Pets

The Finnish Spitz originated in Finland where they were originally bred as a hunting dog. It is a 'bark pointer', indicating the position of game by barking to attract the hunter's attention. They have been used mostly to bark at game that flees into trees, such as squirrels, grouses, and capercaillies, but also to hunt moose and elk. Some specimins have been known to go after a bear, despite the dog's small size, thus they have a repuration for bravery.   In its native country, the breed is still used as a hunting dog, but as it is very friendly and loves children. In other countries it serves mainly as a house pet. The Finnish Spitz has been the national dog of Finland since 1979.

General appearance
The Finnish Spitz has a square build, with the length of the body is the same as the height. The thick coat may distort the over-all appearance of the dog. They have rounded, cat-like feet and dew claws on all four feet, the rear dew claws are always removed in show specimens. The Finnish Spitz has a very chiseled and sharp appearance, with a face and expression resembling that of a fox and the typical Spitz tail that curls over the back.

Coat(Show Standard)
The Finnish Spitz has a typical double coat, with a desnse soft undercoat and long, harsh guard hairs that can measure one or two inches long. The coat is stiffer, denser, and longer on the neck, back, back of thighs, and plume of the tail, but shorter on the head and legs. Dogs sport a slightly longer and coarser coat than the bitches, who are more refined. In the show ring, the coat is shown as natural; a brush through the coat is acceptable but no trimming is allowed, not even of whiskers. The one exception is the hair under the pads of the feet.

Colour(Show Standard)
Puppies look very foxlike. They are born dark grey or fawn, with a vast amount of black. The colour of the adult dog is not usually known till the puppy reaches 4 months, of even older. The adult colour must be red. It can be of almost any shade, varying from pale honey to dark chestnut. There are no preferences over shades as long as the colour is bright and clear with no hints of dullness, which is of most importance. The coat should never be of a solid colour. It should be shaded and without any defined colour changes. The coat is usually at its darkest shade on the back of the dog, gradually getting lighter around the chest and belly. The undercoat must always be lighter in colour than the topcoat, but is never allowed to be white. A small patch of white, no more than 1.5 centimetres wide, is allowable on the chest, and white tips on the feet are acceptable, but not desired.

Pigmentation
The nose, lips, and rims of eyes should always be black.

Height
Dogs, 17? to 20 inches (43-50 cm)
Bitches, 15? to 18 inches (39-45 cm)

Weight
Dogs, 31-36 lb
Bitches, 23-29 lb

Temperament
Finnish Spitz are a lively, faithful, and intelligent. They love children, and are wonderful companion dogs, and are an ideal family pet. They rarely show aggression unless needed (they are a breed who like to protect their family) but they do love the sound of their own voices. Careful training will need to be undertaken to teach him that barking is both unnecessary and unwanted unless there is real cause to bark, although the barking does come in useful if you are looking for a watchdog. Your Finnish Spitz will very happily locate anything that is out of the ordinary and alert you to it.

Because of their intelligence, they are independent and strong-willed dogs, best trained with a soft voice and touch. They will easily become bored with repetitive training and so sessions should be kept short and to the point, making patience a must-have for any owner.

Health
Predominantly a healthy breed but with some rare problems, ensure you buy from a reputable breeder and check the breed stock history.

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