The Finnish Spitz has been called the “barking bird dog” because he was bred to alert hunters to their quarry with his unique voice. Because of this, prospective owners should know that barking is a trait in the breed that is not easily trained out. Not only will he bark to tell you the latest happenings in your backyard, but he will also often sound the alarm whenever the doorbell rings. While this makes him a great watchdog, it also makes him a good fit only for those who are not bothered by constant noise (and without close neighbors). The “Finkie”, as he is affectionately called, is a watchdog only and not a guard dog. He has a lot of bark but very little bite.
Finnish Spitz are great with kids and therefore well suited as a family dog as long as the children are well-behaved and not unruly. Unsurprisingly, he also excells as a hunting dog since that is what he was bred to do! He is a faithful companion always eager to go out and have fun with his owner(s). He is quite active and needs tasks and jobs in order to be fulfilled, however he is generally inactive indoors.
The Finkie can be a slow maturing breed, so expect him to act puppy-ish for a while. This can be either a curse or a blessing, depending on how you look at it. Either way he is intelligent, independent, and sensitive.
Unlike many spitz breeds, he has a relatively short coat so he can do well in warmer weather, although it is important to keep his double coat brushed out so the air can circulate through to his skin.
When it comes to training, he responds well to plenty of praise and short sessions which keep his attention. The order of obedience commands should always be mixed up so that he doesn’t get bored and so that he is always guessing what comes next! Patience in training is also recommended as he can, at times, be hard-headed.