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Hound Handbook
Insurance guide
Breed profile

Finnish Spitz

Finland's national dog: a fox-red spitz that barks to point game birds, and still loves to use its voice.

A red-gold Finnish Spitz lies on a floor and grins at the camera
The Finnish Spitz's fox-like colouring gives it away.Photo: Noël Zia Lee / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Weight
12–16 kg26–35 lb
Height
39–50 cm15–20 in
Lifespan
11–15 yrs
Group
Hound / Non-Sporting
Origin
Finland
Popularity
#194 US#206 UK · 2025

Known for: Cold climatesFamily dogs

Energy
Shedding
Trainability
Barking
Good with kids
Flat-friendly

Temperament

Lively, Friendly, Independent, Vocal.

Health problems to know about

  • Epilepsy
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Patellar luxation
  • Elbow dysplasia

Ask breeders for the parents' health test results, and check what your national breed club recommends screening for.

Daily care

An hour or more of exercise daily and patient, varied training; bored Finkies bark more. Brush weekly and daily in the moult. Keep it cool in hot weather.

A good fit for

Active families in cooler climates, rural homes, people who do not mind noise.

Probably not ideal for

Flats, close neighbours, hot climates, owners wanting a quiet or highly obedient dog.

Sources

  1. Royal Kennel Club: Finnish Spitz breed information
  2. VCA Animal Hospitals: Finnish Spitz
  3. Wikipedia: Finnish Spitz

Popularity: AKC 2025 registration rankings (US); Royal Kennel Club 2025 registrations (UK, ranked by us). Breed traits are tendencies, not guarantees. Individual dogs vary, and mixed breeds and rescues can be wonderful fits too.

Similar breeds

All breeds
White Samoyed standing side-on on a lawn, tail curled over its back

Samoyed

The smiling Arctic spitz. Friendly to everyone, talkative, and generous with white fluff all over your house.

A grey and cream Keeshond standing on grass, mouth open, with its plumed tail curled over its back.

Keeshond

Fluffy grey spitz that once guarded Dutch barges. Devoted, sociable and quick to announce visitors. Sheds in drifts once or twice a year.

A fluffy black and white Finnish Lapphund wearing a red dog backpack stands in the snow, tongue out

Finnish Lapphund

A fluffy Finnish reindeer herder with a soft face and a thick coat. Easy-going and friendly, and it will drop a good deal of that coat on you.

A grey Norwegian Elkhound with a curled tail stands on a grassy riverbank

Norwegian Elkhound

An ancient grey spitz from Norway, bred to hold moose at bay by barking. Bold, friendly and loud.

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