Finnish Spitz - National dog of Finland

Finnish Spitz - a native Nordic hunting dog, known for its shiny red coat, intelligent temperament, independence, and ability to hunt with its bark.

Finnish Spitz - a native hunting dog breed typical of Northern Europe - Finland. Possessing a fiery red coat, a neat physique and a "loud" bark throughout Scandinavia, the Finnish Spitz is not only the "national dog of Finland" but also an intelligent, loyal and very individualistic hunting dog breed.

In the article below, let's explore in detail the origin, appearance, habits and interesting facts about the dog breed Finnish Spitz - Finnish hunting dog!

Origin of the Finnish Hound

Learn about the origins of the Finnish Hound.

The Finnish Spitz is known in English as the Finnish Spitz, and in Finnish as the Suomenpystykorva - Finnish erect-eared dog. This breed is believed to have appeared in Finland more than 2000 years ago, when the Finno-Ugric people migrated from the Urals (present-day Russia) and brought with them the compact Spitz breed.

Originally, this breed was used to hunt wild birds such as grouse or hares, squirrels and even small deer.

The development process of this breed is as follows:

• By the late 19th century, due to free mating with other breeds, the Finnish Spitz almost lost its original characteristics.
• In 1890, two Finnish breeders searched for and restored the purest specimens of Finnish Spitz.
• In 1979, the Finnish Spitz was recognized as the “National Dog of Finland.”
• The American Kennel Club recognized the Finnish Spitz in the Non-Sporting group in 1988.
• They are currently popularly raised in Northern Europe, Russia, and America, but are very rare in Asia and Vietnam.

Physical characteristics of the Finnish Hound

Appearance of a purebred Finnish Hound.

The Finnish Spitz has a neat, elegant appearance with many characteristics of the Northern Spitz group such as erect ears, curled tail and thick, shaggy fur. For more details about the appearance of this breed, please read below.

Size :

• Male: Height 43 - 50 cm, weight 12 - 13 kg
• Children: Height from 39 - 45 cm, weight from 7 - 10 kg
• Body: Balanced, straight back, slim belly, deep chest, strong and flexible - perfectly suited to hunting in the woods.

Head and face :

• Small, well-proportioned head, slightly round forehead
• The muzzle tapers towards the tip, not long but very strong.
• Eyes are almond shaped, medium sized, dark brown, with a lively, alert gaze.
• Ears are triangular, erect, small to medium in size.

Fur & color :

• Double-layered thick coat, the outer layer is moderately long, straight and stiff; the inner lining is soft, thick and has good insulation
• The fur on the head and legs is shorter, the fur on the neck, chest, tail and back of the thighs is usually longer.
• Typical coat color: Red-yellow, deep red with fire - looks very prominent in the jungle, easily recognizable from a distance, useful in hunting.

Legs & Tail :

• Legs are straight, well muscled, feet are round, compact, thick pads suitable for running in the woods or in the snow.
• The tail is of moderate length, curled over the back, covered with fur, often darker in color than the body, creating a special highlight.

Finnish Hound Temperament & Behavior

The Finnish Hound is an active, independent breed.

The Finnish Spitz is a classic hunting dog breed, so it has a strong hunting instinct, a distinctive bark, and a high level of independence. It is a perfect choice for those who want a loyal, active "four-legged friend". Let's learn more about the interesting habits and behaviors of the Finnish Spitz breed.

Hunting by barking

Finnish Spitz is a sight and hearing hunting dog, specialized in hunting wild birds, squirrels, rabbits,... using the following typical hunting techniques:

• When they detect prey, they will stop under the tree canopy and look up.
• Then bark continuously in rhythm, gradually faster and more evenly to attract attention and signal the hunter.

Smart, independent and a bit stubborn

Finnish Spitz is a dog breed with a fairly high intelligence index, it can make quick decisions during hunting. Because of this independence, sometimes this dog breed is a bit stubborn, if not trained properly, they will become "stubborn" and ignore your commands.

However, reward and patience training methods should be applied, not harsh and forceful training styles.

Loves to bark and is super "gossipy"

The Finnish Spitz is known as the “barking king” because they love to bark and are good at barking - especially when stimulated by sounds, animals or strangers. Because of this, this breed is not suitable for living in places that require quiet.

Kid friendly

Although they are hunting dogs by nature, Finnish Spitz are very affectionate and loyal to their family members, especially patient and easygoing with children. They are also quite attached to their owners but not to the point of being “clingy”, usually preferring to observe independently and keeping a close distance from the people they trust and are most familiar with.

Be wary of strangers

Although the Finnish Spitz has a loud bark and is generally wary of strangers, it is not suited to the role of guard or attack dog because of its gentle nature, never aggressive or combative, but mainly barks to alert.

Very active

The Finnish Hound is a high-energy dog that loves to run and go for long walks. If kept in a cage for too long, they can become bored, bark loudly or destroy things.

Why are Finnish Spitz dogs not popular in Vietnam?

As shared above, Finnish Spitz is not popular in Vietnam at present, so do you know why? Let's find out more details below.

• Finnish Spitz originates from cold temperate climates and has a thick double coat, so it is not suitable for living in Vietnam - a place with hot and humid climate and high temperatures all year round.
• Rare and difficult to import because of its high cost. Currently, in Europe and the US alone, the Finnish Spitz is a rare breed, so importing this breed costs a lot of money and requires complicated legal procedures.
• In Vietnam, there is no professional breeding farm that imports this breed of dog on a large scale, so it is difficult for Vietnamese people to access.
• Finnish Spitz is a bird hunting dog, not good at guarding the house so it is not suitable for Vietnamese people's trend of small, cute dogs or good guard dogs.
• Finnish Spitz is not yet widely introduced in Vietnam so it does not reach a large number of dog lovers.

Interesting facts about Finnish Hounds

Fun facts about Finnish Spitz.

Let's learn some interesting facts about Finnish Hounds to help you understand this breed from many different perspectives.

• As shared above, Finnish Spitz are very good at hunting by barking, and their barks have a steady rhythm, can be heard far away, and can even reach more than 160 times/minute when hunting in concentration.
• With its fiery red fur, erect ears, and curled tail, the Finnish Spitz has been mistaken for a fox by many - for this reason, they are also known as “Fox Dogs”.
• Although Finnish Spitz bark a lot, if you raise them for a long time, you can distinguish each type of bark for each situation such as notification, attention, interest,...
• The Finnish Spitz is one of the few hunting breeds that “doesn’t chase prey” but simply stands still and barks to keep birds in place – a unique hunting style.
• In 2001, a Finnish Spitz won Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, one of the most prestigious dog shows in the United States.

Beautiful Finnish Hound Pictures

Don't miss the collection of images shared below to enjoy admiring the beautiful Finnish Spitz with shiny red fur, neat body and characteristic erect ears. Guaranteed you will be fascinated at first sight!

Super cute looking Finnish Hound puppy.

Super beautiful image of a Finnish Hound standing in the middle of a snow-covered forest.

Image of a Finnish Spitz dog howling in the woods.

Finnish Hound mother and pups.

Image of a Finnish Spitz dog running in the snow.

Picture of a Finnish Spitz with a calm expression.

With its attractive appearance, impressive intelligence and unique hunting method by barking, the Finnish Spitz is always a perfect choice for those who are looking for a loyal, active and attached companion. Although they are not popular in Vietnam at present, this breed has been receiving the attention of dog lovers in Vietnam thanks to its attractive appearance and unique personality.

If you want to learn more about other beautiful and impressive dog breeds in the world, please read the next articles shared in the Blog section of dogbreed.wiki!