The Stabyhoun or Stabij is one of the top five rarest dog breeds in the world. It is from the Dutch province of Friesland and in particular from the Frisian forest area, a region in the southeast and east of Friesland. There are only a few thousand Stabyhouns in existence today worldwide. Today, the Stabyhoun remains a competent hunter, although British and German breeds are more popular. Renowned for its peaceful disposition, the Stabij is a soft-mouthed retriever, a fine pointer, excellent tracker, and a good watchdog. It has also been used by dairy farmers as a cart-dog. Historically, these dogs were nearly exclusively owned by farmers, whose limited financial means dictated the need for a single farm dog capable as an all-around working, hunting, guard and gentle house breed. After a swim the dog is usually clean and dry in a matter of hours.