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Finnish Spitz dog breed
 | A Finnish Spitz is a breed of dog originating in
Finland. The breed is thought to be an old one, bred as a hunting dog. It is a
"bark pointer", indicating the position of game by barking to attract the
hunter's attention. It has been used mostly to bark at game that flees into
trees, such as squirrels, grouses, and capercaillies, but it serves well also
to hunt moose and elk. Some individuals have been known to go after even a
bear, despite the dog's small size. In its native country, the breed is still
mostly 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. |
Photo of
Finnish Spitz dog breed
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| Alternative names |
| Suomenpystykorva - Finsk Spets |
| Country of origin |
| Finland |
| Classification and breed standards |
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FCI: |
Group 5 Section 2 #49 |
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AKC: |
Non-sporting |
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ANKC: |
Group 4 (Hounds) |
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CKC: |
Group 2 - Hounds |
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KC (UK): |
Hound |
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NZKC: |
Hounds |
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UKC: |
Northern Breed |
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Information about
Finnish Spitz dog breed
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Appearance
General appearance
The Finnish Spitz has a square build, meaning that the length of the body is
approximately the same as the height of the withers. The thick coat may distort
the over-all appearance of the dog. He should have rounded, cat-like feet and
dew claws on all four feet, although the rear dew claws are always removed in
show specimens. The Finnish Spitz should have 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
The Finnish Spitz has a typical double coat, which consists of a soft, dense
undercoat and long, harsh guard hairs that can measure one to two inches long.
The coat should be stiffer, denser, and longer on the neck, back, back of
thighs, and plume of the tail, whilst shorter on the head and legs. Dogs should
sport a slightly longer and coarser coat than the bitches, who are slightly more
refined. In the show ring, the coat should be shown as completely 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. Silky, wavy,
long, or short coat is also greatly undesired.
Color
Puppies are often described as looking similar to a red fox cub. They are born
dark grey or fawn, with a vast amount of black. The colour of the adult dog
cannot really be assessed until about four months, but even then the colour may
change. 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 color 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 and weight
Height at withers
Males, 17½ to 20 inches (44-50 cm)
Females, 15½ to 18 inches (39-45 cm)
Weight
Males, 31-36 lb (11-13 kg)
Females, 23-29 lb (8-9 kg)
Temperament
Finnish Spitz are a lively, faithful, and intelligent breed of dog. They love
playing with children, and are excellent companion dogs, which makes them 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 his
barking is both unnecessary and unwanted, although the barking does come in
useful if you are looking for a watchdog, as the Finnish Spitz will very happily
locate anything that is out of the ordinary and alert their owners to it.
Because of his intelligence, he is an independent and strong-willed dog and is
best trained with a soft voice and touch. He 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. This trait, unfortunately, makes him
a poor choice for obedience training, which is a shame, as those who have
persevered in training this breed have gained an obedient dog who excels in
competitions.
Health
The Finnish Spitz is typically a very healthy breed, and health concerns are
rare. Here is a short list of what is known to occur:
Hip dysplasia
Patellar luxation
Elbow dysplasia
Epilepsy
Related breeds
Finnish Lapphund
Lapponian herder
~From
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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