Finnish Spitz Breed Magazine features information, expert articles, and stunning photos from AKC judges, breeders, and owners.
SPITZ FINNISH
Let’s Talk Breed Education!
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Official Standard of the Finnish Spitz General Appearance: The Finnish Spitz presents a fox-like picture. The breed has long been used to hunt small game and birds. The pointed muzzle, erect ears, dense coat and curled tail denotes its northern heritage. The Finnish Spitz ’s whole being shows liveliness, which is especially evident in the eyes, ears and tail. Males are decidedly masculine without coarseness. Bitches are decidedly feminine without over-refinement. The Finnish Spitz's most important characteristics are its square, well-balanced body that is symmetrical with no exaggerated features, a glorious red-gold coat, his bold carriage and brisk movement. Any deviation from the ideal described standard should be penalized to the extent of the deviation. Structural faults common to all breeds are as undesirable in the Finnish Spitz as in any other breed, even though such faults may not be mentioned in the standard. Size, Proportion, Substance: Size - Height at the withers in dogs, 17½ to 20 inches; in bitches, 15½ to 18 inches. Proportion - Square: length from forechest to buttocks equal to height from withers to ground. The coat may distort the square appearance. Substance - Substance and bone in proportion to overall dog. Head : Clean cut and fox-like. Longer from occiput to tip of nose than broad at widest part of skull in a ratio of 7:4. More refined with less coat or ruff in females than in males, but still in the same ratio. A muscular or coarse head, or a long or narrow head with snipy muzzle, is to be penalized. Expression - Fox-like and lively. Eyes - Almond-shaped with black rims. Obliquely set with moderate spacing between, neither too far apart nor too close. Outer corners tilted upward. Dark in color with a keen and alert expression. Any deviation, runny, weepy, round or light eyes should be faulted. Ears - Set on high. When alert, upward standing, open to the front with tips directly above the outer corner of the eyes. Small erect, sharply pointed and very mobile. Ears set too high, too low, or too close together, long or excessive hair inside the ears are faults. Skull - Flat between ears with some minimal rounding ahead of earset. Forehead a little arched. Skull to muzzle ratio 4:3. Stop - Moderate. Muzzle - Narrow as seen from the front, above and from the side; of equal width and depth where its insets to the skull, tapering somewhat, equally from all angles. Nose - Black. Any deviation is to be penalized. Circumference of the nose to be 80 percent of the circumference of the muzzle at its origin. Lips - Black; thin and tight. Bite - Scissors bite. Wry mouth is to be severely faulted. Neck, Topline, Body : Neck - Well set, muscular. Clean, with no excess skin below the muzzle. Appearing shorter in males due to their heavier ruff. Topline - level and strong from withers to croup. Body - Muscular, square. Chest - Deep; brisket reaches to the elbow. Ratio of chest depth to distance from withers to ground is 4:9. Ribs - Well sprung. Tuck-up - Slightly drawn up. Loin - Short. Tail - Set on just below level of topline, forming a single curl falling over the loin with tip pointing towards the thigh. Plumed, curving vigorously from its base in an arch forward, downward, and backward, pressing flat against either thigh with tip extending to middle part of thigh. When straightened, the tip of the tailbone reaches the hock joint. Low or high tail-set, too curly a tail, or a short tail is to be faulted. Forequarters: Shoulders - The layback of the shoulders is thirty degrees to the vertical. Legs - Viewed from the front, moderately spaced, parallel and straight with elbows close to the body and turned neither out nor in. Bone strong without being heavy, always in proportion to the dog. Fine bone, which limits endurance, or heavy bone, which makes working movement
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cumbersome, is to be faulted. Pasterns - Viewed from the side, slope slightly. Weak pasterns are to be penalized. Dewclaws - May be removed. Feet - Rounded, compact foot with well-arched toes, tightly bunched or close-cupped, the two center toes being only slightly longer than those on the outside. The toe pads should be deeply cushioned and covered with thick skin. The impression left by such a foot is rounded in contrast to oval. Hindquarters : Angulation in balance with the forequarters. Thighs - Muscular. Hocks - Moderately let down. Straight and parallel. Dewclaws - Removed. Feet - As in front. Coat : The coat is double with a short, soft, dense undercoat and long, harsh straight guard hairs measuring approximately one to two inches on the body. Hair on the head and legs is short and close; it is longest and most dense on plume of tail and back of thighs. The outer coat is stiffer and longer on the neck and back, and in males considerably more profuse at the shoulder, giving them a more ruffed appearance. Males carry more coat than females. No trimming of the coat except for feet is allowed. Whiskers shall not be trimmed. Any trimming of coat shall be severely faulted. Silky, wavy, long or short coat is to be faulted. Color : Varying shades of golden-red ranging from pale honey to deep auburn are allowed, with no preference given to shades at either extreme so long as the color is bright and clear. As the undercoat is a paler color, the effect of this shading is a coat which appears to glow. White markings on the tips of the toes and a quarter-sized spot or narrow white strip, ideally no wider than ½ inch, on the forechest are permitted. Black hairs along lipline and sparse, separate black hairs on tail and back permitted. Puppies may have a good many black hairs which decrease with age, black on tail persisting longer. Muddy or unclear color, any white on the body except as specified, is to be penalized. Gait : The Finnish Spitz is quick and light on his feet, steps out briskly, trots with lively grace, and tends to single-track as the speed increases. When hunting he moves at a gallop. The angulation called for permits him to break into a working gait quickly. Sound movement is essential for stamina and agility. Temperament: Active and friendly, lively and eager, faithful; brave, but cautious. Shyness, any tendency toward unprovoked aggression is to be penalized.
Approved July 9, 2018 Effective October 3, 2018
JUDGING THE FINNISH SPITZ By Cindy Stansell T he Finnish Spitz, Fin- land’s National Dog, is one of the world’s few basal breeds. Th is red- gold, square, higher-sta- tioned Spitz was bred to “IN JUDGING THE BREED, START WITH THE
hunt birds and game in the dense Finnish forests. Quick and agile, he is a lively and natural breed in every way. Th ese are the essentials of the breed. In judging the breed, start with the proportions and size. Th e Finnish Spitz is a square dog. Th e length is measured from the forechest to the buttocks. He has more leg than depth of body. If the total height ratio is 9, then 5 parts are leg and 4 parts are depth of body. Your fi rst impressions of the proportions may be incorrect due to coat, especially on the heavier-coated males. Th e muscular and clean neck may appear short- er due to a heavy ru ff and the leg/body pro- portions may also appear o ff due to a heavy coat, so please verify with your hands. If the depth of chest approximates half or more the height of the dog, this is very faulty. Th e Finnish Spitz has obvious gender di ff erences with the males at 17 ½ to 20 inches (28-32 pounds) and the females at 15 ½ to 18 inches (22-25 pounds). Th e bone is proportionate for this size and weight of dog. One common mistake is looking for a heavier dog and bone. Th e Finnish Spitz is presented on the ground. Th is can be an awkward size on the ground but naturalness of presentation is very important. Another common mis- take is asking the breed to be tabled. Examining an inexperienced dog can be challenging in that they rarely hold a stack, are cautious of strangers, sensi- tive in nature and do not recover quickly when upset. Th ey are also noise sensi- tive, so please do not startle them. When approaching them, speak pleasantly to the handler to put the dog at ease and to alert him to your approach. Asking the handler to show the bite is advisable. A view of the front alignment of
PROPORTIONS AND SIZE. THE FINNISH SPITZ IS A SQUARE DOG.”
a scissors bite is all that is needed. Further mouth examination is apt to cause great distress to the inexperienced dog. Lips are clean and pigmented. Th e head is slightly tapered with a skull to muzzle ratio of 4:3. It should not be heavy with a broad wedge, nor fi ne with very little taper. Th e forehead and skull are slightly arched, neither domed nor fl at. Th e skull’s length is equal to the width. Th e Finnish Spitz standard says that the stop is pronounced. Th e FSCA de fi nes “pronounced” as “moderate.” A prominent stop would destroy the “foxlike and lively” expression that is essential to the breed. Th e eyes are almond-shaped, dark and obliquely set. Faults commonly seen are round and lighter eyes. Th e nose is black. Th is is a red dog with black points. Th e ears are set on high, relatively small, and erect. Th ey should not be hooded. Some spitz breeds are slightly rounded at the tip. Th e Finnish Spitz ears are not; they are pointed. It is sometimes very hard to see these very mobile ears as dog shows have many sounds to investi- gate. Using the hands to follow the head’s wedge on the examination will easily indi- cate the smoothness of the taper, the head proportions, and the set on of the ears. If your hands come away wet, it could also indicate a less than clean lip line. One
smooth movement: the head examination is quickly done. Th e backline on this square dog is level and strong both standing and on the move. Th e loin is short and there is a moderate tuck-up. Th e Finnish Spitz is moderately angulated in the front and rear. Th e feet are compact, well-arched, and deeply cushioned. Th e roundish feet can appear more oval because the standard allows the center two toes to be slightly longer. Th e Finnish Spitz may be born with not only front dew claws but rear dewclaws either singly or double as well. Th e rear dewclaws are removed. Th e front dewclaws are also sometimes removed. Th e plumed tail has a functional ele- ment and has an unusual construct from other spitz breeds. When the dog trees the bird, the swishing tail focuses the bird on the dog and not on the approaching hunter. Th e fl ashing tail is often the only way the hunter can initially fi nd the dog and treed bird in the dense forest. Th ink about watching deer in the dense forest. You often do not even know they are there until there is movement such as the fl ash of the tail. Although the tail is important, it should not be prioritized higher than the essentials of the breed in the open- ing paragraph. Th e ideal tail encompasses numerous elements. Th e set-on is just
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“The Finnish Spitz is a barking bird dog. This is his function in the field, not in the show ring. PLEASE DO NOT ASK THE HANDLER TO MAKE THE DOG BARK.”
below the topline. Th e carriage points for- ward, fl at along the back. Th e tail should not go up at all nor should there be dis- cernible space between the tail and the topline. It curves vigorously downward and backward, pressing fl at against the thigh. Th e tail then points backward, fol- lowing the line of the sti fl e. Although the tail should be able to reach to the hocks, please do not pull the tail down. An inex- perienced, sensitive dog may not recover from this handling. Assess the tail simply by slightly lifting it when going across the backline to see the set on. If the set on and carriage are correct, the tip of the tail bone should reach the middle of the thigh. It is important to feel the length of the tail as tail feathering can disguise a short tail. Th e tail may go to either side. You will often see handlers putting the tail on the judge’s side when the tail falls better to the other side—not because that is the side it must fall but because a tail falling on the judge’s side tends to make the dog appear squarer! Although the dog looks better if the tail is carried up, it is not required. An inexperienced or uneasy dog will often not hold the tail up when gaiting. Assess the appropriate tail set-on, carriage and length during the hands-on. Th e gait is light and lively. Because the Finnish Spitz is moderately angulated, he will not have as much reach and drive as some other Spitz breeds. He tends to single track as the speed increases. Since his working gait is a gallop, he may move quickly from a trot to a gallop. Please do not penalize the Finnish Spitz for this transition. Th e handler will adjust the speed back to a trot. One of the fi rst impressions of the dog is his striking red-gold double coat.
Th e coat should have a short, soft under- coat that warms him in the cold clime and a harsher outer coat that repels the snow, ice and rain. Th e outer coat is medium in length. Any trimming of the coat should be severely faulted. Th e only exception is neatening the feet. Spring and Fall bring seasonal changes of coat. Females are usu- ally more a ff ected by the seasonal “blow- ing of the coat” than males who tend to rotate coat. Th e color ranges from pale cream to honey to mahogany red. Whatever the shade of red (there is no preference to the shade), the coat is bright, with an obvi- ous lighter shade in the undercoat. Th is lighter color should be easily found on the underline, the tail, the britches and the “harness markings.” Th e two tone shades create the unique Finnish Spitz “glow.” A monotonous color is “muddy” and undesirable. Although the Finnish Spitz is a red-gold dog some white is allowed. A quarter-sized spot or a narrow strip of white, not to exceed ½ inch, is allowed on the chest. White markings are also allowed on the tips of the toes. Although excessive white is not a DQ, too much white, as in full stockings and/or a white bib, will destroy the essence of the Finnish Spitz. Most Finnish Spitz are born with a heavy black overlay which starts to clear when the puppy is around six weeks old. Th e head clears fi rst; the buttocks and tail clear last. If you judge the four to six month puppy class, you may still see black shadings towards the rear of the dog. Do not penalize this in a puppy. Also do not penalize black hairs along the lip line and the tail in an adult dog.
Th e Finnish Spitz is a barking bird dog. Th is is his function in the fi eld, not in the show ring. Please do not ask the handler to make the dog bark. Th e US handlers work hard to train the dog not to bark when being shown! Once a Finnish Spitz starts to bark, it is di ffi cult to get them to stop, and the bark is infectious. BIO Cindy Stansell started showing Sibe- rian Huskies in the early 1980s and Finnish Spitz in the late 80s. She and her family owner-handled the dogs to cham- pionships and obedience titles. She is past president, secretary and newsletter edi- tor, and the current delegate and JEC of the Finnish Spitz Club of America. She is approved to judge breeds in the Work- ing, Non-Sporting and Herding groups. She has also judged in Central Amer- ica, South America, Europe, Asia and New Zealand.
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THE FINNISH SPITZ
By Peggy L. Urton
History T
he Finnish Spitz, known in its native country of Finland as Suomen- pystykorva, the Finn- ish Cock (Erect) Eared Dog, is the National
Dog of Finland. Th is ancient breed, the only European breed with a basal genetic signature, was used for millennia by the Finno-Ugric people of central Russia both to hunt both small and large game and to guard his master and his master’s proper- ty. By 1880, however, this hardy little red dog had become nearly extinct. A single breeder, Hugo Roos, dedicated his e ff orts to rescue the Finnish Spitz by traveling to remote villages and collecting the pur- est specimens of the breed. He and Hugo Sandberg, who wrote the fi rst breed stan- dard, worked diligently to re-establish the breed in its native land. Following a hunting trip to Scandinavia in 1927, Sir Edward Chichester imported the fi rst Finnish Spitz to England. Lady Kit- ty Ritson, also an early devotee of the breed, coined the nickname “Finkie” by which the breed is a ff ectionately known in many countries, including the United States. By 1935 the Finnish Spitz had acquired enough support in England to warrant registration with Th e Kennel Club. Another of the early British supporters was Mrs. Grisenda Price, whose Cullabine pre fi x can be found behind many dogs worldwide. Th e fi rst recorded import to the United States was Cullabine Rudolph in 1959. In the mid-1960s serious breeding began in the kennels of Henry Davidson of Minnesota, Mrs. Aino Hassel of Connecticut and Mrs. Ella Chisholm. In 1974 Richard and Betty Isaco ff and Margaret (Peggy) Kohler fell in love with the breed and imported a bitch and later a dog from the Cullabine Ken- nels in England. In 1975 they founded the Finnish Spitz Club of America and adapted the Standard of the country of origin. Th e breed was accepted into the Miscellaneous 264 • S HOW S IGHT M AGAZINE , A PRIL 2014
Class in 1983 and was formally recognized for registration with the American Kennel Club in 1987. Assigned to the Non-Sport- ing Group by the AKC, the breed became eligible to fully compete on January 1, 1988. Finnish Spitz were introduced in Canada by a native of Finland, Mr. Ray Rinta, who was essential to the recognition of the breed with the Canadian Kennel Club. In 1974 the breed was formally accepted and assigned to the CKC’s Hound Group. An additional early supporter of the breed, Mrs. Joan Grant, imported Finkies from the renowned Cullabine Kennel of England to establish her successful Jayenn Kennel in Canada. Performance In its native country of Finland, the Finnish Spitz is still used primarily as a hunting dog. It is a “bark-pointer”, indicat- ing the position of game with a ringing,
constant bark that secures the hunter’s attention and holds the game in place until the hunter is in position. Although mainly used for grouse and capercaillie in Finland, in Russia and other countries the breed is also used to hunt small game such as tree martens, squirrel and rodents, as well as for large game such as moose, elk, bear and boar. Th e Finnish Spitz Club of Finland has produced an excellent video of Finnish Spitz on the hunt, which can be found at http:// www.spj.fi/fi/rodut/suomenpystykorva/. Finnish Spitz mainly work alone with their hunter, but may be used in groups of two or three for larger game. Finnish Spitz are highly intelligent, capa- ble problem solvers. Th ey learn very quickly, but can become bored with repetitive train- ing. Although not a traditional obedience breed, owners attuned to their dogs have dis- covered that the natural tendency to hunt as
one dog/one handler can be readily adapted for success in companion events such as agil- ity, rally and barn hunting. Finkies have proven especially adept at agility, a sport that pairs well with their quickness and natural athleticism. Th inking outside the box and keeping training sessions short and fun will result in an enjoyable experience for both dog and handler. Comanionship Finnish Spitz need to be an integral part of their family’s life and therefore make excellent companions and family pets. Th ey are particularly fond of children and dili- gent in alerting the family about “intruders” around the home. A talkative breed, Finkies enjoy “conversations” with family members using many unique vocalizations. Th eir independent nature means that, although devoted, they are not an “in-your-face”
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VELCRO® breed. Th ey prefer instead to keep an eye on their two-legged companions from a distance, approaching from time to time for pets and cuddles. Training requires persistence, patience and kindness. Highly intelligent, they will fi nd ways to entertain themselves if bored, so it is up to the owner to provide mental stimulation through suit- able activities, toys and challenges as well as exercise in a fenced area or on a leash. Th is is not a breed well-suited to con fi nement in a yard—they expect and need to be an inte- gral part of family live. Grooming needs for Finnish Spitz are fairly basic and minimal. Th is is a very clean breed with no tendency to mat or tangle and no doggy odor. Regular brush- ing and occasional baths along with nor- mal nail and dental care are all that is needed. Th ey do shed their undercoats sea- sonally and at that time will require more extensive coat care to keep them tidy. Health Resulting from the natural selection of breeding stock that could endure the harsh hunting environment of Finland, the Finnish Spitz is an extremely healthy dog. It has no known breed speci fi c health problems. Th ere are occasional diagnoses of cancer, liver, kidney, heart, epilepsy or other diseases common to all canines; however, none of these is widespread. Hip dysplasia and patellar luxation also appear from time to time, but neither is prevalent in the breed with any statistical signi fi - cance. Overall, breeders have been diligent in minimizing problems and are the best source for information concerning speci fi c health concerns within their lines. BIO Peggy L. Urton started showing toy poodles in the early 1980s. She obtained her first Finnish Spitz in 1992 and has owner-handled her dogs to both champi- onships and grand championships. She has also bred many champions and is an AKC Breeder of Merit. Peggy has been involved in the Finnish Spitz Club of America since 1993, serving as President, Secretary and Treasurer, in addition to chairing and serving on many committees. She is an approved FSCA Mentor and Presenter. S HOW S IGHT M AGAZINE , A PRIL 2014 • 269
82• S HOW S IGHT M AGAZINE • O CTOBER 2010 Finnish Spitz as Hunting Dogs The person I got my first Finnish Spitz from told me that they’re bred to run away and bark a lot. It wasn’t until many years later that I under- stood what that meant. I had the good fortune to meet a man from Finland who hunted with his Finnish Spitz, and he taught me why that trait is so strong in this breed. Except for rare occasions where certain prey warrants it, Finnish Spitz hunt alone. The hunter and dog go to wherever it is they’re Finnish Spitz are highly intelli- gent, so they learn quickly when they enjoy what they’re doing. And Finnish Spitz THE FASCINATING BY HOLLY HORTON ! AJUAQ KENNELS going to hunt, and the hunter turns the dog loose. The dog goes out and makes a loop, anywhere from a few hundred yards up to a mile or so. If the dog finds no prey, he returns to the hunter. Then either the dog goes out again, making a wider loop, or the two of them move to a new location and go again. The dog must trust that the hunter will be where he left him, and the human must trust that the dog will return. Depending on the terrain and size of the loop, the dog will usually be gone anywhere from five to twenty minutes (take a good book!). Using sight, scent and hearing to find the game being hunted, he’ll flush it, tree it, and bark. Their “treeing bark” is distinct—a rhythmic ringing bark that carries for quite a dis- tance. This alerts the hunter and helps him locate the dog and prey, and also covers the sound of his approach. On an average hunt for grouse/capercaillie, the hunter will travel six to fifteen miles; the dog will cover more than five times that distance. In addition, the dog will traverse often rough forest terrain. Their square frames allow them to bound over fallen trees and rocks and easily navigate steep hills that would stop a rectangular dog in its tracks. Their glorious red-gold coats, which I thought would stick out like a neon sign in the forest, work like camouflage against the forest floor. The only thing visible is the glowing gold tail, bobbing along through the brush. Finnish Spitz in AKC Companion Events Even though the AKC offers sev- eral venues for dog owners to com- pete and earn titles, many people with arctic breeds avoid them. First, there is the deep-seated fear of let- ting their dogs off leash only to watch them bound off across the show grounds. Then there is the knowledge that, traditionally, one would get more success and satisfac- tion beating down a brick wall with one’s head (and that would also be far less embarrassing than the cre- ative disobedience at which arctic dogs excel). But those who have dared to step into these rings have found that Finnish Spitz not only enjoy these events but excel at them. Ah, the wisdom of a four-year old! This question from my friend’s daughter is one of many that I’ve fielded about my Finnish Spitz. It is a rare occasion that I only have to say the breed once, no matter how careful I am to enunciate each word. And I always have to clarify with some version of the following: The Finnish Spitz is the national dog of Finland. They’re a hunting dog, their primary prey being a grouse-like bird called a capercaillie. They’re a bark pointer, so their hunting style is most similar to Coonhounds here in the USA, as they flush their prey and then bark at it to hold it in the tree and also to lead the hunter to them. And I always have to add that of all the arctic breeds I’ve had, they actually care what I think. All arc- tic breeds have an independent streak. For some it’s a pinstripe, while for others it’s as wide as a free- way in a major city. Most were bred to work independently of their humans, so they aren’t sure you are entitled to an opinion. But because Finnish Spitz are hunting dogs that hunt in a team of one dog and one human, a bond is created between them. Thus they are one of the most versatile breeds I’ve owned. “Mom, how can she be a Finnish Spitz? She isn’t finished, and she doesn’t spit!” Reprinted from ShowSight June 2009
THE FASCINATING Finnish Spitz BY HOLLY HORTON ! AJUAQ KENNELS that’s the catch. Training for compe- tition is often repetitive, which is boring. Finnish Spitz want to please their humans, but will not do end- less repetitions just to prove it. Doing obedience, rally, or agility with a Finnish Spitz isn’t so much “training” as it is “teaching.” By varying teaching techniques and working obedience moves into games, these dogs can and will learn, and can earn performance titles. We must keep in mind that these dogs were bred to track and tree prey independent of the and the challenge of negotiating obstacles at high speed appeals to this quick-minded and fleet-footed companion. Finnish Spitz in the Show Ring The Finnish Spitz ring is a chal- lenging one in which to compete. It takes a person who has already been bitten by the “show bug”—and who has an incurable case—to take on the unique challenge of showing a Finnish Spitz to its championship. Not because they all “look alike” (although that is occasionally an issue—especially at a Supported Entry or Specialty), but because you while you do it—especially if a chew y is part of the deal. A trip to the dog park is a great way to spend an afternoon. But the thing they enjoy best is a long walk or hike—if possible in a park or in the moun- tains—where they can use their fine- ly tuned hunting senses. The first time I went hiking with my Finnish Spitz it felt like my first time in the mountains, though I had grown up hiking them. This ancient hunting breed notices every little thing: every sound, scent, and flick- er of movement. A rustle in the
leaves could be a mouse or a grouse; the breeze brings more than just the scent of pine and the sound of wind in the trees; that movement yards off the trail needs watching! What a joy to see those dark eyes track the game into brush or up a tree, and red furry bodies tremble with excitement! But the best part about this won- derful, versatile, intelligent breed is that they have one of the happiest personalities of any dog I’ve ever owned. Because of their reputations as barkers, many people pass up the opportunity to own this excellent companion. They want to be with you and please you. In Finland, it is common for a household to have only one to three Finnish Spitz (the current hunting dog, the venerable old retiree, and perhaps a pup start- ing to learn the family business). They are part of the family, and you are important to them—as they are to you. No day is ever bad enough that their bright eyes and foxy grins can’t fix it. And really, what more could any human ever ask? Holly Horton PO Box 901464 Sandy, Utah 84090-1464 hheventer@yahoo.com
hunter, so they have to be able to make decisions without being com- manded first. They want to think— not simply take orders. True to arc- tic dog personality, my dog some- times couldn’t resist doing creative interpretations of some of the exer- cises—like heeling on my right instead of my left. He thought it was funny (no one could miss his big happy grin); I was mortified! That is, until I caught the judge trying to hide his laughter behind his clip- board. If a CD still seems too daunting, Rally is the way to go. Precision is still needed to get high scores on the exercises, but the course and exercises are different every time, so there isn’t a need to be creative to keep himself—or the judges— entertained. This is a venue where many arctic breeds succeed, and where Finnish Spitz can truly shine. I’m currently working on earning the first RAE with a Finnish Spitz, and we are having a lot of fun doing it. The event that the most Finnish Spitz truly enjoy is Agility—and they are well-suited for it. There have been several Finnish Spitz who have ventured into this ring and excelled. Quick turns and bounding over objects is exactly what they were bred to do. The thrill of the chase
there are relatively few being shown. Finding competition so even one point is available often requires travelling long distances. Where I am, my nearest competi- tion is a minimum of a six-hour drive away; finding majors often requires 12-18 hours. As a result, there are many quality Finnish Spitz who never set foot inside a show ring. Breeders can’t keep every promising pup, and there are a lim- ited number of show homes. Few people who search out this breed as a pet see the point of driving many hours and spending a lot of money to get a ribbon. The upside to having only a few Finnish Spitz competing at any one time is that it’s not a ring that sees a lot of “big name” professional han- dlers. The incidence, whether inten- tional or not, of judging the “wrong end of the lead” rarely happens here. Most of us are owner-han- dlers—and very proud of it. Finnish Spitz as Companions Like many arctic breeds, Finnish Spitz adapt to whatever environ- ment their humans live. They are not a breed that will park itself on your lap while you watch TV. But they’ll be willing to hang out with
(801) 585-9142 wk (801) 414-1707 cell
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