Finnish Spitzs: A guide to dogs and puppies of the Finnish Spitz breed

The Finnish Spitz!

The Finnish Spitz is a small dog that has fox-like features. It has dark, almond shaped eyes, forward pointed ears, black nose and lips and a pointed muzzle that encases teeth that form a scissor bite. Just like its Japanese counterpart, the Finnish Spitz has a tail that is curled across its back. It also has rounded, cat like feet that come with dew claws. However, these claws are removed from the rear legs of dogs that participate in shows.

Some Quick Facts:

Life Expectancy:
12-15 years

Energy Level:
Average.

Living Conditions:
Apartments are fine.

Barking:
Average

Exercise Needs:
Daily run or yard play.

Breed Group:
Non-Sporting

Size:
Medium-Small

Height:
15 to 20 inches

Weight:
31 to 35 pounds

Standard Hair Colors:
Reddish brown or yellowish red.

National breed club:
Finnish Spitz Club of America

Finnish Spitz Skills

Around 2000 years ago, the Finnish Spitz was brought into Finland by hunters from the Volga River Area of Central Russia. It became the national dog of Finland and has even been mentioned in a number of Finnish patriotic hymns. Aside from being an ideal companion dog, the Finnish Spitz is also a good hunting partner, signaling to the hunter the position of the birds, through its barking. The breed is also adept in tracking moose, elk and squirrels.

Finnish Spitz Personality

The Finnish Spitz is an active and lively dog, making it an ideal companion for children and adults alike. The breed commands and enjoys attention and can sometimes be quite aggressive, especially towards strangers. The Finnish Spitz is also known as a barking dog so it requires obedience training in order to make them realize when and when not to make noise. Take note, however, that this breed easily gets bored so training must be short and to the point.

Exercise Needs

While it is relatively inactive indoors, a Finnish Spitz needs daily exercise, being a generally active breed. This makes them good jogging and exercise companions.

Living Conditions

The Finnish Spitz can adapt to small living spaces, provided that it is located in areas that have cool climates and can receive an adequate amount of exercise, preferably in a small yard.

Grooming Requirements

As with other Arctic dogs, the Finnish Spitz has a self-cleaning coat that does not require constant bathing. However, regular brushing is advised to remove dead hair.

Health Issues

While the Finnish Spitz is a generally healthy breed, it can also become prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, patellar luxation and epilepsy.

If you liked this dog…

You may also enjoy having a Japanese Spitz around, which is not only of the same breed group but also as playful and intelligent as its Finnish counterpart.