As for the Finnish Spitz personality, you should first understand what the breed was originally bred for.  The Finnish Spitz is the national dog of Finland.  It is used as a hunting dog  for treeing ground fowl & squirrels.  The Finnish Spitz chase and tree their prey, and use their plumed tail to mesmerize  their catch by waving the tail back and forth.  They give off and distinctive bark to alert their hunter to their location.  This is how they earned their title "the barking bird dog of Finland".  In the AKC, however, they are classified as a Non-sporting dog.  The breed club is currently trying to get approval for field trials for squirrel hunting.  The Finkie's personality is initially aloof, but they want to be close to their family.  This is not a dog that should be thrown out into the yard without much human contact.  The Finnish Spitz needs to be properly socialized toward humans at an early age.  They do very well with children and will tend to remove themselves from rough play instead of showing aggression. However, as with most dogs children should be warned never to corner a dog and make it feel like it has no escape for the situation.  As puppies socialization can be difficult because they generally will have more interest in doing other things rather than playing with their human mates.  Once they have bonded with their family, they will provide years of loyal companionship.  They can provide many hours of energetic antics for themselves and their families.  Without proper training, the Finnish Spitz instinctive bark can lead to problem barking.  Some breeders and owners elect to have them de-barked either partially or fully.  This is a procedure where a veterinarian cuts either some or all of the vocal chords.  If the dog is only partially de-barked it will still be able to make a sound but the barking will come out at a much lower volume and pitch.  The Finnish Spitz is intelligent, but can be stubborn with training, especially if a heavy hand is used.  Positive reinforcement training styles are recommended.  Obedience classes are also recommended for socialization with other people and dogs.

     The breed has few health problems associated with it.  There is a low incidence of hip dysplasia or allergies.  The most common problems has been with their digestive systems.  However, responsible screening and breeding has reduced the incidence of these genetic diseases.

     You are guaranteed to get many compliments and questions about this unusual breed when you take them out in public.  Their unusual coat and curious nature will attract adults and children alike.  They will tend to be wary at first, but within a few minutes, you'll find you have a real ham on the end of the leash as they buck for more attention and petting.

    The Finnish Spitz Club of America is the parent club for the AKC.  You can  contact them through our e-mail, or the AKC for a breeder referral.