Finnish Spitz
Dogs
Finnish Spitz
| Finnish Spitz |
|
|
| Alternative names |
Suomenpystykorva
Finsk Spets |
| Country of origin |
|
Finland |
| Common nicknames |
| |
| Classification and breed standards |
|
FCI: |
Group 5 Section 2 #49 |
|
|
AKC: |
Non-sporting |
|
|
ANKC: |
Group 4 (Hounds) |
|
|
CKC: |
Group 2 - Hounds |
|
|
KC (UK): |
Hound |
|
|
NZKC: |
Hounds |
|
|
UKC: |
Northern Breeds |
|
| Not recognized by any major kennel club |
| This breed of dog is
extinct |
| Notes |
| |
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
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.
Appearance
General appearance
The Finnish Spitz has a square build, meaning that the length of the body is
approximately the same as the height of the
withers. The
thick coat may distort the over-all appearance of the dog. He should have
rounded, cat-like feet and
dew claws
on all four feet, although the rear dew claws are always removed in show
specimens. The Finnish Spitz should have a very chiseled and sharp appearance,
with a face and expression resembling that of a
fox and the typical
Spitz tail that
curls over the back.
Coat
The Finnish Spitz has a typical
double
coat, which consists of a soft, dense
undercoat
and long, harsh
guard
hairs that can measure one to two inches long. The coat should be stiffer,
denser, and longer on the neck, back, back of thighs, and plume of the tail,
whilst shorter on the head and legs. Dogs should sport a slightly longer and
coarser coat than the bitches, who are slightly more refined. In the
show ring, the coat should be shown as completely natural; a brush through
the coat is acceptable but no trimming is allowed, not even of whiskers. The one
exception is the hair under the pads of the feet. Silky, wavy, long, or short
coat is also greatly undesired.
Colour
Puppies are often described as looking similar to a
fox cub. They are born dark
grey or
fawn, with a vast amount of black. The colour of the adult dog cannot really
be assessed until about four months, but even then the colour may change. The
adult colour must be red. It can be of almost any shade, varying from pale honey
to dark
chestnut. There are no preferences over shades as long as the color is
bright and clear with no hints of dullness, which is of most importance. The
coat should never be of a solid colour. It should be shaded and without any
defined colour changes. The coat is usually at its darkest shade on the back of
the dog, gradually getting lighter around the chest and belly. The undercoat
must always be lighter in colour than the topcoat, but is never allowed to be
white. A small patch of white, no more than 1.5 centimetres wide, is allowable
on the chest, and white tips on the feet are acceptable, but not desired.
Pigmentation
The nose, lips, and rims of eyes should always be black.
Height and weight
- Dogs, 17˝ to 20 inches (43-50 cm)
- Bitches, 15˝ to 18 inches (39-45 cm)
- Dogs, 31-36 lbs
- Bitches, 23-29 lbs
Temperament
Finnish Spitz are a lively, faithful, and intelligent breed of dog. They love
playing with children, and are excellent
companion dogs, which makes them an ideal family pet. They rarely show
aggression unless needed (they are a breed who like to protect their family) but
they do love the sound of their own voices. Careful training will need to be
undertaken to teach him that his barking is both unnecessary and unwanted,
although the barking does come in useful if you are looking for a
watchdog,
as the Finnish Spitz will very happily locate anything that is out of the
ordinary and alert their owners to it.
Because of his intelligence, he is an independent and strong-willed dog and
is best trained with a soft voice and touch. He will easily become bored with
repetitive training and so sessions should be kept short and to the point,
making patience a must-have for any owner. This trait, unfortunately, makes him
a poor choice for
obedience training, which is a shame, as those who have persevered in
training this breed have gained an obedient dog who excels in competitions.
Health
The Finnish Spitz is typically a very healthy breed, and health concerns are
rare. Here is a short list of what is known to occur:
References
Home | Up | Field Spaniel | Fila Brasileiro | Finnish Lapphund | Finnish Spitz | Flat-Coated Retriever | Fox Terrier | Fox Terrier (Smooth) | Fox Terrier (Wire) | Foxhound | Francais Blanc et Noir | French Bulldog
Dogs, made by MultiMedia | Free content and software
This guide is licensed under the GNU
Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.
|
Dogs
Applications
News
Content
Info
Downloads & Links