The early origins of the Suomenpystykorva
or Finnish Spitz are thought to have started thousands
of years ago when the Finno-Ugrian people living in Central
Russia are known to have had Spitz-type dogs. When
some of these people gradually moved westwards,
their dogs mingled with the old European Spitz-type and
these are thought to be the earliest ancestors of the modern
breed.
At
the beginning of the Christian era one part of
this original tribe, the proto-Finnic tribe, moved
ever deeper into Finland where they settled to
live with their dogs. These dogs living in the
backwoods villages rarely came into contact with
the dogs of other regions and so remained quite
pure and developed in accordance with the hunter's
requirements. The first documented evidence of
the breed was in the l870's from French explorer
De La Martiniere, who describes the "Deep
Red dogs" he came across during his travels
as far north as the Muurmanni coast.
In 1889/90, the Finnish Kennel Club
was formed and organized its first show so that information
could be gathered about the Finnish bird dogs (Finnish
Spitz) and Finnish hound dog breeds.
Forest Officer Hugo
Richard Sandberg produced the first informative description
of the breed including hunting abilities, conformation
and temperament. The FKC later approved Sandberg's
suggestions. In December 1892 the Finnish Kennel
Club organized a speciality show for the breed in
Oulu as several dogs who had received prizes at the
FKC's two previous shows had come from this area.
Out of an entry of 57 dogs, 28 bitches and 8 puppies
the winner was a dog called Kekki who was included
in the first breed book of the FKC 1889-1893.
It
was in 1897 that a new breed standard was confirmed
and the name was changed to Finnish Spitz. The Finnish
Kennel Club celebrated its 90th anniversary in
1979, and the Finnish Spitz was declared Finland's National
dog in recognition of the hard work and dedication
of its breeders for nationally producing high quality
breeding of this beautiful breed.
The Finnish Spitz is a medium sized dog. He is very
agile and active and loves to be involved in all aspects
of his family's life, from hiking the back trails (safely
on lead) to watching the game stretched out on the couch
on a raining afternoon. He was bred to hunt a large turkey
like bird called the cappercallie therefore he is an
independent sort, who will readily take off on an adventure
should you allow him out of his fenced yard or off lead
at the park. He is considered a 'bark' pointer by trade
meaning when he successfully trees his cappercallie (or
the local squirrel, or your neighbors cat) he will bark
to tell you of his great conquest. He is very visual
with excellent eyesight. He is often vocal, voicing his
thoughts to you, however, he can be trained to not bark
needlessly. Because of his visual nature he should never
be left in the yard unattended while you are away as
he is likely to spot a bird and make himself unpopular
with your neighbors. He is a hunter but can get along
with other animals in the house especially if raised
with them from a young age. He is smart and responds
well to positive motivational training. He learns quickly
but becomes bored with repetitive training. To train
the Finnish Spitz you need to be positive, creative and
vary his training schedule.
The Finnish Spitz sports a beautiful red double coat
which varies from light gold in color to a darker red.
The undercoat is lighter and when in full condition his
coat will tend to 'glow'. He will usually shed his coat
twice a year but a good brushing weekly will keep the
coat clean and luxurious. The Finnish Spitz loves his
family deeply. He may pretend he does not need anyone
but his family is very important and his heart can be
easily broken. He is loyal and mischievous and loves
to share his play time with his family. Most of all he
wants to be a part of your life in every way, and if
given the chance will charm his way into your heart.
The email read: "12
year old female Finnish Spitz. Her time is nearly up.
Very loving, gives kisses freely. Somebody please help
this dog."
I read that and it got to me. What reason
did a loving 12 year old Finnish Spitz end up in a shelter?
Well, it wasn't something that I could concentrate on
because we can't take the dog into our rescue. We had
no room. As always; there is no room. I shook my head
sadly but did not delete the post. She was a long way
from here. Maybe there was a rescuer nearer that would
take her, or she would get adopted... but she's 12 years
old. It can be very hard to find a home for a dog that
old - and there are a lot of younger ones who need our
help just as badly, who would be easier to place. We
would probably have her for a long time while others
were put down waiting to come into rescue. But it’s not her fault she's 12 and ended up in a shelter. Age should
not be a penalty. I turned my computer off. I couldn't think about it. We had
no room for another dog of any age right now. Instead, I searched for ways
to take this dog into rescue; to find someone who could help but met without
success.
And that night my sleep was ruined
by an old dog that I had never met. In my dreams
I saw a slightly heavy-bodied feisty and yet gentle
dog, sitting in the middle of a gray concrete floor
surrounded by a woven wire kennel. All around her
were anxious, stressed dogs that paced, panted
and barked for somebody to come and get them. The
old Finnish Spitz sat there trying to shut out
the sounds and motion about her. Her tired head
hung a bit low. In my sleep, she looked at my soul
with patient eyes and spoke to me.
"Please. Come."
We had no room - and I pushed this dog out of my mind
for a week as I kept busy with other aspects of the rescue,
but still looked for ways to get this old dog out of
the shelter. When night came and I fell asleep, the old
dog was there sitting quietly in the kennel, waiting
for me to fall asleep.
"Please. Come."
In the second week another message appeared on my computer. "Very
sweet and loving Finnish Spitz. Gives kisses freely.
Please somebody save her. She deserves better than to
spend her last days in a shelter." I was beginning
to dread going to bed because the old dog would be there
waiting for me, staring at me... wouldn't leave me alone.
I tossed and turned in my warm and comfortable bed, and
the old dog lay down on, the hard concrete floor panting
lightly; watching me in my dreams as I slept.
"Please.
Come."We have no room for you,
old one."
"Yes
you do. I will stay at your home. I'm a good dog.
I won't cause trouble. Please. Come.""You're
very far away and I work every day. I can't come to
get you, old one."
“Send
someone. I am very good in the car. Please. Come
for me .""My
husband doesn't want another foster dog in the
house."
"He
will like me. I'm
a good dog. You'll see. Please. Come get me.”"OK...
I will talk to him."
"So will
I."
And
by chance, a friend ended up driving down to pick
up two dogs, and was destined to pass very near
the shelter where the old Finnish Spitz waited.
On her way back, she stopped at the shelter and
brought the old one with her. "I got the
old dog - and guess what. She's a he! He's very
sweet and loving. He rides extremely well in the
car. He sat there with his head on my shoulder
nearly the whole way, barking out commands and
wanting to be petted. You should see his gorgeous
face. Can you pick him up from my house after work?" He
had no collar, no leash, and no identification.
He was a stray.
When we arrived home he walked into my house, looked
around, and smiled up at me as though he knew me. He
barked a few times gave me that smile that told me he
was happy to be here. His dark eyes were sunken into
his head and they looked like the eyes of a dog that
had been stressed for a long time. He was tired and he
desperately needed to sleep. I led him to he crate that
would be his and he understood. Without a sound, he walked
into the crate, circled twice and laid down to rest.
It was the first time in many weeks he would be sleeping
on a thick wool blanket and in a quiet place. The dark
eyes disappeared behind heavy eyelids in peaceful sleep.
American Kennel Club - Official Standard for the Finnish
Spitz
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 Spitz
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' 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. Any deviation from
the ideal described standard should be penalized to the
extent of the deviation. Structural faults common to
all breeds are as undesirable in the Finnish Spitz as
in any other breed, even though such faults may not be
mentioned in the standard.
Size, Proportion, Substance Size - Height
at the withers in dogs, 17½ to 20 inches; in bitches,
15½ to 18 inches.
Proportion - Square: length from forechest to buttocks equal to height from
withers to ground. The coat may distort the square appearance.
Substance - Substance and bone in proportion to overall dog. 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 snipey 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.
Ears set too high, too low, or too close together,
long or excessive hair inside the ears are faults. Skull - Flat between
ears with some minimal rounding ahead of earset.
Forehead a little arched. Skull to muzzle ratio
4:3. Stop - Pronounced. Muzzle - Narrow
as seen from the front, above and from the side;
of equal width and depth where its insets to the
skull, tapering somewhat, equally form all angles. Nose - Black. Any
deviation is to be penalized. Circumference of
the nose to be 80% of the circumference of the
muzzle at its origin. Lips - Black; thin
and tight. Bite - Scissors
bite. Wry mouth is to be severely faulted.
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, 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. Tail - Set on just below level of topline,
forming a single curl falling over the loin with tip pointing towards
the thigh. Plumed, curving vigorously from its base in an arch forward,
downward, and backward, pressing flat against either thigh with tip
extending to middle part of thigh. When straightened, the tip of the
tailbone reaches the hock joint. Low or high tail-set, too curly a
tail, or a short tail is to be faulted.
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. Pasterns - Viewed from
the side, slope slightly. Weak pasterns are to be penalized.
Dewclaws - May be removed. Feet - Rounded, compact foot with well-arched
toes, tightly bunched or close-cupped, the two center toes being only slightly
longer than those on the outside. The toe pads should be deeply cushioned and
covered with thick skin. The impression left by such a foot is rounded in contrast
to oval.
Hindquarters Angulation in balance with the forequarters. Thighs - Muscular. Hocks - Moderately let
down. Straight and parallel. Dewclaws - Removed. Feet - As in front.
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. No trimming of the coat except for feet
is allowed. Whiskers shall not be trimmed. Any trimming
of coat shall be severely faulted. Silky, wavy, long
or short coat is to be faulted.
Color
Varying shades of golden-red ranging from pale honey to deep auburn are allowed,
with no preference given to shades at either extreme so long as the color
is bright and clear. As the undercoat is a paler color, the effect of this
shading is a coat which appears to glow. White markings on the tips of the
toes and a quarter-sized spot or narrow white strip, ideally no wider than ½ inch,
on the forechest are permitted. Black hairs along lipline and sparse, separate
black hairs on tail and back permitted. Puppies may have a good many black
hairs which decrease with age, black on tail persisting longer. Muddy or
unclear color, any white on the body except as specified, is to be penalized.
Gait
The Finnish Spitz is quick and light on his feet, steps out briskly, trots
with lively grace, and tends to single-track as the speed increases. When
hunting he moves at a gallop. The angulation called for permits him to break
into a working gait quickly. Sound movement is essential for stamina and
agility.
Temperament
Active and friendly, lively and eager, faithful; brave, but cautious. Shyness,
any tendency toward unprovoked aggression is to be penalized.
Note: Finnish Spitz are to be examined on the ground.
Approved: July 12, 1999
Effective: August 30, 1999
