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Finnish Spitz: the most honest dog breed review you'll ever find. Information about Finnish Spitz personality and behavior. main page breed review faq health training adopting/buying links My book, Your Purebred Puppy: A Buyer's Guide (published by Henry Holt & Co.), includes a full-page profile of the Finnish Spitz, including these excerpts: "The fox-like Finnish Spitz is lively and agile, quick and light on his feet. He plays hard and enjoys vigorous exercise, especially in the snow. Without enough activity (physical and mental), this creative thinker will become bored and perhaps destructive. He is very people-oriented and needs a great deal of companionship, especially from his favorite person. He doesn't like being left alone,and because of his extremely sensitive nature, he doesn't do well in an environment with frequent tension or loud voices. The Finnish Spitz is sharp-eyed and keen of hearing and will immediately alert when he sees or hears anything unusual. Conservative with strangers, he requires early and frequent socialization to ensure that his caution does not become suspicion or shyness. He also needs early physical handling as he often does not like being examined. Typically bold with other dogs, he can be jealous and scrappy with those of the same sex and predatory with rodents and birds. The Finnish Spitz learns quickly but is clever and independent. These vocal dogs will greet you with throaty sounds of crooning, purring, and yodeling. They love to bark, and their barking pattern is high-pitched, piercing, and rapid (more than 150 barks per minute). If left outside unattended, they can drive neighbors up the wall." History He is the national dog of Finland, his ancestors the hunting companions of the ancient Finns. He flushes grouse into a tree, flicks his curled tail repeatedly to occupy the bird's attention, and barks virtually nonstop to alert his owner. Size 15-20 inches and 20-33 lbs

Finnish Spitz What's good about 'em What's bad about 'em If you want a dog who... Is medium-sized and looks like a furry orange-red fox Is lively and agile, quick moving and light on his feet Enjoys vigorous exercise and athletic activities Makes a keen watchdog A Finnish Spitz may be right for you. If you don't want to deal with... High energy level requiring plenty of exercise "Separation anxiety" (destructiveness and barking) when left alone too much Suspiciousness or timidity toward strangers when not socialized enough Aggression toward other animals -- chasing instincts Stubbornness (mind of his own) Emotional sensitivity to stress and loud voices Heavy shedding Extreme vocalness, including barking and yodeling A Finnish Spitz may not be right for you. If I were considering a Finnish Spitz... My major concerns would be: Providing enough exercise and mental stimulation. Finnish Spitz MUST have regular opportunities to vent their energy and to use their busy minds to do interesting things. Otherwise they will become rambunctious and bored -- which they usually express by barking and destructive chewing. Bored Finnish Spitz can make a shambles of your home and yard. If you simply want a pet for your family, and don't have the time or inclination to take your dog outside a lot to run and play, or to get involved in agility (obstacle course), or advanced obedience, or a similar canine activity, I do not recommend this breed. Separation anxiety. More than most other breeds, Finnish Spitz need a great deal of companionship and do not like being left alone for more than a few hours. They tend to express their unhappiness through destructive chewing and barking. If you work all day, this is not the breed for you. Providing enough socialization. Standoffish by nature, Finnish Spitz need extensive exposure to people and to unusual sights and sounds. Otherwise their natural caution can become shyness or suspiciousness, which are difficult to live with. Animal aggression. Some Finnish Spitz are dominant or aggressive toward other dogs of the same sex. Many have strong instincts to chase and seize cats and other fleeing creatures. This can make for conflict if you own a cat. It may be much worse than that if you own a pet rabbit or hamster! Fence security. Some Finnish Spitz are clever escape artists who will go over or under fences in search of adventure. To keep your Finnish Spitz in, you may need higher fences than you might imagine for their small size. You may also need to sink wire into the ground along the fence line to thwart digging. Gates should have the highest quality locks. Finnish Spitz cannot be trusted off-leash. They will take off -- oblivious to your frantic shouts -- after anything that runs. Mind of his own. Finnish Spitz are not Golden Retrievers. They can be stubborn and manipulative. Many Finnish Spitz are willful, obstinate, and dominant (they want to be the boss) and will make you prove that you can make them do things. You must show them, through absolute consistency, that you mean what you say. To teach your Finnish Spitz to listen to you, "Respect Training" is mandatory. My Finnish Spitz Training Page discusses the program you need. Emotional sensitivity. Be honest...is there tension in your home? Are people loud or angry or emotional? Are there arguments or fights? Finnish Spitz are extremely sensitive to stress and can end up literally sick to their stomachs, with digestive upsets and neurotic behaviors, if the people in their home are having family problems. Finnish Spitz thrive only in a peaceful, harmonious home. Heavy shedding. Finnish Spitz shed a LOT. You'll find hair and fur all over your clothing, upholstery, carpeting, under your furniture, on your countertops -- even in your food. Frequent vacuuming will become a way of life. Make sure you are REALLY up for this. Barking. Finnish Spitz are extremely vocal dogs, quick to sound the alarm at every new sight and sound. You have to be equally quick to stop them. If you work all day and have close neighbors, Finnish Spitz are not a good choice for you. For the same reason, Finnish Spitz should NEVER be left outside in your yard, unsupervised. To make matters worse, many Finnish Spitz have intense, rapid, high-pitched barks that can set your teeth on edge. Not all Finnish Spitz are alike! There are energetic Finnish Spitz, and placid Finnish Spitz. Hard-headed Finnish Spitz, and sweet-natured Finnish Spitz. Serious Finnish Spitz, and good-natured goofballs. Introverted Finnish Spitz, and Finnish Spitz who love everyone. If you acquire a Finnish Spitz puppy, you can't know for sure what he or she will grow up to be like. Because a good number of purebred puppies do NOT grow up to conform to the "norm." If you're considering an adult Finnish Spitz... There are plenty of adult Finnish Spitz who have already proven themselves NOT to have negative characteristics. If you find such an adult, don't let "typical breed negatives" worry you. When you acquire a puppy, you're acquiring potential -- what he one day will be. So "typical breed characteristics" are very important. But when you acquire an adult, you're acquiring what he already IS. If you would like to link to this review, here is the HTML code: <a href="http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/reviews/finnishspitz.html">Finnish Spitz: What's Good About 'Em, What's Bad About 'Em</a> Copyright © 2000-2008 by Michele Welton. All rights reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced without the permission of the author.