FINNISH SPITZ
APPEARANCE
The Finnish Spitz has a compact, athletic body and strong, strait legs. They have a sharp muzzle, large triangular ears, and small circular eyes that give them a constant alert look. The Finnish Spitz is a double coated breed. The undercoat is soft and lighter in color than the red/gold outer coat. The weight of the Finnish Spitz is around 25-33 pounds for males, and around 20-25 pounds for females. The height of the Finnish Spitz is 17-20 inches for males, and 15-18 inches for females.
PERSONALITY
The Finnish Spitz is active, alert and intelligent, but it can also be rather stubborn and independent. These dogs love to play and stay active, and physical and mental stimulation is a must in order to avoid boredom and associated destructive behavior. The Finnish Spitz are very loyal to their family, therefore they can be shy or moody around other dogs.
TRAINING
Because of their intelligence, Finnish Spitz are independent and strong-willed dog and are best trained with a soft voice and touch. They will easily become bored with repetitive training. Finnish Spitz can be trained to be very obedient with a light touch and lots of positive reinforcement. Finnish Spitz can excel in obedience, agility and rally as a companion dog. The Finnish Spitz is also known as a barking dog so he requires obedience training. They were bred to bark constantly while on the hunt and modern day dogs remain highly vocal, making them excellent watchdogs.
EXERCISE
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. Playing with other dogs and catching balls are among its favorite activities.
SOCIALIZATION
Although the Finnish Spitz gets along with most pets, he can be aggressive towards same sex dogs, and may chase smaller creatures such as birds and rodents. The breed commands and enjoys attention and can sometimes be quite aggressive, especially towards strangers. He has a special love for children and will spend countless hours romping and playing. If the kids get too rough, he will simply walk away.
LIVING CONDITIONS
They will do well in an apartment because they don’t need the space of a household to live in and access to a backyard would be preferable but is not needed. They prefer areas that have cool climates.
GROOMING
Proper care of the coat is most important. The Finnish Spitz blows coat or loses its undercoat twice a year. It is imperative that owners brush out the old undercoat so the new coat can grow properly. Excessive undercoat can cause skin problems and although a dog may look fluffy and full, the undercoat may be causing serious skin problems. Nails should be kept trimmed, ears and teeth cleaned. The Finnish Spitz is not really suited to those with allergies.
HEALTH CONDITIONS
The Finnish Spitz is typically a very healthy breed, and health concerns are rare. The lifespan of the Finnish Spitz is around 13-15 years. This breed is prone to hip dysplasia, epilepsy, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, and luxating patella’s. They are considered one of the healthiest breeds and do not usually inherit these diseases
HISTORY
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. The Finnish Spitz was registered by the AKC in 1991.
