Finnish Spitz: history, description, photo
Cheerful, playful and friendly. Sensitive, independent and courageous. Brought up, faithful and kind. All this characterizes a wonderful and small variety of Laikas - the Finnish Spitz.
History and purpose of the breed
Suomenpistikorva, or Finnish Spitz, is a hunting breed of Laika, which originates from the dogs of the oldest Finnish Suomi people. Initially, it was called Finnish Barking Birddog (barking, Finnish bird hunting) or Suomenpystrykorva (Finnish dog with sharp ears).
The Spitz was brought to Finland over two thousand years ago, from the banks of the Volga River (in those days the area was part of Central Russia, and today it belongs to Finland). The breed was brought out purposefully for hunting all kinds of game (from squirrels and other small rodents to wild boars and bears).
Particular attention was paid to the breeding qualities of the breed, typical for the externa and the bright red color. As a result of the selection work, the dog, the Finnish Spitz, was unpretentious in maintenance and care of medium size with excellent working qualities.
This breed is quite versatile in hunting practice and specializes in ducks and bog birds. The task of the Spitz includes the detection and barking of the game until the arrival of the hunter. Also, the dog is able to work quite adequately and with fur-bearing animals after appropriate training. Previously, the Finnish Spitz was used for the elk paddock, and the dogs imported to the USSR could work for the bear, although somewhat inferior to the hunting passions of other huskies.
One of the important working parameters of the breed is the frequency and continuity of barking at the time of the game designation. The frequency with which a hunting good dog should bark is about 160 times a minute.
The Finnish Spitz is a clever dog that can be trained very easily. However, if he is frightened or overexcited, then he can become willful and stubborn. Classes should be interesting, positive, calm, but short, as this breed gets bored very quickly. Only positive rewards and reinforcements are used. Also you will have to get a lot of patience, because as the Finnish Spitz grows up slowly enough, and therefore you will not be able to learn a new command in 20-35 repetitions. By its nature, this breed is very independent, and therefore you must treat the dog so that it sees you as a leader and respected.
One of the drawbacks can be loud and frequent barking, which is possessed by the Finnish spitz. Feedback from the owners of the breed is very negative about this. But we should not forget that this is one of the basic working qualities of a good hunting dog, but this problem can be controlled by training, but it should be started from an early age puppy.
Features of the content and care of the coat
Finnish Spitz are naturally hunters and need daily long walks on a leash or in a safe place without it. Also, all kinds of physical activities are required so that the dog can spend as much as possible of its inexhaustible energy.
The wool of the fin is closely adhering and dense, it protects the animal from the cold remarkably, allowing it to tolerate very severe frosts. Dogs are able to live in a cold and temperate climate, but they do not tolerate heat very badly.
Care of the coat is not difficult, as it is self-cleaning. It is enough to comb the Finnish Spitz a couple of times a week with a comb and a massage brush. During the seasonal moult, it is necessary to comb the hair every day.
Bathing dogs are carried out no more than three to four times a year. To avoid all kinds of irritations and infections, you should regularly check and clean your eyes and ears, and also cut your claws if they do not get enough of the dog while walking.
Future owners of puppies of the breed Finnish spitz need to take care in advance to find out what to feed their pets. The puppy's diet should not include pork and chicken. It is believed that this meat is fatty and therefore should not be used in feeding. A pet can be given raw meat. What to feed it, you can find out from the breeder during the acquisition of the puppy. But with any chosen diet, bones should be given with extreme caution, since some of them the dog simply can not chew. In general, it is not recommended to feed animals to everyone, since the stomach of this breed is rather weak.
Dogs of this breed, of course, are one of the most beautiful representatives of the whole variety of Laika. Small sizes and a fiery-red fur coat favorably distinguish them from their brethren. You will not find a better and more faithful friend than a Finnish spitz. Photos from joint walks in nature or just in a close circle will look much better if your mischievous and true four-footed friend flaunts them as a full member of the family.