The Finnish hound can trace its origins to 19th century Finland. It was at that time that Tammelin, a blacksmith, began to cross various breeds of dog. He eventually crossed German Swiss, English, and Scandinavian hounds, resulting in what is now known as the Finnish hound. The breed has been historically used for tracking, scenting, hunting, and retrieving game. It is able to perform in harsh terrain and provide companionship to its humans. The breed remains relatively rare outside of its Finland.
The Finnish hound is a medium-to-large breed of dog. The tallest of the breed averages 30 inches at the withers. The heaviest acceptable weight is 70 pounds. The acceptable coat color of the Finnish hound is tricolor. This breed of dog is a sturdy, well-muscled one. The legs of the hound are long and sturdy, the back is straight, and the head is squared with a long muzzle. Finnish hounds have pendulous ears and long, thick tails.
Personality
Finnish hounds are known for their friendly, outgoing nature. The breed is generally happy, exhibiting a positive outlook on life. These dogs develop deep relationships with their humans, looking to their owners for leadership and guidance. Finnish hounds are easy to train and possess high intelligence. They are a loyal, obedient, affectionate, and loving breed of dog. Because this hound enjoys being outdoors as much as possible, they are not ideally suited for apartment life. Finnish hounds thrive in the company of active humans. Considered to be sensitive, Finnish hounds learn best in situations where positive reinforcement is used. They learn quickly with reward-based training methods. Unlike some other breeds of hound, the Finnish is easy to train and readily accepts obedience lessons.
Breed Characteristics
| Life Span: | 10 – 12 years |
| Nicknames: | The Finnish Hound, The Suomenajokoira, The Finnish Bracke |
Finnish Hound Build Information
The Finnish hound is a medium-to-large breed of dog. The tallest of the breed averages 30 inches at the withers. The heaviest acceptable weight is 70 pounds. The acceptable coat color of the Finnish hound is tricolor. This breed of dog is a sturdy, well-muscled one. The legs of the hound are long and sturdy, the back is straight, and the head is squared with a long muzzle. Finnish hounds have pendulous ears and long, thick tails.
| Size: | Medium – Large |
Behaviour and Personality
Finnish hounds are known for their friendly, outgoing nature. The breed is generally happy, exhibiting a positive outlook on life. These dogs develop deep relationships with their humans, looking to their owners for leadership and guidance. Finnish hounds are easy to train and possess high intelligence. They are a loyal, obedient, affectionate, and loving breed of dog. Because this hound enjoys being outdoors as much as possible, they are not ideally suited for apartment life. Finnish hounds thrive in the company of active humans. Considered to be sensitive, Finnish hounds learn best in situations where positive reinforcement is used. They learn quickly with reward-based training methods. Unlike some other breeds of hound, the Finnish is easy to train and readily accepts obedience lessons.
| Activity Level: | Moderately active |
| Affection Level: | Affectionate |
| Kid Friendliness: | Kid friendly |
Appearance
Because the breed has a short, smooth coat, it does not require extensive grooming. Daily brushing with a firm-bristled brush or curry comb keeps the dog’s coat free of dirt and debris. Bathing is necessary only when the dog’s coat has become dirty.
| Shedding: | Moderate |
| Grooming: | Low Maintenance |
Finnish Hound Common Health Conditions
There is one inherited disease common among Finnish hounds. Cerebellar ataxia is caused by a mutation to the SEL1L gene. The symptoms of the disease include an inability to coordinate gait, balance, eye and extremity movements. Deficits of movement are seen on the same side of the body as the lesion’s location on the cerebellum. Because this disease can have a severe impact on the quality of life of the animal, many puppies with the inherited disease are typically euthanized.
Finnish Hound Pet Insurance
When adding a dog or cat to your family you want to make sure your pet is happy, healthy and protected. During its lifetime your pet is exposed to many illnesses and diseases and some breeds are affected by a congenital disease which is a condition existing at birth. At these moments when your pet is ill or maybe needs surgery, you want to be protected for the unexpected and high veterinarian costs.
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Breed Talents and Facts
The Finnish hound is calm, friendly and rarely aggressive. The dog has incredible energy and stamina, making it necessary to exercise the animal on a daily basis. Socialization should begin at birth for this breed. The average lifespan of the Finnish hound is 12 years.
| Training: | Easy to train |
