*Note: A breed's standard is simply a measuring tool used to quantify as to what perfection in the particular breed should appear.
Breed Standard of the Finnish Spitz
Canada
CLASS: Group II Hounds
Origin and Purpose
The Finnish Spitz is the national dog of Finland, and is the object of
intense national pride. It is said that the breed reflects the verve and
vitality necessary for survival in the Scandinavian north. Since earliest
times it has been used as a natural bark-pointer for hunting small game
and game birds.
General Appearance
The Finnish Spitz, with its glorious red-gold coat, bold carriage, and
lively expression, presents a fox-like picture. It has a squarish, symmetrical body with no exaggerated features. The pointed muzzle, small erect ears, dense coat, and curled tail denote its northern heritage. The dog’s whole being shows liveliness, especially the eyes, ears, and tail. Males should be decidedly masculine in appearance without coarseness. Females should be decidedly feminine in appearance without over-refinement.
Temperament
Active and alert, but reserved and sensitive. Traditionally, the Finnish Spitz is courageous, but, like a creature of the forest, that courage is tempered with caution.
Size
Dogs are from 17-1/2 -19-1/2 inches (44-50 cm) at the shoulder,
weighing from 31-35 lb. (14-16 kg). The bitches are 15-1/2 -17-1/2
inches (39-45 cm) at the shoulder, weighing from 22-29 lb. (10-13 kg).
Coat and Colour
The Finnish Spitz is double-coated. On the head and front of the legs
the coat is short and close. On the body and back of legs it is coarse,
longish, and semi-erect or erect. It is stiffer on the neck and back. Outer
coat on shoulders is considerably longer and coarser, particularly in
males. On back of thighs and on tail, hair should be longer and dense.
Undercoat is short, soft and dense. No trimming is allowed, not even of
whiskers.
Colour: On the back, reddish-brown or red-gold, preferably
bright. The hair on inner sides of ears, cheeks, under the muzzle, on the
breast, abdomen, behind the shoulders, inside the legs, back of thighs,
and underside of tail is of lighter shades. Undercoat is also a light colour,
making the whole coat glow. White marking on toes and a narrow strip
of white on chest is permitted but not desired. Black hairs on lips and
sparse separate black-pointed hairs on back and tail are permitted, even
desirable. Puppies may have a good many black hairs which decrease
with age (black on tail persisting longer).
Canadian Kennel Club Official Breed Standards
Head
The head is medium-sized and clean cut. It is longer than it is broad in
the ratio of 7:4. The forehead is slightly arched, and the stop
pronounced. The muzzle is narrow; seen from above and from the sides
evenly tapering.
Nose is pitch black.
Lips are tightly closed and thin
Scissor bite. Missing teeth undesirable.
Eyes are medium-sized, lively,
preferably dark, almond shaped with black rims. They are set slightly
aslant with outer corners tilted upwards.
Ears are small, erect, sharply
pointed. When alert, the ears should be parallel, upward standing, open
towards the front, and very mobile.
Neck
The neck is muscular, of medium length. It appears shorter in males due
to the heavier ruff.
Forequarters
The shoulders of the Finnish Spitz are straight when compared to most
other breeds. The legs are strong and straight. The slope of the pasterns
is 25 to 30 degrees. Feet are tight, round, and cat-like. Long hare feet
and splayed feet are undesirable. Removal of dewclaws is optional.
Body
This is almost square in outline. The back is short, level, and strong.
Chest is deep. The belly is slightly drawn up. The Finnish Spitz should
be in hard, muscular condition; any looseness or sloppiness should be
faulted.
Hindquarters
The thighs are muscular. Hocks are of medium length, straight, and
parallel. The stifles should be slightly to moderately bent in balance to
the angulation of the shoulder assembly. A severely straight stifle, or any
unsoundness in the stifle joint (patellar luxation) must be severely penalized. Cat feet as in the forequarters. Rear dewclaws must be removed.
Tail
The tail is plumed, and curves vigorously from its root in an arch,
forward, downward, then backward, pressing against the middle part of
the thigh. The end of the tail should not hang vertically downward nor
should it curl around in a complete circle or corkscrew. When
straightened, the tip of the tail bone reaches the hock joint.
Gait
The Finnish Spitz is quick and light on its feet. It steps out briskly, trots
with lively grace, and tends to single track as the speed increases.
Faults
1. Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a
fault, and seriousness of the fault should be in exact proportion to
the degree.
2. Soft, short, or wavy coat; unclear colour; too much white; muscular
or coarse head; undershot or overshot bite; missing teeth; light
eyes; runny or weepy eyes; ears set too low or too close together;
long or excessive hair inside the ears; weak, pinched, or bowed
fronts; weak pasterns; flat, splayed, or long feet; sloppy muscular
condition; roached, dipped, or long back; long hocks, cow hocks;
severely straight stifle joint; slipping stifles (patellar luxation);
unsound hock action; low tail set; too curly tail; short tail.
3. Because the Finnish Spitz is a hunting dog, unsoundness in
carriage is to be faulted.
4. Since trimming is a human fault, a dog with any trimming
whatsoever should not be disqualified, but should not receive any
major award.
Origin and Purpose
The Finnish Spitz is the national dog of Finland, and is the object of
intense national pride. It is said that the breed reflects the verve and
vitality necessary for survival in the Scandinavian north. Since earliest
times it has been used as a natural bark-pointer for hunting small game
and game birds.
General Appearance
The Finnish Spitz, with its glorious red-gold coat, bold carriage, and
lively expression, presents a fox-like picture. It has a squarish, symmetrical body with no exaggerated features. The pointed muzzle, small erect ears, dense coat, and curled tail denote its northern heritage. The dog’s whole being shows liveliness, especially the eyes, ears, and tail. Males should be decidedly masculine in appearance without coarseness. Females should be decidedly feminine in appearance without over-refinement.
Temperament
Active and alert, but reserved and sensitive. Traditionally, the Finnish Spitz is courageous, but, like a creature of the forest, that courage is tempered with caution.
Size
Dogs are from 17-1/2 -19-1/2 inches (44-50 cm) at the shoulder,
weighing from 31-35 lb. (14-16 kg). The bitches are 15-1/2 -17-1/2
inches (39-45 cm) at the shoulder, weighing from 22-29 lb. (10-13 kg).
Coat and Colour
The Finnish Spitz is double-coated. On the head and front of the legs
the coat is short and close. On the body and back of legs it is coarse,
longish, and semi-erect or erect. It is stiffer on the neck and back. Outer
coat on shoulders is considerably longer and coarser, particularly in
males. On back of thighs and on tail, hair should be longer and dense.
Undercoat is short, soft and dense. No trimming is allowed, not even of
whiskers.
Colour: On the back, reddish-brown or red-gold, preferably
bright. The hair on inner sides of ears, cheeks, under the muzzle, on the
breast, abdomen, behind the shoulders, inside the legs, back of thighs,
and underside of tail is of lighter shades. Undercoat is also a light colour,
making the whole coat glow. White marking on toes and a narrow strip
of white on chest is permitted but not desired. Black hairs on lips and
sparse separate black-pointed hairs on back and tail are permitted, even
desirable. Puppies may have a good many black hairs which decrease
with age (black on tail persisting longer).
Canadian Kennel Club Official Breed Standards
Head
The head is medium-sized and clean cut. It is longer than it is broad in
the ratio of 7:4. The forehead is slightly arched, and the stop
pronounced. The muzzle is narrow; seen from above and from the sides
evenly tapering.
Nose is pitch black.
Lips are tightly closed and thin
Scissor bite. Missing teeth undesirable.
Eyes are medium-sized, lively,
preferably dark, almond shaped with black rims. They are set slightly
aslant with outer corners tilted upwards.
Ears are small, erect, sharply
pointed. When alert, the ears should be parallel, upward standing, open
towards the front, and very mobile.
Neck
The neck is muscular, of medium length. It appears shorter in males due
to the heavier ruff.
Forequarters
The shoulders of the Finnish Spitz are straight when compared to most
other breeds. The legs are strong and straight. The slope of the pasterns
is 25 to 30 degrees. Feet are tight, round, and cat-like. Long hare feet
and splayed feet are undesirable. Removal of dewclaws is optional.
Body
This is almost square in outline. The back is short, level, and strong.
Chest is deep. The belly is slightly drawn up. The Finnish Spitz should
be in hard, muscular condition; any looseness or sloppiness should be
faulted.
Hindquarters
The thighs are muscular. Hocks are of medium length, straight, and
parallel. The stifles should be slightly to moderately bent in balance to
the angulation of the shoulder assembly. A severely straight stifle, or any
unsoundness in the stifle joint (patellar luxation) must be severely penalized. Cat feet as in the forequarters. Rear dewclaws must be removed.
Tail
The tail is plumed, and curves vigorously from its root in an arch,
forward, downward, then backward, pressing against the middle part of
the thigh. The end of the tail should not hang vertically downward nor
should it curl around in a complete circle or corkscrew. When
straightened, the tip of the tail bone reaches the hock joint.
Gait
The Finnish Spitz is quick and light on its feet. It steps out briskly, trots
with lively grace, and tends to single track as the speed increases.
Faults
1. Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a
fault, and seriousness of the fault should be in exact proportion to
the degree.
2. Soft, short, or wavy coat; unclear colour; too much white; muscular
or coarse head; undershot or overshot bite; missing teeth; light
eyes; runny or weepy eyes; ears set too low or too close together;
long or excessive hair inside the ears; weak, pinched, or bowed
fronts; weak pasterns; flat, splayed, or long feet; sloppy muscular
condition; roached, dipped, or long back; long hocks, cow hocks;
severely straight stifle joint; slipping stifles (patellar luxation);
unsound hock action; low tail set; too curly tail; short tail.
3. Because the Finnish Spitz is a hunting dog, unsoundness in
carriage is to be faulted.
4. Since trimming is a human fault, a dog with any trimming
whatsoever should not be disqualified, but should not receive any
major award.