Is the Finnish Spitz Right for You?
- 1Finnish Spitz dogs are most known for their brave, alert, playful, and lively personality.
- 2They get along well with children and other pets but tend to be wary around strangers.
- 3Finnish Spitz dogs are most known for their brave, alert, playful, and lively personality.
HISTORY
First brought to Finland around 2,000 years ago from Russia, this breed was used to hunt small animals. Even though they are not originally from Finland, their role in Finnish history has been fairly important, since they are considered the national dog, along with having a number of key mentions in various Finnish works. Despite their long running tradition in Finland, they were not recognized by the AKC until 1987.
Quick Facts
Size
Medium
Lifespan
12 - 15 years
Hair Length
Medium
Male Height
15 - 20 inches (38 - 51 cm.)
Male Weight
31 - 35 pounds (14-16 kg.)
Female Height
15 - 20 inches (38 - 51 cm.)
Female Weight
31 - 35 pounds (14-16 kg.)
Litter Size
5 - 8 puppies with the average being 6 puppies
Personality
The Finnish Spitz is a playful, loyal, brave, strong-willed, friendly breed. They take a while (3 to 4 years) to fully mature, so you might be looking at rearing a full-grown puppy for a while. They are also exceptionally aware of their place on the totem-pole, and if the lines between alpha and omega become muddled, the Finnish Spitz might become overly protective and become domineering or aggressive. They are generally great with their family, but have tendencies to be standoffish with strangers. Lastly, as a hunting dog, they are bred to alert the hunter as to the location of game, making them a very vocal breed; a trait which is difficult to break..
Color
The Finnish Spitz can be seen in patterns of red and gold, solid red, solid gold, and some with white markings.
Health Concerns
The normal lifespan of the Finnish Spitz is about 1215 years. The breed is prone to health conditions like:
- progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
- diabetes mellitus
- luxating patellas
- hip dysplasia
Appearance
The Finnish Spitz looks strikingly like a fox, with their reddish-yellow fur, pointed ears, and bushy tail. Their muzzle tapers down to a point and their eyes are surrounded by black. They have a longer coat with two layers; the undercoat is made of soft fur, which is covered with a top coat of rougher fur.