A little look at life together.
Getting to know the Finnish Spitz
The Finnish Spitz is a lively hunting breed with a red coat, upright ears, and a working style associated with barking to indicate quarry. Consider neighborhood sound tolerance and active outings, together with routine double-coat care.
An everyday routine
Make space for substantial daily activity and short learning sessions. A busy weekend cannot replace a dependable weekday routine.
Coat care to plan for
Set aside time each week for coat care, checking through the hair rather than only brushing the surface. Shedding periods or longer furnishings may need extra attention.
Before deciding, meet the individual dog and ask about their history, handling preferences, and current routine. Breed tendencies are a starting point, not a promise about personality.
Finnish Spitz questions
Do Finnish Spitz bark a lot?
Yes, and it is by design. The breed sits at the very top of the barking scale, and a Finnish Spitz can reach 160 barks a minute, a skill hunters relied on to lead them to a bird the dog had found in a tree. This can cause trouble with close neighbors unless the dog is taught that barking for no reason is not acceptable.
How big does a full-grown Finnish Spitz get?
Males stand 17.5 to 20 inches tall and weigh 25 to 33 pounds, and females stand 15.5 to 18 inches and weigh 20 to 28 pounds. Males are usually the larger of the two and carry a fuller coat, especially around the neck and shoulders.
How long do Finnish Spitz live?
Life expectancy is 13 to 15 years, and that range is not unusual. That is a breed-wide figure, not a prediction for one dog.
Do Finnish Spitz shed?
Yes, at a moderate level. The breed has a double coat, with a short, soft, dense undercoat under longer, harsher guard hairs. There is a heavier shed twice a year, when daily brushing helps lift out the loose undercoat. The rest of the year, brushing every two to three days is enough.
Does a Finnish Spitz need haircuts?
No. The breed is often called a wash-and-wear dog, and the coat should not be trimmed anywhere except the feet. Care comes down to regular brushing, an occasional bath, and keeping nails, ears and teeth tidy.
Are Finnish Spitz good with children?
Often, yes. The breed is very good with young children, and will play for hours and simply walk away if the game gets too rough. This sensitive breed does not suit a tense or loud household. As with any dog, supervise time with small children.
Are Finnish Spitz easy to train?
They are bright but not pushovers. The breed is very intelligent and a challenge to train, so short, fun sessions with plenty of praise and food rewards work best. These are independent, strong-willed dogs that bore easily and answer better to praise than to correction, so patience matters.
What was the Finnish Spitz bred to do?
Hunting. For centuries these dogs worked in Finnish forests, following their nose to a bird in a tree and then holding it there with rapid barking and a slowly waving tail until the hunter arrived. That style earned the nickname Barking Bird Dog, and the Finnish Spitz is the national dog of Finland.
