How to Identify a Finnish Spitz

The Finnish Spitz is a breed that is light and quick on its feet. It is an active and friendly breed that is faithful and brave, but cautious. There should be no tendency for shyness or unprovoked aggression. One of its most important characteristics is its square, well-balanced body. It is symmetrical with no exaggerated features and is covered by a red-gold coat.

Instructions

1. Look at the general appearance of this breed. It has always been used to hunt small game and birds, so sports a pointed muzzle, dense coat and erect ears. These features also denote its northern heritage. The Finnish Spitz should show a liveliness, especially in the eyes, ears and tail.

2. Check the size and proportions of the breed. Males are 17 ½ to 20 inches tall and females are 15 ½ to 20 inches tall. The breed has a square shape. When measured from the forechest to the buttocks, that measurement is equal to the height of the measurement at the withers.

3. Make sure the head is clean cut and has a fox-like appearance. It is longer from the occiput to the tip of the nose than it is wide, in a ratio of 7:4. The head should not be muscular, coarse or overly long and narrow. The almond-shaped eyes are obliquely set and have moderate spacing. The outer corners should tilt upward. They should have a dark color and give off an alert expression. The ears are set high, and when the dog is alert, stand up and open to the front. They are small ears, sharply pointed and very mobile. The muzzle is narrow and leads to a black nose.

4. Look at the neck and body. The well-set, muscular neck is clean with no excess skin under the muzzle. It may appear shorter in males, due to their heavier ruff. The body is muscular and square. The check is deep, with a brisket that reaches to the elbow. The tail is set just below the level of the topline and forms a single curl that falls over the loin. The tip points toward the thigh. The forequarters sport bone that is strong without being heavy. Dewclaws may be removed. The feet are rounded and compact with well-arched toes. The toes are tightly bunched and the two center toes are a bit longer than the outside toes. The rear angulation is in balance with the forequarters and sports muscular thighs and moderately let down hocks. The rear dewclaws are removed. The toes are as they are in the front—tightly bunched, rounded and compact with the two center toes longer than the outside toes.

5. Feel the double coat. The undercoat is soft and dense with long, harsh, straight guard hairs protecting it. The guard hairs are one to two inches long. The hair on the head and legs is short. It is the longest on the plume of the tail and back of the thighs. The males have a more profuse coat on the shoulder, which gives them a ruffed appearance. The hair should not be silky or wavy. The Finnish Spitz’ coat is colored with varying shades of golden-red (ranges from pale honey to deep auburn). The undercoat is generally a paler color and this makes the coat have a glowing appearance. There should be very few white markings on this breed. There may be white at the tips of the toes and possibly a small spot (no wider than ½ inch) on the chest. There may be black hairs on the lipline and sparse black hairs on the tail and back.