Finnish Spitz

In my own words

 

WHO is that at the door? Sorry, sorry, I know, I make a lot of noise as I am a superb watchdog and am proud to protect you and the family. It was only the postman anyway, panic over, I’ll get him next time... Shall we play a game? I like to be kept busy with varied activities to burn my energy. Oh, we’re going out? Even better. I enjoy being in the outdoors as I am an Arctic dog and my coat is designed for any kind of weather. I actually prefer the cold, strange right? I recognise here, it’s the park. You can let me off the lead, I will go and explore for a bit while you relax on the bench. There are a group of children playing over there, I might go and say hi. I’m very good with children and absolutely love their company.

That was great! The children taught me to chase a stick; I picked up the game very quickly due to my intelligent knack for learning. How was your rest? Not long enough? It never is... I might go and explore some more if that’s OK; I’m naturally curious and quite independent so you don’t necessarily need to join me. I’d love it if you do though. Oh, you’re coming? Fantastic. Is that a bird?! My breed is known for our excellent bird hunting skills, we are experienced and diligent hunters when needed. Shall I get the bird? No? Okay, I’m also well behaved as you have trained me from an early age. Let’s have a run? I’m an excellent jogging partner and can keep you motivated on our runs as I love exercise. We can keep in shape together! I can’t keep you away from the biscuit tin though!

Information essential about the Finnish Spitz

 

Kennel Club Group:  Non- Sporting/ Hound

Size: Medium

Weight Male 27 – 33 lb. (13 –15 kg) Female 20 – 27 lb. (10 – 15 kg)

Height Male 16 – 19” (40 – 48 cm) Female 14.5–17” (36 –43 cm)

Popularity:

The Finnish Spitz popularity has extended beyond its native Finland where it has remained the countries national dog since 1979. As of 2011, the Finnish Spitz ranked 167 on the American Kennel Club’s registration

Breed History:

 

Although Spitz-type dogs have been present in Europe for over 6,000 years, the type that we know and love today were developed in the late 1880s by a gentleman named Hugo Roos who, amongst rife cross-breeding at the time, selected untainted examples of the original Finnish Spitz and bred them in order to revive the breed.

Although recognised as a Hound by the British Kennel Club, the Finnish Spitz was originally used to help huntsman obtain food, and are known still used for their valuable hunting skills in their native Finland, these qualities could potentially cross them over into the Gundog category.

 

The Finnish Spitz goes by several nicknames including his original native name Suomenpystrykorva(the Finnish Cock-eared dog) alongside Finsk Spets and the Finnish Barking Birddog. The latter comes from the breeds’ tendency to bark when finding their prey, a distinctive yodel type bark accompanied with pointing their head in the direction of the animal. This even led to participating in barking contests where the dogs were known to bark over 150 times in one minute! Alongside being an excellent bird hunter, Finnish Spitz has also been known to tackle bears and elk!

 

As Finlands’ national dog, the Finnish Spitz’ popularity remains stable there are and in Scandinavian countries.  In the USA the breed is not as popular, and was first recognized by the AKC in 1987.

Character:

 

Headstrong, intelligent and gorgeous (much like yourself), your Finnish Spitz makes an excellent watch dog using his distinctive bark and fantastic hearing. That said, he is rather tame and doesn’t often find himself in aggressive or violent situations. He is a fantastic family dog and excellent with children, keeping them occupied for hours on end. He rarely bites and will distance himself from rough play. Although he loves company, unlike some other breeds he doesn’t necessarily need it. He is intelligent and inquisitive and can make decisions on his own merit. Despite this, he will be at his happiest during family time and loves being included.

Temperament:

 

The phrase ‘his bark is worse than his bite’ is literal for your Finnish Spitz. In the past these dogs were ‘bred to bark’ and it is imperative that owners quell this at a young age through loving and gentle training. His intelligence can sometimes go to his head and it is very important that he is introduced into the household knowing that his place is below the humans. Once his place in the family is established, your Finnish Spitz will settle in nicely and become a valuable friend and protector to everyone especially children and older adults. They do not fully mature until the age of 3 or 4 and it is recommended that during this time they are socialised as much as possible with both humans and other pets. Once socialised correctly, he will thrive in the company of people to the point of intense and infectious excitement! Your Finnish Spitz has tons of energy, and requires a consistent and varied routine in order to not become bored. Owning a Finnish Spitz can require a great deal of patience and hard work, but those who have raised these beautiful creatures can testify that it all pays off in the end.

 

Conformation:

 

Absolutely gorgeous, the Finnish Spitz resembles a red fox. He has a muscular and square body with straight legs and small, round cat-like feet. He has a flat head, with a narrow muzzle which is wider at the base where it attaches to the skull. His ears are high and open towards the front of the dog. He has dark, almond eyes with black rims and his nose and lips are black. His tail is plumed and curls up over the back and down the side with an abundance of hair. He has a double coat with a short, soft, dense undercoat covered by long straight harshly textured hairs. The coat is denser at the legs, tail, neck and back. Male dogs sport a longer and more coarse coat than females whose coat is more polished. Overall the Finnish Spitz has a striking and distinct look.

Colour:

 

The Finnish Spitz comes in autumn-y colours of brown, honey and auburn. Puppies are born dark and lighten to a reddish colour as they grow. They sometimes have white markings.

Training:

 

The oh-so-intelligent disposition of your Finnish Spitz means that he is incredibly strong willed. He does not respond to harsh training or bullying and loves praise. Training your Finnish Spitz will take patience as he is fairly independent, but, he likes to test you also and often tends to surprise you by learning quickly and suddenly just as you thought he wasn’t listening!  Your Finnish Spitz can do very well in obedience classes and this will also help him to socialise.

Exercise:

The Finnish Spitz needs regular exercise in order to not become bored and also to remain healthy. They are not recommended for those who live in apartments unless you are committed to a frequent exercise routine. It is in your best interests to take him for a long walk/jog or run in order to preserve his life, make him happy and also rest better at night times. He also loves games such as chasing a ball and frolicking with other dogs.

Care:

 

As an Arctic Dog, the Finnish Spitz has a self-cleaning coat. This coat will heavily shed and needs to be groomed with a brush and comb in order to prevent matting. They are very proud and impeccably clean, they sometimes groom themselves and each other. Although brushing is vital every week, they do not need regular baths and should only be bathed if absolutely necessary.

They also require minimal trimming unless it is under the pads of the feet and nails, ears and teeth should be cleaned.

Health:

 

With the correct care and love, your Finnish Spitz can live for up to 15 years. They have fairly few health complaints but can put on weight easily so your willpower will come into play when handing out treats!  As a breed, the Finnish Spitz have few health complaints but some are possible such as patellar luxation (when the knee cap moves), hip dysplasia (when the hip bones become irregular) and epilepsy.

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