The national dog of Finland was well established when the first breed standard was written in 1892. Originally used for tracking elk and bear, their barking signalling that they had found game. Now used for finding game birds, he uses the same vociferous technique, barking at the birds perched in trees, to alert the hunters in the thick forests. The spitz characteristics are a wedge shaped head, compact body and a stand off outer coat with a tightly curled tail over his back. The bright red iridescent coat of the Finnish Spitz is much admired.
