Stabyhoun
The Stabyhoun is one of the rarest dog breeds in the world — estimated at only 6,000–7,000 individuals globally, almost all in the Netherlands.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Origin
Netherlands
Lifespan
13–15 years
Weight
15–25 kg (33–55 lbs)
Height
48–53 cm (19–21 in)
Exercise
40 to 60 min/day
Diet
Omnivore — high-quality food appropriate for an active medium breed.
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Carnivora
Family
Canidae
Genus
Canis
The Story
The Stabyhoun is one of the rarest dog breeds in the world — estimated at only 6,000–7,000 individuals globally, almost all in the Netherlands. A multi-purpose Dutch gun dog from Friesland, the Stabyhoun was developed as a farm and hunting dog — pointing, flushing, retrieving, and even setting mole traps. Despite its rarity, the breed has one of the most appealing temperaments of any gun dog — patient, gentle, and excellent with children. An international preservation effort aims to expand the population carefully while maintaining genetic health.
Also Known As
Quick Facts
Discover which pets match your lifestyle
Physical Profile
Source: wikimedia
A medium-sized, slightly elongated dog with a moderately long, sleek coat. Colours are always bicolour — black, brown, or orange on white — with spots or roan. Long pendant ears with feathering. A gentle, slightly domed head with a calm expression.
Grooming
Moderate
Shedding
Moderate
Brushing
2-3x-Weekly
Bathing
Every-4-6-Weeks
Coat Colors
Recognized By
Source: wikimedia
Temperament & Personality
Patient, gentle, and intelligent — the Stabyhoun is naturally calm and excellent with children. Easy to train. Not highly driven or intense for a gun dog. Makes an excellent family companion with sufficient exercise.
Personality Scores
Adaptability
4/5Attention Need
3/5Friendliness
5/5Playfulness
4/5Protectiveness
2/5Living Profile
Ideal Space
House-Small-Garden
Daily Exercise
40 to 60 min/day
Ideal Weather
-5°C to 25°C
Cognitive Benchmarks
Adaptability
40%
Attention
30%
Playfulness
40%
Communication Style
Stress Signals
barking, clinginess, stubbornness, pacing
Care & Wellness
Professional Care Protocol
- •1–1.5 hours exercise daily. Brushing 2–3 times weekly. Ear cleaning weekly. The breed is managed by a strict breeding registry to maintain genetic health — puppies can be difficult to obtain outside the Netherlands.
Nutrition Notes
Generally healthy breed. Few dietary restrictions. Cerebral dysfunction in some lines. Joint supplements for field-working dogs.
Vaccination Schedule
Vaccination Schedule
Senior Care
Cerebral dysfunction (epilepsy-like). Hip dysplasia. Elbow dysplasia. Von Willebrand's type I. One of the rarest breeds globally (<7,000 worldwide). Frisian all-purpose farm dog. Multi-talented: pointing, retrieving, mole catching, watchdog, draft. 13-14 years.
Wellbeing Activities
Nutrition & Sustenance
Daily Calories (Adult)
1000 kcal
Daily Calories (Young)
700 kcal
Recommended Foods
Foods to Avoid
Health Overview
Epilepsy is elevated in the breed. Hip dysplasia. Patent ductus arteriosus (congenital heart defect) — DNA test available for the PDA gene in Stabyhouns. Generally healthy for the population size.
Common Conditions
Price Estimates
Pricing Guide
Average estimates as of 2025
Fewer than 7,000 worldwide. Dutch Frisian treasure. India: unavailable.
Purchase Price
$1,500 to $3,500
Adoption Fee
$100 to $500
Data from 2025
Fun Facts
The Stabyhoun is one of the five rarest dog breeds in the world — with only 6,000–7,000 individuals, it is rarer than many endangered wild species.
The Stabyhoun breeding registry is unusually strict — all breeding pairs must be health-tested and the registry actively manages the breeding population to maintain genetic diversity, a rare level of oversight for a dog breed.
