Twist Issue 161 May 2024

Tw st
Nick and
Annie Hogan
with Hoover
The Stabyhoun - our perfect pet!
A campaign to find pet lovers willing to
raise some of the world’s rarest puppies
is being supported by a local owner
W
ITH fewer than 400 Stabyhoun in the UK, it is
considered one of the rarest dog breeds in the
country. In comparison, there are more than 44,000
labradors, 42,000 French Bulldogs and almost 30,000
Cocker Spaniels registered.
But now, efforts to enlist families who are interested in helping
to breed the next generation of dogs have begun.
Just like the more famous Friesian cows and horses, the
Stabyhoun originates in Friesland – a province in northern
Netherlands. They were originally bred as an
all-round farm dog with a gentle temperament
and a knack for catching moles.
The Stabyhoun is considered a Dutch
national treasure and has been growing in
popularity across the UK since first introduced
ten years ago.
The campaign has received the support of
Annie Hogan, who lives in Wingerworth with
her husband Nick and their two Stabyhouns: 11-
year-old Hoover and four-year-old Dieuwke.
Hoover was actually the fifth Stabyhoun in the
UK.
Annie explained: “When we lost our American
Cocker Spaniel, we started researching other
breeds and ended up with a short-list of six.
“Our favourite was a Small Munsterlander, but there were
almost none of those in the country and no breeders in the UK.
By chance, a lady we met at Crufts told us that we should
consider the Stabyhoun. She had heard that a project to
establish the breed in the UK was underway. So we researched it
and it was our perfect dog.
“We applied for a puppy and collected Hoover from the
Netherlands later that year. The UK Stabyhoun Association
helped us with the paperwork needed to bring a dog into the UK
14
Dieuwke and Hoover
which made it so much easier.
“It really has been an amazing journey, and today we can’t
imagine life without our two stand-by-me dogs.
“They are such clever dogs, and they truly want to be with you
all the time. I’ve never met a breed like them; affectionate, loyal,
and playful – I’m so grateful that we have played a role in
bringing them here.”
Hoover has sired two litters of puppies in the UK, and Dieuwke
has also had a litter of puppies.
Annie added: “I had never tried breeding dogs before, and first
and foremost we wanted our dogs to be our family pets. But we
also understand how rare the Stabyhoun is, and the importance
of preserving the breed for the future.
“Having a litter of puppies was such a fulfilling experience. So
much care and effort goes into every single
litter of puppies, and the UK Stabyhoun
Association plays a huge role in the planning
and homing process.”
The UK Stabyhoun Association has
established a breeding programme to ensure a
healthy and genetically versatile population of
dogs. Hannah Woods, head of the
association’s Breeding Advisory Committee is
spearheading efforts.
She said: “Although these dogs are sold
first and foremost as much-loved family pets,
we also have to take a conservationist
approach when it comes to ensuring the
breed’s future.
“That means that at least one male and one female from each
litter born should continue into the breeding programme. We are
therefore looking for families who think it would be fun to not
only own an amazing dog, but to also let them have a litter of
puppies.”
The UK Stabyhoun Association has mapped out the homes of
all the dogs whose owners have agreed to let people meet them:
stabyhounuk.com/stabyhouns-in-the-uk/
Anyone interested in a Stabyhoun puppy should contact the UK
Stabyhoun Association: mailto:jane@stabyhounuk.com