is a breed of dog sometimes referred to as an "all-around" dog because of its hunting, retrieving, and pointing skills. Because of their manageable size and kind disposition, they make excellent pets for families.

The Stabyhourns are intelligent and pretty independent.

Farmers sought out a dog that could hunt moles and rabbits without their guidance; thus, they developed the Stabyhoun to be self-reliant. We still find this trait in modern Stabys, so you shouldn't be surprised if your dog goes on an autonomous hunt for food by, say, digging in the garden.

With the proper training, a Staby can become a loving companion. They are naturally curious creatures who can get into a lot of trouble if you don't keep an eye on them.

Their ancestors, the Spaniels, are much older in dog years; hence these dogs are more subdued than the lively, bright, and alert dogs they descended from. The Stabyhoun's temperament can be similar to that of other pointing breeds like the German Shorthaired Pointer, the Vizsla, and so on.

This breed barks a lot.

Even though Stabys make a lot of noise when anything is wrong or to alarm their owner, they usually expect the owner to explore further before accepting that things are okay. Most Stabys won't be able to relax again until they've made sure there is nothing to be alarmed with.

This breed of dog was developed explicitly for the role of a guard dog. They do not guard in the traditional sense but consider it their responsibility to make their presence known. That's the bare minimum of what your Stabyhoun should be able to do.

This is not the breed for you if having a dog that likes to bark a lot is a problem in your household.

The Stabyhoun is a relatively healthy breed.

Despite having a very low population, the Stabyhoun breed is thankfully one that is generally in good health. The breeding stock of responsible breeders is screened for various health issues, including epilepsy, hip and elbow dysplasia, patent ductus arteriosus, and brain dysfunction, amongst others.

Epilepsy, radius curvus, and ductus botalli are a few other disorders that should be monitored. A few highly uncommon cases of a neurological illness that has not been identified have also been documented.

A Stabyhoun is pretty easy to groom and maintain.

The grooming requirements of a Stabyhoun are virtually nonexistent. You can perform any essential hair clipping on it if it has not been neutered. A neutered dog will have what is known as a castrated coat, in which the undercoat will be thick and may require somewhat more grooming than a dog that has not been neutered.

Aside from that, the Stabyhoun has a medium-length coat that is self-cleaning, which means that dirt will fall off on its own when the coat is dry. The dirt will be removed immediately by a single pass of the brush, and then it is cleaned again.

This also indicates that it does not need to be bathed very frequently. Even if it is covered in grime, a simple rinse or swimming in a clean pool should be enough to clean it up.

Shampooing is only necessary if it has been rolling in something smelly; in this case, you should use a neutral, specialized shampoo for dogs, so you do not peel away its natural oils.

Make it a habit to brush once a week to eliminate any stray fur. However, you should prepare for periods of increased shedding that generally occur twice a year, most frequently in the spring and fall, during which you will need to brush your pet more regularly.

At least once a week, examine its ears to see whether or not they require cleaning. Check around monthly to see if the nails need to be trimmed. And make sure you use canine toothpaste to wash your dog’s teeth at least once daily.

Stabyhoun needs daily exercise.

Your Staby must engage in daily exercise to maintain good mental and physical health. They can get along with just one hour of moderate to vigorous daily activity. The dog's boundless amount of energy can be burned off through activities such as brisk walks, jogs, treks, and even swimming.

Afterward, they are pleased to sleep and rest peacefully during the day. The fact that the Staby requires some kind of mental exercise is probably of much greater significance. Your Staby can benefit from and be stimulated by engaging in agility, hunting, scent training, and tracking activities.

A bored Stabyhoun can begin engaging in undesirable activities such as digging or gnawing in inappropriate places. Your dog's mood can be maintained throughout the day with the help of puzzle toys. Participating in dog sports with them is another fantastic approach to stimulate your dog's mind and body. Even though the Stabij is a lively and enthusiastic breed of dog, the amount of physical activity they require is not overly demanding.

Stabys are quick learners.

The Staby is eager to please and may learn quickly with positive reinforcement training. A quiet, pleasant, and diverse education for Staby requires his family to take a consistent approach to train him. The Staby can't be won over by force. It has decided to stop working altogether and will no longer freely carry out his responsibilities.

A Stabyhoun is sometimes mislabeled as stubborn, although a more fair description would be that it was raised to be independent and requires encouragement to do what its master asks.

It is crucial to provide continuous and well-structured training because they are a highly trainable breed that will work with you, not for you. Although they do not have the high-energy characteristics of many points, this should not be taken as a sign that they have less of a need for mental or physical stimulation through play or other activities.

The Stabyhoun should do well on high-quality dog food.

Your dog's age should be considered when choosing a diet. To prevent your dog from being overweight, it is vital to monitor their food intake. Giving treats while training might be helpful, but doing so excessively can lead to weight gain.

Determine which typical human meals can be fed to your dog and which should be avoided. If you are worried about your dog's food or weight, it is best to consult a veterinarian.

Maintain a constant supply of clean water for your dog. And give your dog a healthy, well-balanced diet, usually in the form of twice-daily servings. Consult your veterinarian when deciding what and how much to feed your pet.

Stabyhouns are friendly and loving with their family.

Stabyhouns tend to be warm and nurturing to people and their own families. Their high energy levels play a role in shaping their character, and they like to engage their brain and body in meaningful daily work.

This dog breed has a beautiful combination of loyalty, love, and intelligence. Besides being an excellent companion, it makes for a capable working dog.

The breed is not well-suited to long periods of isolation. That's why they require company. In fact, the word Stabyhourn means 'Stand By Me,' is. This breed is not recommended for those who plan to leave their puppy alone for more than 4 hours each day.

Stabyhoun needs to be trained and socialized early.

You should start training and socializing your dog as soon as possible after you bring it home as a puppy so that you may teach good manners and discourage bad ones from developing.

In most cases, Stabyhouns learn best when rewarded with tasty snacks and verbal praise throughout training. If you're too severe with them, you risk their shutting down and refusing to learn.

Furthermore, from a young age, you should work to socialize your Stabyhoun with various people, other dogs, and environments. Having a few good encounters first can boost confidence in new people.

Stabyhoun needs room to move around and play.

This breed is not suited to living in a small space like an apartment because of its high energy level and demand for regular exercise and playtime.

Its favorite activity, and one that it enjoys the most, is swimming. Unless properly enriched, it will grow destructive and dig pits in yards.

They are excellent with children.

The Staby has an excellent temperament towards kids. It is patient, playful, and incredibly patient. It is wary of strangers, even children, at first, which is typical of the breed.

However, your dog may nip, jump up, urinate on the floor, and behave in many other undesirable ways. So it is vital to supervise it when with children. Lastly, raising a fantastic Stabyhoun takes a great deal of time, patience, and consistency.

Overall, the Stabyhoun is a kind, gentle, and low-maintenance breed. This breed of dog can think and behave autonomously, so you can anticipate a dog that is a little bit harder to teach than other breeds. And don’t forget that they love to bark. A reflection of these canines' unwavering loyalty is reflected in its name, which means "stand by me" in their native language. They were bred to be hardworking farm dogs that are also good with kids and family pets. If you can match its energy, this dog could be an excellent companion for you and your family! Enjoy!