Finnish spitz is a strong, sturdy dog related to the Siberian husky, the Samoyed, and other Arctic dogs. A Finnish spitz looks somewhat like a fox. The dog has a thick, red-gold coat; erect, pointed ears; and brown eyes. Its bushy, curled tail falls over its hindquarters. The male Finnish spitz stands from 171/2 to 20 inches (44.5 to 51 centimeters) tall at the shoulder and weighs about 30 pounds (14 kilograms). The female is slightly smaller.
The Finnish spitz is the national dog of Finland. It is descended from dogs used for hunting by the early Finns. Finns still use the dog to hunt game birds. Outside Finland, however, the Finnish spitz is kept primarily as a pet. The dog is intelligent and good-tempered.
