Hound group · Finland
Finnish Spitz
Also called Finkie, Suomenpystykorva, Finnish Barking Bird Dog.
What makes them remarkable
This bird-hunting dog uses its voice as a tool, barking to draw a hunter’s attention to game.
- Lively
- Friendly
- Independent
- Alert
- Playful
- Size
- Medium
- Weight
- 9 to 15 kg20 to 33 lb
- Lives
- 13 to 15 years
- Energy
- High
- Trains
- Moderate
- Barks
- Very High
Training
Training a Finnish Spitz
Hound breeds. Recall is the whole game. Build it on a long line before you trust it, and never punish a slow return.
Accept the Barking
Start here
Bred to bark to locate game. Cannot train out instinct completely. Teach "quiet" for control.
Independent Nature
Not a people-pleaser. Training requires patience and creativity to maintain interest.
Sensitive to Harsh Handling
Sensitive to corrections. Harsh methods damage trust and motivation.
The app turns this into five to fifteen minutes a day.
Add your Finnish Spitz and it builds the plan around their age, where they came from and what they already know, one step at a time.
Free to start. iPhone. No card needed.
At home
Living with one
Bred to hunt by scent or sight, often far from the handler. Independent, with a nose or eyes that override you.
Gets on with
- ChildrenHigh
- Other dogsModerate
- StrangersModerate
- CatsLow
Breed averages. Early socialisation and the individual dog matter more.
- Exercise
- 1-2 hours daily. Active walks, hiking, and play. Enjoy outdoor activities.
- Grooming
- Moderate. Weekly brushing. Heavy shedding twice yearly.
- Drool
- Very Low
- Coat
- Double coat, Dense undercoat, Long outer coatGolden Red, Red, Gold
- In a flat
- Needs more space than a flat gives.
Health
Things to ask a breeder or vet about
Hip Dysplasia
Moderate
Joint malformation; less common than in larger breeds but still screened
Patellar Luxation
Mild
Kneecap displacement occasionally seen
Epilepsy
Moderate
Seizure disorder in some bloodlines; usually manageable
Where they come from
History
National dog of Finland. Ancient hunting breed used to locate game birds by barking rapidly (up to 160 barks per minute). Nearly extinct in the 1800s but saved by dedicated Finnish breeders.
- King of the Barkers · Annual bark-off competitions held in Finland crown the best barking dog each year
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