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Finnish Spitz is widely known for its famous fox-like appearance and if you haven’t seen one yet, you would definitely believe it to be a fox at first sight.
They are the most charming and adorable Spitz breed with a history that is older than 2000 years.
Finnish Spitz, also lovingly known as Finkie, was brought from the Volga River to Finland 2000 years ago. It was considered as the national dog of Finland.
They were first recognized by AKC in the year 1988. Primarily they were used to hunt smaller animals like birds but later grew famous as household dogs.
These dogs shot to fame in most of the Scandinavian countries but were less popular in the USA owing to their frequent barking tendency.
So if you are planning to get a Finkie in your apartment, then you may need to consider his affinity towards barking heritage.
Finnish Spitz Breed Characteristics Sheet
- Origin: Finland
- Size: Short to Medium
- Dog Breed Group: Non-Sporting dogs
- Purebred: Yes
- Lifespan: 13 -15 Years
- Height (at Shoulder): 1 foot to 8 inches
- Weight: 20 -35 pounds
- Coat Appearance: Double-layered soft (mostly) fur
- Coat Colors: Golden Red, Pale Honey, Deep Auburn
- Temperament: Intelligent, Loyal, Playful, Energetic
- Good With Children: Yes (better under elder’s observance)
- Intelligence Level: High
- Good With Pets: Moderate (Needs early socialization)
- Hypoallergenic: No
- Grooming: High
- Shedding: High (During Spring and Falls)
- Barking: High
- Suitable For Apartments: Moderate
- Need For Exercise: High
- Easy To Train: No (Need consistent training; can easily get bored so teaching them new tricks on a daily basis is advisable)
- Good For First Time Owners: Moderate (May need professional help to train)
- Health Issues: Hip Dysplasia, Patellar luxation, Epilepsy
- Litter Size: 3 – 6 Puppies
- Average Price: $500 – $700 USD
Finnish Spitz Size And Lifespan
Finnish Spitz Size
Size – They can be around 1foot 3 inches to 1 foot 8 inches tall at the shoulder.
Weight – A medium-sized Finnish Spitz would weigh between 20 to 35 pounds. This may vary based on gender and eating habits.
Finnish Spitz Lifespan
They usually have a life expectancy of 13 to 15 years but these numbers depend largely on the health of your pet.
Here’s where your perfect decisiveness comes into play; if you want to stay safe from unnecessary expense, time wastage and emotional trauma, ensure you choose the right breeder to buy your Finnish Spitz.
The early death of pets depends largely on the health of the parent breed as well.
Finnish Spitz Temperament
Finkie’s alert nature makes him the perfect surveillance dog; they are very active and inquisitive at the same time. Finnish Spitz tends to grow affectionate towards a particular member of the family and remain devoted no matter what.
They have problem handling separation anxiety so it is always better to train him while he is still young.
These dogs are very affectionate towards children, especially when they are allowed to mingle with your kids, right from the day you brought him home as a pup.
They are no different from other dog breeds when it comes to handling strangers; early socialization is important if you want him to learn how to differentiate between foes and friends.
Finnish Spitz Training
Finnish Spitz is a very lively and energetic dog looking forward to learning new tricks and commands. Otherwise, they may turn out to be bossy and dominant at the times. But, this behavior can be easily handled with early training.
This dog breed has high levels of energy and requires a lot of exercises to stay healthy and lively throughout. They love digging around for mice and smaller animals. So, when you are taking him around for a walk make sure you have a close eye on him. You don’t want your pet running around your neighbor’s cat.
They are great around other pets only if trained at a young age; early socialization is mandatory if you want your pet to stay away from trouble. Sometimes aggressiveness towards other larger pets can get him injured instead.
Finnish Spitz hates repetitive training sessions; they are very sharp and can easily get bored. Training them can be quite a challenge if you aren’t patient at all. Teach them one trick at a time but each day should bring with it a new trick.
If you are having a hard time training your Finnish Spitz, do not hesitate to hire a professional trainer.
Finnish Spitz Food
Keep your Finnish Spitz in good shape right from the beginning. They may need an adequate amount of food while they are still young because those are crucial years when the bones and muscles develop.
Once they are 6 to 8 months old, give them 1.75 to 2.5 cups of food divided into 2 meals a day.
Never let your Finnish Spitz grow obese; you can always test that yourself. Run your fingers across his ribs (don’t press it hard); you should be able to feel his ribs but not see it.
If you can only feel his flesh instead of ribs then it is mandatory that you cut down on the quantity of your pet’s food intake.
Finnish Spitz Shedding And Grooming
Finnish Spitz has thick twin coats; a short undercoat and 2-inch long upper coat that comes in shades of golden-red, pale honey and Auburn. They shed quite a lot but you can always keep them clean by brushing at least once weekly.
Bathe them twice a month or when it is totally necessary. Frequent trimming of hair is not at all needed except for the ones under the pads of the feet. Brush your Finkie’s teeth at least thrice a week and keep his nails short and clean to avoid unnecessary scratches.
Finnish Spitz Dog Names
Male | Female |
---|---|
Chinnu | Angelica |
Bolt | Lara |
Kuttush | Polly |
Nobi | Freda |
Jacky | Julia |
Pilu | Jess |
Scooby | Georgia |
Naughty | Emerald |
Taffy | Chelsea |
Snowy | Della |
Finnish Spitz Care
Here are a few important caring tips to consider while taking care of Finnish Spitz.
- Feed your dog the right food; choose the food brand not based on the price tag but based on its nutrients.
- Finnish Spitz is quite touching about their feet, so make sure you make it a habit to trim their nails right from the time they are brought in as pups.
- Medical tests are mandatory for your pet’s healthy life so make it a point to have your pet thoroughly checked at least once in 6 months.
- Dental hygiene and nail care hold equal importance so make sure to brush your dog’s teeth on a regular basis and your pet must get habituated to this practice right from a young age.
Interesting Facts
- Finnish Spitz is sometimes called as the Barking Bird Dog since they were used to notify their masters (with a bark) when they caught a bird or smaller animal.
- This breed had almost gone extinct by 1880, but 2 Finnish hunters took the responsibility of saving this breed.
- Taimyr Wolf is believed to be its ancestor.
- In Finland, they conduct barking competitions and Finnish Spitz have a record of barking 160 times per minute.
- The pups look dark colored when they are born, they get their paler shades as the years go by.
Finnish Spitz Health Problems
The health of the dog is important not just for its happy life but also for your peacefulness. Sudden health issues in the pet not just causes pain and unwanted suffering in the dog but also leads to a huge amount of stress to the owner’s mind.
To prevent yourself from these traumatizing situations, it is best to ensure that your pet is healthy beforehand. Here are a few common health issues found in Finnish Spitz dogs.
Canine Hip Dysplasia – This is mostly a genetic disorder where the thighbone of the dog doesn’t properly fit into its hip joint. This causes a great deal of discomfort and pain in the dog; in certain cases, the dog may even suffer from lameness.
This can only be stopped if breeders stop breeding dogs with this hereditary disease. Hence, ensure to check all the medical records of the pup before purchasing it.
Patellar luxation – Dislocation of the kneecap is referred to as Patellar luxation and this condition causes a great change in the lifestyle of the pet. Along with unbearable pain, the Finnish Spitz also suffers from lameness.
This can be cured only with immediate and proper surgical treatment.
Epilepsy – Epilepsy is sometimes a hereditary issue and the root cause sometimes remains unknown. Regular medication is the only way to keep this health issue under control.
Early diagnosis and immediate treatment can help your pet live a longer and healthier life.
Finnish Spitz Price And Breeders
Finnish Spitz Price
The average cost of a Finnish Spitz may range from $500 to $700.
A well-known vet or a local guide will be able to guide you while choosing a breeder. Never hesitate to spend an extra bug if that confirms your pet’s healthy upbringing.
Finnish Spitz Breeders
This first step to consider while selecting the right Finnish Spitz is to find a reliable breeder. The only good and trustworthy breeder would sell off a healthy pup to you.
- Enquire to see the pup’s medical test results.
Good breeders will always have medical tests of newborn pups taken to ensure the growth of healthy pups. Always take a look at the pup’s direct bloodline in order to stay assured that the pet is void of hereditary abnormalities.
- Try to create a personal bondage
There’s no doubt that when the Pet chooses you, he will adore you for the rest of its life. Personally visit the breeder’s place and let him know your desire to meet the pup before purchasing.
- Scrutinize the Environment.
The environment where the pups grow plays an important role in determining the behavior of the pup. A dull and gloomy environment will always instill a hostile feeling into the pup.
Ensure that the breeder you buy from has bred all the pups in a happy and comfortable environment.