Finnish Spitz

The Finnish spitz, known in Finland as Suomenpystykorva, is a red-gold hunting spitz developed to locate game birds and hold them by barking until the hunter arrives. It has a square, light-footed body, prick ears, a foxlike head, and a plume tail carried over the back. Finland recognizes it as a national dog, and its traditional work depends on keen hearing, quick movement in forest, and a controlled, rhythmic bark rather than retrieving like a gundog.

Life with a Finnish spitz is easiest when its voice and independence are understood from the start. These dogs need daily exercise, secure areas for off-leash running, and training that makes recall and quiet cues worth obeying. They are generally clean-coated, with a harsh outer coat and dense undercoat that sheds heavily at seasonal coat blowouts. Many remain strong hunters of birds and small game, so supervision around pets and wildlife matters. Breeders and buyers often discuss hunting aptitude, eye and patella testing, and temperament, because a sharp, noisy spitz can be difficult in crowded housing.

Colors: Apricot, Auburn, Bicolor, Black, Black and Tan, Black and White, Black Mask, Blue, Blue and Tan, Blue Merle, Blue Roan, Blue Tick, Brindle, Brown, Brown and Tan, Brown and White, Chocolate, Cream, Dapple, Domino, Fawn, Fawn and White, Gold, Golden Red, Gray, Harlequin, Irish Marked, Light Honey, Liver, Liver Mask, Mantle, Mask, Merle, Mottled, Parti-Color, Piebald, Red, Red and White, Red Gold, Red Merle, Red Roan, Red Tick, Reverse Brindle, Roan, Sable, Saddle, Silver, Speckled, Spotted, Tan, Ticked, Tricolor, Tuxedo, White, Yellow