Finnish Hound

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Finnish Hound

45-55 lbs

20-23"

Finland

Finnish Scenthound, Finnish Bracke, Suomenajokoira, Finsk Stovare

The Finnish Hound is one of Finland's five native dogs and has generally ranked as the most popular throughout its history for its exceptional hunting abilities, especially in hilly, wintry terrain. A scent hound developed in the 19th century by combining numerous English Foxhounds as well as other French and German hounds, this breed is beloved in Finland and Sweden, but is nearly unknown outside the region. Even in recent times, this dog has been kept almost exclusively as a hunting dog instead of a show dog or companion, but given its temperament, wouldn't be a bad candidate nor a surprise for the latter. They are known to be highly-affectionate, forming a close bond with their owners, and outside of their highly-energetic behavior during the hunt, are generally calm and friendly dogs that usually do well with other dogs and people. Because they have long-developed a sense of independence, they are known to be quite headstrong and stubborn and require a firm, patient owner to establish themselves as alphas to produce and maintain consistent positive behavior and obedience. They are also a very active breed, so if they do go to a home that does not regularly hunt, will need frequent and thorough exercise to stay happy and healthy.

Purpose
Hunting


Date of Origin
Early 19th Century


Ancestry
English Foxhounds, French Hounds, German Hounds

Finnish Hound Health

Average Size

Height: 21-24 inches Weight: 45-55 lbs

Height: 20-23 inches Weight: 45-55 lbs

Major Concerns

Cerebellar Ataxia

Minor Concerns

Hip And Elbow Dysplasia

Occasional Diagnoses

Eye Problems
Demodectic Mange

Occasional Tests

X-Rays
Eye Examination
Physical Examination

Finnish Hound Breed History

While the Finnish Hound's origins may have skirted official documentation in the earliest years of its existence, many agree that the breed was the result of a cross between English Foxhounds and numerous French and German hounds in the early 19th century. The aim of early crossbreeding was to create a dog that was hearty, able to withstand the cold temperatures of Finnish/Swedish winters, had excellent endurance with the ability to traverse mountainous terrain, a bellowing bay to alert hunters, and able to track hare and fox by scent. When it eventually came to fruition, the Finnish Hound quickly ascended to one of Finland's most popular native dogs thanks to its excellent all-around hunting skills and similarly-excellent temperament. While still regularly used as a hunting dog in the region, it is not often found as a companion or a show dog and is rarely found outside of its native lands. The first breed standard was written in 1932 but they were not recognized by the UKC until 1996.

Finnish Hound Breed Appearance

Finnish Hounds are medium-sized dogs, standing an average of two feet tall at the withers and weighing between 45 and 55 pounds with an athletic build. They posses a short, dense, coarse tri-color coat consisting of a black saddle, large tan patches and white on the chest, legs, paws, and fringes. Their skulls are slightly domed and feature a muzzle that matches the length of the skull, curved upper lip, black nose, oval, dark brown eyes and folded ears. They are well-muscled and have a relatively light frame, keeping them from being bulky or heavy. They possess a square stance, straight back and a low set, tapered tail.

Eye Color Possibilities

Brown

Nose Color Possibilities

Black

Coat Color Possibilities

Brown

White

Black

Coat Length

Short Medium Long

Coat Density

Sparse Normal Dense

Coat Texture

Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Finnish Hound Breed Maintenance

Finnish Hounds take relatively minimal maintenance overall, as they are only average shedders and take only a few brushes a week to maintain their coat. Given the density, this is best done with a firm bristle brush to remove excess hair and distribute the coat's natural oils. They rarely, if ever, need a bath as their coats are naturally self-maintained unless they get into something smelly, and otherwise need only a dry shampoo on occasion. If they are not used as hunting dogs, which will help with natural wear, their nails should be monitored and trimmed to prevent cracking and breaking. Their teeth should be brushed at least on a weekly basis to maintain good oral health.

Brushes for Finnish Hound

Pin Brush

Nail Clipper

Brushing Frequency

Daily Weekly Monthly

Finnish Hound Temperament

While Finnish Hounds are energetic dogs during the hunt, they are otherwise generally a calm, friendly breed with an easy-going personality. Because of the independence developed over decades and decades of hunting, they tend to be strong-willed and stubborn, so an experienced and firm owner is required to maintain good behavior and proper authority. Once they are trained and socialized, however, they form extremely tight bonds with their owners and families and are known to be quite affectionate. They do relatively well with other dogs and people, especially if they receive healthy socialization early on but because of their hunting instincts, are not recommended for families with other small non-canine animals, as they are quick to resort to their predatory lineage. Since they were also bred for endurance, they will need a considerable amount of daily exercise, either on long walks or with a yard or open space to run and may get restless if not provided at least a minimum amount.

Finnish Hound Activity Requirements

Finnish Hounds are very active, ranking above average compared to other breeds, so daily exercise is a requirement for owning them if owners want to maintain both good behavior and health. Those that are chosen to be hunting dogs should receive a proper amount from hunting activities alone if done semi-regularly, but those who choose to solely venture into having them as companion animals should keep in mind that they will need at least 16 or so miles of walking or running per week and a daily minimum of around 45 minutes a day. For the latter, having them play fetch type games where they can engage both their physical and mental abilities goes a long way in maintaining their overall health and happiness.

Activity Level

Low
Medium
High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
16 miles

Minutes of Activity Per Day
45 minutes

Similar Maintenance Breeds to Finnish Hound

Similarly Sized Breeds to Finnish Hound

Finnish Hound Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
3 cups
Daily Cost
$1.50 - $2.50
Monthly Cost
$45.00 - $75.00

Finnish Hound Height & Weight

6 Months

Height: 16.0 inches
Weight: 35.0 lbs

Height: 15.0 inches
Weight: 35.0 lbs
12 Months

Height: 19.0 inches
Weight: 42.5 lbs

Height: 18.0 inches
Weight: 42.5 lbs
18 Months

Height: 22.5 inches
Weight: 50.0 lbs

Height: 21.5 inches
Weight: 50.0 lbs

Written by a Puggle lover Jonathan Powell

Published: 01/31/2018, edited: 02/24/2021

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