Although her ears don’t fold in multiple ways to prevent the entry of direct and water, they are highly mobile, and that enables her to be an exceptional hunter using sound. Her shoulders are so flexible, that they can be extended sideways with close to a 180 degree spread, and reach up and backwards behind her head with her head held upright. This incredible flexibility makes running over rockfalls and rough ground easy, and maneuvering through heavy brush equally so. You may think we’ve just described the Norwegian Lundehund, also known for its elastic joints, but you would be wrong. You’ve just read a little bit about the Norrbottenspets, an ancient Swedish breed dating back to at least the 1600s.

Photo of Norrbottenspets found on Pinterest and happily credited upon receipt of information.