A Dorchester family have just welcomed a litter of extremely rare puppies; the first ever born in the UK and tripling the breed population in the country.

The litter of eight Wetterhoun puppies arrived on April 5.

Considered possibly the world’s rarest dog breed, the Wetterhoun has a population numbering just over 1,000 globally.

Until last week, there were just four Wetterhoun in the UK.

The owners, Nicky and Mike from Dorchester, have now begun the search for special homes for them.

The couple bought their first Wetterhoun, Aafke back in 2020. Last summer, Nicky began scouring the whole of Europe for a suitable male for the puppies she hoped would be born here in England.

She found the perfect match in six-year-old Wetterhoun Jappie, only he lived more than 450 miles away in Heteren, West Holland.
 

Dorset Echo:

“With such a rare breed, we have to take a conservationist approach to breeding, ensuring sound genetics of future puppies is absolutely vital,” says Hannah Woods, the Breeding Advisor for Wetterhoun and their cousins the Stabyhoun in the UK.

“Distance and logistics almost become a secondary consideration.”

The Wetterhoun was developed at least 400 years ago in the Dutch province of Friesland. The origins are assumed to be from Gypsy dogs, crossed with an indigenous Frisian dog, possibly the extinct Old Water Dog. Frisian Water Dogs were kept for the dangerous hunting of Fitch – a European polecat – and otter. The dogs were also used for retrieving waterfowl and as watch dogs.

Although they almost disappeared during the Second World War, fanciers were able to bring the breed back through careful breeding, and it is gaining in popularity thanks to its robust and entertaining nature. 

Before becoming proud owners of a Wetterhoun, Nicky and Mike already owned a breed cousin, a Stabyhoun.

They said: “We loved the Dutch dogs, but there seemed no possibility to find a Wetterhoun as they are so rare, despite the charm of the breed. We especially liked the beautiful curly coat that needs so little grooming and its characterful nature.

“When the UK was offered a female Wetterhoun by a Dutch breeder and we were able to welcome Aafke to our home, we just couldn’t believe it.”

Dorset Echo:

Although there is already a waiting list for these puppies, Nicky is looking for a very particular home for one of them.

She said: “Although first and foremost we are looking for loving family homes for these puppies, we are also interested in hearing from people who might be up for the challenge of having their own litter of Wetterhoun puppies one day so that we can continue to build a healthy population in this country.

“We are laying the foundations of a new breed in the UK; it is exciting, challenging and quite special.”

Anyone who might be interested in a Wetterhoun puppy should contact Jane Moss at the UK Stabyhoun Association on jane@stabyhounuk.com