Hunting has always been an important part of the history of Nordic culture, and it remains so today. For most hunters, a hunting dog is essential, so it’s no surprise that 19 out of the 29 Nordic dog breeds are hunting breeds.

In Sweden, for example, the hunting dog has a strong connection to the Swedish hunting system and to the Swedish hunter. There are over 200,000 dogs kept in Sweden primarily for hunting, and the number of hunted game is larger in Sweden today than ever before in modern times. Finland also has a strong hunting culture with over 300,000 hunters. In fact, it has one of the highest percentages per capita in Europe (according to Ilja Koivisto, head of public relations and communications at the Hunting Museum of Finland). A hunting party typically consists of a sole hunter and his dog who work seamlessly together in the forest and have a clear division of tasks, as well as a close relationship.

Most of these Nordic breeds are recognized by the FCI, but the Nordic Kennel Union recognizes all of them, and each Nordic country recognizes the native breeds of the other countries. As an aside, in 1969, the responsibility for the breed standard of the Samoyed was entrusted to the Nordic Kennel Union. Today the Nordic countries share responsibility for the breed which originated in Siberia, northern Russia.

Denmark

Broholmer
Danish-Swedish Farmdog
Dansk Spids
Greenland Dog
Old Danish Pointing Dog

Finland

Finnish Hound
Finnish Lapponian Dog
Finnish Spitz
Karelian Bear Dog
Lapponian Herder