Finnish Spitz

The Finnish Spitz is a somewhat small dog that originated in Finland where it was developed to hunt such game as squirrels, grouse and capercallies. It is known by many different names including the Finnish Spitz, Finnish Spets, Finkie, Finnish Hunting Dog, Finsk Spets, Loulou Finois, Suomalainen Pystykorva and the Suomenpystykorva. The roots of the Finnish Spitz can be traced back several thousand years ago to Spitz-type dogs found in central Russia. These dogs were kept by the Finno-Ugrian people to help them hunt for food. Dogs of the Finnish Spitz type were often preferred over others due to their excellent hunting capabilities. Around 1880, true Finnish Spitz dogs nearly became extinct because of extensive out-crossing with other breeds. However, a man by the name of Hugo Roos took note of the many great virtues of the Finnish Spitz and began efforts to revive the breed. After about 30 years of selective breeding, he was able to accomplish his goal.

The Finnish Spitz has square proportions with a dense, furry coat and curled tail. It has small ears and was bred to hunt. It moves with great agility and speed. It has moderate grooming needs and needs to be brushed frequently. A fully grown Finnish Spitz can weigh anywhere between 15 and 35 pounds. This dog has medium-length hair that is longer on the tail and can come in such colors as honey-colored, orange, golden-red, dark chestnut and reddish brown. Many people say that the Finnish Spitz resembles a fox. It should have a wedge-shaped head with dark eyes, a black nose and triangular prick ears. The body is square-shaped and muscular; however, the legs are a bit long, and the paws are small. The tail is heavily coated with fur, is held high and forms a tight curl up and over the back.

Personality

The Finnish Spitz is curious and inquisitive. This dog breed can be stubborn and suspicious of strangers but it usually loyal and devoted to its family. It needs daily exercise in the form of a long walk. It barks often and loudly. It's good with children but can be aggressive towards strange dogs and reserved towards strangers. These are extremely active dogs that require plenty of play and exercise. As such, they are not recommended for people who live sedentary lifestyles. They are great with children making them excellent family pets. They also get along quite well with other dogs. However, due to their hunting background, they may not interact good with other types of household pets.

Breed Characteristics

Finnish Spitz Build Information

The Finnish Spitz has square proportions with a dense, furry coat and curled tail. It has small ears and was bred to hunt. It moves with great agility and speed. It has moderate grooming needs and needs to be brushed frequently. A fully grown Finnish Spitz can weigh anywhere between 15 and 35 pounds. This dog has medium-length hair that is longer on the tail and can come in such colors as honey-colored, orange, golden-red, dark chestnut and reddish brown. Many people say that the Finnish Spitz resembles a fox. It should have a wedge-shaped head with dark eyes, a black nose and triangular prick ears. The body is square-shaped and muscular; however, the legs are a bit long, and the paws are small. The tail is heavily coated with fur, is held high and forms a tight curl up and over the back.

Behaviour and Personality

The Finnish Spitz is curious and inquisitive. This dog breed can be stubborn and suspicious of strangers but it usually loyal and devoted to its family. It needs daily exercise in the form of a long walk. It barks often and loudly. It's good with children but can be aggressive towards strange dogs and reserved towards strangers. These are extremely active dogs that require plenty of play and exercise. As such, they are not recommended for people who live sedentary lifestyles. They are great with children making them excellent family pets. They also get along quite well with other dogs. However, due to their hunting background, they may not interact good with other types of household pets.

Appearance

The Finnish Spitz has a thick double-coat that you will need to brush two or three times a week and more often during shedding season. These are fairly clean dogs that only require bathing when absolutely necessary. However, you will need to clean its ears and trim its nails from time to time.

Finnish Spitz Common Health Conditions

The Finnish Spitz can live anywhere from 11 to 15 years when given the proper care and medical attention. For the most part, it suffers from little to no health problems. Nevertheless, there have been some isolated cases in which some of these dogs have developed one or more of the following conditions: Patellar Luxation, Hip and Elbow Dysplasia and Epilepsy. The Finnish Spitz is a delightful little dog that makes a terrific family pet. If you choose to bring one of these dogs into your home, you will want to make sure that you can provide it with plenty of exercise and play time. Additionally, you may want to reconsider this breed if you do not like dogs that bark a lot.

Finnish Spitz 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 Spitz enjoys barking. In fact, it can bark as much as 160 times per minute! For this reason, the breed is known as the "King of the Barkers" in Scandinavia. Finnish Spitz puppies are born black, dark gray, brown or tan; however, their color changes as they mature. While Finnish Spitz dogs were mainly used to hunt small game, many of them were also used to hunt such large game as bears, deer and elk.