The Nordic group of dog breeds refers to the group of dogs originating from the Nordic countries, a term used collectively for the five countries in Northern Europe, namely Scandinavia (Denmark, Norway, Sweden) with Finland and Iceland. In addition, the following autonomous territories are associated with the term Nordic countries: Åland (Finland), Faroe Islands (Denmark), Greenland (Denmark).
These dogs may or may not be of the Spitz type, the term "Nordic" referring to their country of origin, not to their type
There is some overlapping between the two groups, the Northern group being the larger one (including also breeds from other Northern countries and territories such as Alaska and Eurasia). Reversely, the Nordic group also includes dog breeds, which lay outside the Northern group or Spitz group, such as scenthounds, pointing dogs, and molossers.
Nordic spitz dogs, the true descendants of the Viking hunting and herding dogs, are generally divided into three categories; elkhounds (for hunting moose, reindeer, deer and bear), birdhounds and herding dogs. Most existing Scandinavian and baltic spitz dogs descend from the Lapphunds.
.
.
.
.
