Are Finnish Spitz Good Family Dogs?
With their fox-like features and infectious enthusiasm, the Finnish Spitz makes a charming companion. But does this breed make a good fit for a family environment? Let's explore the energetic Finnish Spitz temperament and their suitability for households with children.
Origins of the Finnish Spitz
To understand the Finnish Spitz personality, we first need to look at the breed's origins. Hailing from Finland, this breed served as a hunting dog. Their roles included:
- Treeing game like grouse and capercaille in the forest.
- Alerting hunters with loud, resonant barking when quarry was spotted.
- Retrieving and returning downed birds to the hunter.
This hunting heritage endowed the Finnish Spitz with strong instincts to be vocal, energetic, and eager to please handlers. They continue to exhibit these traits today as family companions.
Typical Finnish Spitz Temperament
The loyal, lively Finnish Spitz forms close bonds with all family members. Their personalities reflect their ancestry developing as hunting dogs in close cooperation with people.
Affectionate - Devoted to their family. Crave attention and closeness. Enjoy cuddling.
Energetic - Require 60+ minutes of daily activity to stay happy and well-behaved. Need vigorous exercise and play.
Intelligent - Quick learners. Enjoy training games and challenges that engage their minds.
Alert - Highly observant with keen senses. Will bark to announce visitors or interesting sights and sounds.
Playful - Remain puppyish well into adulthood. Love to play games of fetch and chase with kids and adults.
Friendly - Usually outgoing and enthusiastic when meeting new people. Make poor guard dogs.
Prey Drive - Have strong instinct to chase furry animals including household pets. Require training.
This upbeat, attentive temperament allows the Finnish Spitz to thrive as part of an active family.
Are Finnish Spitz Good With Children?
When properly socialized from a young age, most Finnish Spitz excel with respectful, dog-savvy kids. Considerations when adding a Finnish Spitz to a home with children:
- Supervise all interactions, especially with very young children who may get knocked over accidentally.
- Teach children how to gently handle the dog - no tail or ear pulling, poking eyes, rough play.
- Socialize puppy to interact appropriately with kids of all ages and activity levels.
- Set household rules like no chasing dog when running, leaving alone when eating or sleeping, etc.
- Ensure kids do not disturb dog when crated for safety and as a retreat space.
- Allow dog daily escape time from kids in a closed room or crate. Do not overwhelm.
With preparation, training, and supervision, the Finnish Spitz makes a delightful and lively family companion.
Benefits of the Finnish Spitz for Families
There are many advantages to choosing a Finnish Spitz as a family dog:
Playful Nature - They have an eternal puppy-like spirit and enjoy playing games like fetch and chase in the yard with kids. Great exercise buddy.
Affectionate Personality - Truly loves spending time and snuggling with all family members from toddlers to grandparents.
Eager to Please - Responds readily to reward-based training. Want to make their people happy, so teach kids well.
Endless Energy - Always up for hiking, jogging, or any other active adventures with the family. Great motivation to get kids outdoors.
Minimal Shedding - Their dense double coat requires brushing but is low shedding, making them more tolerable for families with allergies.
Devoted Companion - Forms extremely close bonds and happily accompanies kids and parents through daily life. Protective of "their" children.
For an upbeat breed that loves family life, the Finnish Spitz is a top choice.
Potential Downsides of the Finnish Spitz for Families
While generally excellent family dogs, there are a few factors to consider:
Prey Drive - May instinctively chase household cats or pet rodents/rabbits unless trained. Close supervision is a must.
Vocal Tendencies - Prone to barking at stimuli. Can be noisy and a nuisance without training.
Exercise Needs - Require significant daily activity. Need space and commitment to exercise from the family. Destructive or hyper when under-stimulated.
Grooming - Dense coat needs regular brushing and blow out seasonally. Higher maintenance than some breeds.
Separation Anxiety - Finnish Spitz bond intently to owners. Prone to stress when left alone for long periods. Crate training helps.
Energy Level - Can be jumpy/mouthy as puppies and adolescents. Too much dog for very low energy families.
Finnish Spitz thrive with active, attentive families able to provide training, exercise, attention, and supervision they crave.
Tips for Adding a Finnish Spitz to Your Family
Follow these tips for successfully integrating a Finnish Spitz into your family:
- Pick a pup from lines bred for sound temperament. Meet parents whenever possible.
- Start socialization and training early. Enroll puppy in "good manners" group classes.
- Exercise puppy daily through play, training, and increasing lengths of leashed walks to avoid destructive energy.
- Use positive reinforcement techniques. Food rewards and praise motivates this breed.
- Provide interactive puzzle toys to engage their minds when unattended. Rotate frequently.
- Teach children how to properly interact with and handle the puppy respectfully.
- Commit to providing lifelong physical and mental stimulation to prevent behavior issues.
With training, exercise, and TLC from the whole family, the good-natured Finnish Spitz will reward you with years of fun, devotion, and lively companionship. This breed thrives as part of an active clan!