Finnish Spitz
Finland's national dog, and it hunts by barking at a bird in a tree until the hunter arrives. A good one barks over a hundred times a minute.
Photo by Petful.com, CC BY 2.0
Overview
The Finnish Spitz hunts by finding a bird, usually capercaillie or grouse, driving it into a tree, and then barking at it continuously while wagging its tail to hold the bird's attention until the hunter arrives. The technique is called barking at birds and it is the whole breed.
The barking is not incidental. Finnish barking competitions judge dogs on rate and consistency, and a good one produces around 160 barks a minute.
Temperament
Bright, independent and extremely vocal. Finnish Spitz are affectionate with their families, good with children, and reserved with strangers.
The barking is the defining consideration. This is a dog bred for centuries to bark loudly and continuously, and while it can be managed it cannot be removed. Anyone in a flat or a terraced house should choose a different breed. They are also independent and train on their own terms.
Care and grooming
A dense red gold double coat that needs weekly brushing and daily attention during the two heavy moults. It is naturally clean and largely odourless.
The breed is generally healthy. Patellar luxation, hip dysplasia and epilepsy occur at low rates. Thirteen to fifteen years is normal.
Living and exercise
An hour a day plus mental work, and a secure fence, because the hunting drive is intact and recall is unreliable.
They are the national dog of Finland and they remain uncommon elsewhere. The right household is one with space, tolerance for noise and an appreciation of an independent dog.
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