GENERAL APPEARANCE
Shoulder height: 39-50cm
Colour: Reddish brown or red/gold with a lighter coloured undercoat.
Coat: Outercoat of harsh stiff hairs standing away from a soft undercoat.
Gait: Light and springy with strong fore reach and hind propulsion. With their spitz like pointed erect ears, these alert little hunting dogs have a bold appearance. The slightly arched forehead, moderate stop and narrow muzzle is completed with the contrasting black nose and lips. The neck may appear shorter in males than females due to a heavier neck ruff. The straight strong back and deep chest gives a square appearance and the distinctive high set tail curves over the back with its tip resting at the side of the thigh. The stifles are only moderately bent and the feet are round.
CHARACTERISTICS AND CARE
The Finnish Spitz is not a prolific breeder and this has resulted in them not becoming over popular. These home loving dogs are good with children and make excellent house and guard dogs. Being independent in nature, they need to be firmly trained without resorting to harsh discipline. The coat care is easy with only periodic brushing needed to remove dead hair during the seasonal coat drop. 
HISTORY
Sometimes known as the Finnish Cockeared Hunting Dog or the Barking Bird Dog, the origin of this breed lies in the antiquity of the Arctic Spitz family. When the Finnish people lived in clans and tribes, these dogs were used for hunting birds and squirrels - the food which was so essential for the survival of their masters. In Lappland, Karelia and northern Finland, the Finnish Spitz used to drive the birds into the trees, then point and bark to alert their owners of their position.