http://theforeigner.no/pages/news/norwegian-breeds-could-disappear/
This popped up yesterday - annoyingly, I can't find any other information.
Just wondered if anyone else has seen anything?

Well they haven't reached danger levels but the traditional dog breeds registrations are going down year by year compared to new/foreign breeds gaining popularity.  Part of the problem is that the breeds are often viewed as only hunting dogs or only farm dogs,a nd their breeders encourage that solely utilitarian view.

As we know society even in Scandinavia is becoming less rural based and traditional pastimes, decreasing compared to other interests.

If Farming I am sure there are huge economic pressures to compete, and breeds that fitted a niche re terrain and weather with free range livestock are no longer needed in more intensive contained rearing/production systems.

I found this last spring whilst researching statistics for my own breed, the Norwegian Elkhound (grey), which indicated that there had been a decline in Scandinavian registrations of NEG over the last few years, as is the case in the UK and elsewhere too.  The Norwegians have established a semen bank for the seven native breeds. Don't know if you know about this already, Anwen?
http://www.skogoglandskap.no/filearchive/native_dog_breeds_norway.pdf

Now I wish the kennel club would set this up for all breeds.  The problem with private storage options is they may be here today gone tommorrow.

Thanks Vanhalla - what a great idea, I wonder how many owners/breeders are aware of this outside Norway.
You live & learn - I'd never heard of the Hygen Hound before!