With his pointed muzzle and prick ears, the Finnish Spitz resembles a fox. Once used to hunt small birds and game, the breed today primarily is a playful, friendly house dog. Known for his barking, the Finnish Spitz long ago summoned hunters by barking. A seasonal heavy shedder with a fluffy, dense double coat, this breed needs weekly brushing as well as moderate exercise.
In barking contests, the Finnish Spitz has been known to bark up to 160 times a minute. The national dog of Finland, he sometimes is called the barking bird dog. The Finnish Spitz is slow to mature, reaching adulthood at 3 ½ to 4 years of age.