Finnish Spitz

People usually end up reading about the Finnish Spitz when they’re weighing up a breed that’s bright, active, and famously vocal—often after hearing one bark, or after realising their living situation (close neighbours, apartments, shared fences) might make noise a genuine issue.

The Finnish Spitz can be a steady, affectionate companion in the right home, but it asks for daily exercise, patient training, and thoughtful management of barking. What follows is a clear, practical picture of the breed’s size, temperament, care needs, and common health considerations—grounded in recognised breed standards and veterinary guidance.

Finnish Spitz at a glance

• Size: Medium (often described as medium-small)
• Height (typical): Males 43–50 cm; females 39–45 cm (measured at the withers)^{1, 2}
• Weight (typical): Often around 14–16 kg (breed standard guidance; individuals vary)¹
• Coat: Dense double coat; seasonal shedding can be heavy^{2, 3}
• Country of origin: Finland²
• Typical lifespan: About 12–15 years³
• Best suited to: Active households; people who enjoy training and outdoor time
• Also known as: Suomenpystykorva, Finnish Spitz

History and origin

The Finnish Spitz is Finland’s national breed and has a long history as a hunting dog, shaped for forest work where sound matters as much as speed. Its hallmark behaviour—persistent, ringing barking—was selected to help a hunter locate game, including birds, by holding attention and signalling position in thick country.^{2, 3}

Physical characteristics and appearance

In profile, the Finnish Spitz carries the classic northern spitz outline: a fox-like head, pricked triangular ears, and a tail that curls forward over the back. The coat is a weather-resistant double layer, usually in shades of golden red, with lighter hair often visible on parts of the body and undercoat.^{1, 3}

Although the breed is not large, it is solid and athletic, built for quick bursts of movement and alert, upright carriage. Breed standards allow some individual variation, but the overall impression is compact, lively, and ready to move.^{1, 2}

Temperament and personality

The Finnish Spitz is typically lively, alert, and people-oriented with its family. Many are affectionate without being clingy, often happiest when they can keep a quiet watch on the household and then switch into play or training with little warning.³

One trait sits at the centre of the breed’s personality: vocalising. These dogs were developed to bark as part of their work, and that tendency doesn’t disappear in suburban life. With training, enrichment, and good routines, barking can be shaped and reduced, but it is rarely eliminated—and it should be treated as a core breed feature, not a “problem” that will simply fade with age.³

What the barking can mean in everyday life

• It can be useful: They’re naturally alert and will often announce movement, visitors, and unfamiliar sounds.³
• It can be hard: Close neighbours, shared walls, and noise restrictions can turn normal spitz vocalising into real friction.
• It needs management: Enough exercise, predictable routines, and reward-based training reduce “boredom noise” and help you teach a calmer default.

Training and exercise needs

This is an energetic, intelligent breed that does best with daily activity and regular mental work. Long walks, varied sniffing time, and short training sessions suit them well; repeated drills tend to bore them, while games with clear rules keep their attention.³

Reward-based training is the safest, most reliable approach for building recall, calm greetings, and cooperative grooming. Early socialisation matters too—steady exposure to different people, surfaces, sounds, and other dogs helps prevent over-alertness hardening into reactivity later on.⁶

Grooming and maintenance

The Finnish Spitz has a thick double coat that sheds seasonally. Weekly brushing is a good baseline for many dogs, with more frequent brushing during heavy shedding to lift loose undercoat and reduce mats.⁷

Bathing is not something most dogs need on a rigid timetable. Over-washing can dry the skin and strip natural oils; bathe when your dog is truly dirty, smelly, or when your vet advises it, and use a dog-appropriate shampoo.^{4, 7}

Nails matter more than many people expect. If you can hear nails clicking on hard floors, they’re usually too long—especially dewclaws, which often don’t wear down naturally.⁸

Health concerns and common medical issues

No breed is “problem-free”. Finnish Spitz are often described as generally robust, but responsible owners still plan for the common issues seen across many medium and small breeds, and keep regular vet checks on the calendar.

Patellar luxation (kneecap dislocation)

Patellar luxation is a common orthopaedic condition in dogs where the kneecap moves out of its normal groove. Signs can include an intermittent “skipping” gait or sudden hopping on a hind leg that resolves after a few steps.^{9, 10}

Hips and joints

Like many active breeds, individual Finnish Spitz can develop joint problems over time. Keeping your dog lean, building fitness gradually, and addressing limping early are simple choices that protect comfort and mobility in the long run.

Choosing a diet and keeping a healthy weight

Look for a complete and balanced diet appropriate to your dog’s life stage, then adjust portions to keep a clear waist and easy-to-feel ribs under a light covering. Ingredient lists are often less useful than people think; what matters is whether the food is nutritionally appropriate and made with good quality control.⁵

If your Finnish Spitz is very active, you may need to increase energy intake slightly—then re-check body condition every couple of weeks. If weight creeps up, reduce treats first. Small changes, done early, are kinder than big corrections later.

Socialisation and living with other pets and people

Finnish Spitz are generally social with their family and can do well with respectful children and other animals, especially when raised with them. As a breed developed for hunting and alerting, some individuals will be quick to notice movement and may chase smaller pets if not taught calm behaviour early.

Good socialisation looks quiet and ordinary: meeting the world in manageable doses, with plenty of reward for calm choices. It’s less about forcing friendliness, more about giving the dog a steady catalogue of “normal” experiences to draw on later.⁶

Final thoughts

The Finnish Spitz suits people who like a dog with its own point of view: bright, observant, and built for movement. In the right home, it’s a warm companion with a watchful edge and a voice you will hear. The best match is an owner who can offer daily exercise, reward-based training, and enough patience to shape that famous bark into something the neighbourhood can live with.

References

1. The Kennel Club (UK) – Finnish Spitz breed standard (size and weight)
2. The Finnish Kennel Club – Finnish Spitz (breed overview and ideal height)
3. Encyclopaedia Britannica – Finnish Spitz (history, size range, barking “bird dog” role)
4. RSPCA Pet Insurance (Australia) – Guide to dog cleaning and grooming (bathing only when necessary; avoid over-bathing)
5. WSAVA – Global Nutrition Guidelines (how to assess pet foods beyond the ingredient list)
6. RSPCA Knowledgebase – Why and how should I groom my dog? (general grooming guidance; vet advice where needed)
7. RSPCA Pet Insurance (Australia) – Washing and brushing your dog (avoid over-washing; brushing guidance)
8. RSPCA Pet Insurance (Australia) – When to groom your dog (nail length “clicking” check; bathing frequency guidance)
9. American College of Veterinary Surgeons – Patellar luxation (overview and clinical significance)
10. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine – Patellar luxation (overview and “skipping” gait sign)