Eardske fan Mid Fryslan, courtesy of Peter & Judith van Esch


F.A.Q.
  1. Can Stabys be left at home alone? The first months of life with a puppy is the ideal time to get them used to short periods of being home alone. A puppy should never be left for more than three hours without an opportunity to relieve themselves. These pups will often need more exercise and attention when you are home.

  2. Do Stabys require a lot of exercise? The Stabyhoun has a considerable amount of energy. The dog needs to have a daily walk of about an hour in order to feel fulfilled. If well educated in obedience, they can play and run unleashed or with other dogs, when in a protected or fenced in environment.

  3. Do Stabys need to be kept on leash at all times? Stabyhoun may run free, provided they are well trained to come when called. Through these lessons, they learn to be reliable dogs and to obey when off leash or when playing with other dogs. They have a strong hunting sense though, and may take off after prey, so it is generally safer to keep them close and on leash until you are certain of their recall ability.

  4. Are Stabys prone to be nervous or anxious? Stabyhouns are naturally cautious and watchful for sure. The Staby has an affectionate nature, but the dog is very alert and reacts to every strange situation or noise. Socialization and training are very important to making sure that your dog will be well-adjusted and more relaxed in new and different situations.

  5. Are Stabyhouns recognized by the AKC and CKC? No, because of the rarity of the breed, the Stabyhoun is not officially recognized as a breed by either club.
    6. The Stabyhoun is listed as Foundation Stock by the AKC and may participate in Obedience and Field events.
  6. Are there any inherited conditions or diseases that I should be aware of? Yes, although through careful breeding practices and approvals for all pairings by the Breeders Advisory Committee of the ASA, there are some genetic diseases that occur in some Stabys. The most common conditions that we track are epilepsy, hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, radius curvus, and ductus botalli. We are fortunate that the rate of incidence for any of these is still below 2% of the population.

  7. What is the process for being approved for a puppy? Because we work from a central waiting list, there is no need to contact each breeder separately. Our puppy mediator will review your completed questionnaire and contact you if further information is necessary for being placed on our “waitlist” for a puppy or adult adoption. Due to the rarity of the breed and the infrequency of our litters, it may take up to one year to obtain a pup. We do our very best to fill requests in a fair and equitable manner.

  8. There are so many collars, what would be the best type to use on my Stabyhoun? We recommend a flat buckle or quick-release collar, but some people find a gentle walker harness to be useful in preventing pulling.

  9. Is grooming a Stabyhoun time consuming? What grooming tools will I need? A Staby requires virtually no grooming! They have little or no odor and the dirt just seems to fall right off their soft coats. A weekly brushing of their feathers and breeches and tail areas are generally all that is needed to keep them looking their best.

  10. How often do you have to bathe a Stabyhoun? As long as they do not roll in something unsavory, they almost never need bathing.

  11. Will the puppy be registered and microchipped when coming from the breeder? Yes, our pups are pedigreed though the FCI and will have a microchip in their neck.

  12. How much will the puppy cost? What is included in the price? The current price for a pup in North America is $1500.00 which includes a complimentary three-year membership in the Ameri-Can Stabyhoun Association. The pup will have received the first puppy vaccines, but will need two more in the series and the rabies vaccine. Any additional costs of travel to the breeder are not included in that price. Final registration of your pup with the FCI will be an additional charge of $25.

  13. What is the process used to transport the puppy? Most breeders will require the new owners to personally pick up their new pup.

  14. If I need to travel from the U.S. to Canada, or vice versa, to get my puppy, are there any cross border or international taxes, fees or related costs to bring my puppy back into my own country? No, there would not be any additional expenses for this, aside from your own travel costs.

  15. How are puppies matched to their perspective people? How involved is the matching process? Because of the distances involved in most adoptions, the breeder will interview each candidate to assist them in choosing the right puppy personality for each owner. Lots of time goes into evaluating every litter and choosing the right match.

  16. How much notice will I have to prepare for my puppy? We try to give everyone as close to 6 weeks notice as possible. Most of our pups do not leave the mother until after 8 weeks of age. If the timing is not right for you, we will continue to keep you on the list until the timing becomes suitable for your family.

  17. Will there be a down payment required? If so, when will that be needed? Yes, most breeders will require up to 50% down at the time you receive the breeders final approval for getting a puppy. A contract will be drawn up for you to know what the mutual requirements will be for ownership.

  18. What if I have questions or concerns once I get home with my new puppy? One of the benefits to being a member of the ASA is the ongoing support that we offer.

  19. I want to adopt a Stabyhoun but I'm afraid I'll be turned down. How do you determine if a person is a suitable puppy person? Is money a factor? Would I be turned down if I live in the city? The ASA does some prescreening for the breeders because with our long waiting period, it would be unfair to have someone wait a year to then be denied a pup. The breeder does the final interview process since they are responsible for the litter. We try to keep our prices reasonable so that money is not a factor in finding the best possible homes. Although the Staby is a rare breed, the Club does not price the pups based on that factor. A small apartment or a busy working family situation may be factors in placing the pups, but living in a city would not disqualify anyone as long as they can properly exercise their adult dog.

  20. What are the procedures for importing a puppy? The procedures for obtaining a pup from a Holland breeder, for example, are not difficult for either the breeder or the new owners. We have prepared a simple document which explains the current procedures. Please feel free to download this short article by clicking here.