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Long ago in the early 1800s, the people of the province of Friesland in the Netherlands used a versatile, intelligent sporting dog at home and in the field. The Stabyhoun, also called the Frisian Pointing Dog, is thought to have descended from local sporting dogs that were mixed with spaniels brought in by Spanish. A sharp-eyed, quick dog with excellent hunting instincts, the Stabyhoun used all types of terrain to hunt game, such as foxes and other predators. The Stabyhoun served as a hunter, watchdog, farm dog and draft dog. It particularly excelled at catching moles, whose burrowing was the bane of many a farmer – a job it performs to this day. A Stabyhoun could detect the mole digging underground. The dog would then stand over the tunnel, wait for its master to dig the mole out, and catch the mole as it bolted out. The Stabyhoun was officially approved as a breed in the Netherlands in 1942, and a Dutch breed club was formed in 1947. Nowadays, this devoted, gentle breed is a loyal and affectionate family member, but is still a bit reserved with strangers. It stands 19.5 to 21 inches tall at the withers, and weighs 33 to 34 pounds. The Stabyhoun has straight, long smooth hair that is slightly bushy on the backs of its forelegs, on its breeches and on its long tail. The hair on its head is short but its drop ears feature typical spaniel-like feathering. This brown-eyed hunter comes in black, brown or orange with white markings (sometimes ticked or roaned). The Stabyhoun is a kind and patient dog that is easy to train, but is still a hunter to the core that needs plenty of exercise and activities.

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