theFinnish Spitz

Lively, Friendly, Good-natured
Non Sporting Group Non Sporting Group

meet theFinnish Spitz

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The Finnish Spitz is, not surprisingly, the national dog of Finland.

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at aGlance

Energy & Size

high ENERGY &
medium size

AKC Dog Ranking

174th
Most Popular Dog Breed

Personality

  • Check Friendly
  • Check Good-natured
  • Check Lively
Eager, courageous, friendly, and faithful.

theBreed Standard

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Finnish Spitz Breed Standard Illustration 01 02 03 04 05 06

  • General Appearance

    The Finnish Spitz presents a fox-like picture. The breed has long been used to hunt small game and birds. The pointed muzzle, erect ears, dense coat and curled tail denotes its northern heritage. The Finnish Spitzs whole being shows liveliness, which is especially evident in the eyes, ears and tail. Males are decidedly masculine without coarseness. Bitches are decidedly feminine without over-refinement.
    The Finnish Spitz's most important characteristics are its square, well-balanced body that is symmetrical with no exaggerated features, a glorious red-gold coat, his bold carriage and brisk movement.

  • Head

    Clean cut and fox-like. Longer from occiput to tip of nose than broad at widest part of skull in a ratio of 7:4. More refined with less coat or ruff in females than in males, but still in the same ratio. A muscular or coarse head, or a long or narrow head with snipy muzzle, is to be penalized. Expression - Fox-like and lively. Eyes - Almond-shaped with black rims. Obliquely set with moderate spacing between, neither too far apart nor too close. Outer corners tilted upward. Dark in color with a keen and alert expression. Any deviation, runny, weepy, round or light eyes should be faulted. Ears - Set on high. When alert, upward standing, open to the front with tips directly above the outer corner of the eyes. Small erect, sharply pointed and very mobile. 

  • Neck, Topline, Body

    Neck - Well set, muscular. Clean, with no excess skin below the muzzle. Appearing shorter in males due to their heavier ruff. Topline - level and strong from withers to croup. Body - Muscular, square. Chest - Deep; brisket reaches to the elbow. Ratio of chest depth to distance from withers to ground is 4:9. Ribs - Well sprung. Tuck-up - Slightly drawn up. Loin - Short. 

  • Forequarters

    Shoulders - The layback of the shoulders is thirty degrees to the vertical. Legs - Viewed from the front, moderately spaced, parallel and straight with elbows close to the body and turned neither out nor in. Bone strong without being heavy, always in proportion to the dog. Fine bone, which limits endurance, or heavy bone, which makes working movement cumbersome, is to be faulted.

  • Coat

    The coat is double with a short, soft, dense undercoat and long, harsh straight guard hairs measuring approximately one to two inches on the body. Hair on the head and legs is short and close; it is longest and most dense on plume of tail and back of thighs. The outer coat is stiffer and longer on the neck and back, and in males considerably more profuse at the shoulder, giving them a more ruffed appearance. Males carry more coat than females. 

  • Hindquarters

    Angulation in balance with the forequarters.  Thighs - Muscular.  Hocks - Moderately let down. Straight and parallel. Dewclaws - Removed. Feet - As in front.

A Finnish Spitz
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theFinnish Spitz of AKC

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