Dog
Group:
Non-sporting 
Finnish Spitz Champions
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Breed Description:
The Finnish Spitz breed of dog is a handsome reddish gold, thick coated hunting dog. The national dog of his native Finland, he has distinctive erect ears and a lustrous bushy tail. He has a lively, intelligent expression, brisk movement, and bold carriage. All in all, he rather resembles a fox. His head, in particular, is clean cut and fox-like. Females have less coat or ruff than do males. The eyes of the Finnish Spitz breed of dog are almond-shaped with black rims, set moderately apart. They are dark in color with a keen, alert expression. When alert, his ears stand erect. They are sharply pointed and very mobile. His muzzle is narrow when seen from the front, with a black nose. His lips are likewise black. He has a scissors bite. His muscular neck is clean, with no excess skin below the muzzle. His topline is level and strong, while his body is muscular and square. The Finnish Spitz breed of dog has a deep chest, well sprung ribs and short loins. His beautiful bushy tail forms a single curl falling over the loin, with the tip pointing toward his thigh. When straightened, the tip of the tailbone would reach the hock joint. His legs are moderately spaced, parallel and straight with elbows close to the body. They are strongly boned, but not heavy. His thighs are muscular. Dewclaws may be removed in the front and are removed in the back. His feet are rounded and compact, with well-arched toes, tightly bunched or close-cupped. His two center toes are only slightly longer than those on the outside. The toe pads should be deeply cushioned and covered with thick skin. The coat of the Finnish Spitz breed of dog is an important hallmark of the breed. He has a double coat with a short, soft, dense undercoat and long, harsh straight guard hairs, about 1 to 2 inches long on the body. The hair on his head and legs is short and close; it is longest and densest on the plume of the tail and back of the thighs. The outer coat is stiffer and longer on the neck and back, and in males it is considerably more profuse at the shoulder, giving them a more ruffed appearance. The color of the Finnish Spitz breed of dog ranges from pale honey to deep auburn, with every shade of golden red in between allowed. As the undercoat is a paler color, the lustrous coat appears to glow. White markings on the tips of the toes and a quarter-sized spot or narrow white strip on the chest are permitted. Black hairs are allowed along the lipline, and sparse, separate black hairs on the tail and back are also permitted. Puppies may have a good many black hairs; these decrease with age. The Finnish Spitz breed of dog is light on his feet, trotting with brisk grace. He tends to single-track as his speed increases, and when hunting he moves at a gallop.
Temperament:
Once he gets comfortable, the Finnish Spitz is playful and sociable. He bonds to his family without reservation: loyalty and bravery are hallmarks of the breed. Socialization from puppyhood will ensure that he is not overly cautious or protective of his family around strangers. His independent mind can make training slow-going. A patient trainer with a sense of humor will fare best with him.
Height:
15 to 20 inches
Weight:
15 to 35 pounds
Health Problems:
The Finnish Spitz breed of dog is reportedly an unusually healthy one, and is associated with no specific health concerns.
Living Conditions:
Not for nothing is the Finnish Spitz breed of dog known as the "barking bird dog" in his native Finland. He likes to vocalize, so this characteristic should be taken into account when considering appropriate living arrangements for him. Another important factor to consider is that the Finnish Spitz is a northern breed, and he does not adapt well to the heat.
Exercise:
The Finnish Spitz breed of dog is moderately energetic and quite athletic. He requires daily outdoor play time and/or long walks with time to explore. In cooler climates, he makes a wonderful running and hiking companion, but he does not do well in hot weather.
Life Expectancy:
12 to 15 years
Grooming:
The Finnish Spitz breed of dog has a thick undercoat. He is a seasonally heavy shedder who must be brushed frequently during these periods. At other times of year, his grooming requirements are more moderate.
Origin:
The Finnish Spitz breed of dog originated in Finland, as a descendant of the ancient dogs that unting tribes brought with them when they migrated across the steppes of what is now Russia. He was originally used to track bear and elk, but now primarily hunts game birds. He has a keen nose, and -- once he locates his prey -- he "yodels" (or barks continuously), which apparently arouses the birds' curiosity and keeps them in the area until the hunter arrives. Comments
The standards for all the breeds accepted to the AKC are used here for breed information, and those not part of the AKC are resourced from FCI standard information, where it is written and coded into the club rules for those breeds.
