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.

History

The Finnish Spitz originated in Finland about 2000 years ago and may be related to the Russian Laika. The breed was thought to have been brought to Finland by hunting tribes and has been used to hunt bear and elk. Today, the Finnish Spitz is the national dog of Finland and is used to hunt grouse and other birds. When not hunting, this dog is an excellent companion for active families. In 1991, the Finnish Spitz was recognized by the American Kennel Club as a member of the non-sporting group.

Appearance and Size

The Finnish Spitz looks a little like a fox with his pointed muzzle and erect ears. The eyes are oval and the feet are cat-like. The chest is deep and the plumed tail is curled over the back. The coat of the Finnish Spitz is straight, harsh, about 1 to 2 inches in length with a dense undercoat. The color of the coat is typically red-brown but can be a yellow-red. The adult Finnish Spitz stands around 15 to 20 inches at the shoulder and weighs about 31 to 35 pounds.

Personality

Finnish Spitz are considered to interact well with people, including children. In the home, the Finnish Spitz is a happy member, playing gently with children but may be rougher with other dogs. Some Finnish Spitz love other dogs while others are shy, passive or aggressive around other dogs. The Finnish Spitz are very loyal to their family, therefore they can be shy or moody around other dogs. Left alone the Finnish Spitz will figure out if another dog is acceptable. The breed is prone to barking at anything they perceive as being out of the ordinary. They can be trained to reduce the amount of barking, although the barking does make them good watchdogs.

Wikipedia and GNU

The content of this entry is from the Wikipedia article "Finnish Spitz" licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.