Finnish Hound

FCI 51 - Medium-sized Hounds.

As its name implies, the Finnish Hound It is a breed of dog native to Finland. His story is the same as that of many other hounds, as it was developed in response to the need for a hunting dog perfectly adapted to its environment.

It is the result of a breeding program started at the beginning of the 19th century by several breeders who used the English Foxhound and several hounds, as well as French and German hunting dogs. The aim of these crosses was to create an animal capable of withstanding the extreme temperatures of Finnish winters, with excellent resistance in mountainous terrain, a trumpet bark to alert hunters and a particularly developed sense of smell that would allow it to excel at tracking hares and foxes. This breeding program was a success, and the bitch he gave birth to, call Suomenajokoira, quickly gained popularity thanks to his admirable hunting skills and friendly temperament.

When it was founded Suomen Kennelliitto, Finland's leading dog organization, in 1889, his first initiative was to develop a standardized hound breed from Finland. Many breeders came forward to try to get their production recognized as the standard to follow. Three dogs were selected in the organization's first dog show in 1891, and eight more were added the following year. The first breed standard of Finnish Hound It was established in 1893 based on these individuals. It was decided, among other things, accept only fawn as coat color. But, this color did not completely stabilize, and individuals from successive litters very often had coats of other colors, like black and white. This forced the Kennelliitto to also recognize a tricolor coat (leonado, black and white) early twentieth century, which finally became the norm. The standard evolved again in small touches later, but in its main lines it has remained the same since 1932.

The Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) recognized the breed in 1954, but I didn't have many emulators. These may include, it wasn't until more than 40 years later, in 1996, that the United Kennel Club (UKC) he did the same. The other reference organization in the United States, the American Kennel Club (AKC), has not yet taken the step.

In fact, just like the prestigious British Kennel Club or the Canadian Kennel Club (CCC), for example, most national organizations do not yet recognize the Finnish Hound.

Outside Finland, the Finnish Hound remains totally unknown to the general public.

On the other hand, the Finnish Hound is much more popular in his native Finland, to the point of appearing in the Top 10 of the most common breeds in the country, which makes it the most widespread national breed. But, with about 1.000 births per year registered in Suomen Kennelliitto, has been in free fall for several decades. In fact, at the dawn of the 21st century the number was more than 2500, and at the end of the 90 even exceeded 4000. This sharp decline is due to increasing urbanization and the decline in hunting activities.

The same development can be found in the other Scandinavian countries that have adopted the Finnish Hound, namely, Sweden and Norway. In the first, the number of births registered each year in the Svenska Kennelklubben is now within 400, compared with more than double at the end of the 1990. The number of births registered in the Svenska Kennelklubben is now little more than 150 by year, compared to more than triple that number in the late 1990s.

The Finnish Hound still commonly used as a hunting dog in Finland, Sweden and Norway, but they are practically unknown outside the Scandinavian region.

Photo: Finnish Hound by RemoteFly, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Athletics, resistant and strong, the Finnish Hound he has a robust and muscular silhouette and a medium size. His body is rectangular, with a deep chest and well sprung ribs. The tail is carried low; is wide at the base and tapers to a point at the end.

The head is well proportioned in relation to the body and slightly domed. A characteristic detail of the breed is the upper lip, that falls to the sides of the mouth forming an N-shaped curve when viewed from the front. His eyes are dark brown with a calm expression. The ears are large, plan, falls and not very long.

The Finnish Hound have a double coat consisting of a short undercoat, dense and smooth in texture and a medium length top coat, straight and quite hard. The coat is tricolor, mixing black, fawn and white. Specifically, the fur is black, while the head, the outer parts of the legs and shoulders are tawny. At the same time, white markings are generally present on the muzzle, the neck, the chest, the belly, the feet and the tip of the tail.

Last, sexual dimorphism is only slightly marked in this breed, since the females are on average barely 3 cm smaller than males.

The Finnish Hound it is above all a true working dog with a highly developed predatory instinct and a strong character.

Decades of independent hunting have caused them to be stubborn and stubborn. For this reason, not recommended for a novice teacher: only an experienced and firm owner can establish and maintain the appropriate level of authority to elicit acceptable behavior from him.

This does not detract from its formidable hunting qualities., an activity in which he is alert, energetic and durable. It is mainly used to hunt hare, fox and sometimes wildcat. Regardless of weather and terrain, he is always there and never spares his efforts, able to follow a trail for hours in terrible weather conditions – aided by his highly developed sense of smell. He is also a very vocal hunting dog., appreciated for its characteristic barks, who plays a key role in allowing his master to follow him even when he is out of sight, and to alert of the presence of hunting.

To counter his unlimited energy while hunting, the Finnish Hound is generally calm and friendly during periods of rest, especially when they are at home.

Once trained and socialized, the Finnish Hound blends surprisingly well into family life. They are known to be very affectionate and are constantly on the lookout for human company., forming extremely close ties with their owners. He is also a dog that loves children. But, they must be taught to interact with him appropriately and to respect him, since they may not appreciate being mistreated. In any case, a young child should never be left alone with a dog, regardless of race.

His good relations with humans are not limited to his family circle. He is usually very nice to strangers. In other words, although its thunderous barks might suggest that it is a good watchdog, this is not the case at all.

The Finnish Hound is also sociable with other hounds, especially if they have been well socialized from a young age. So, it is perfectly conceivable to adopt a second dog to keep him company.

This is all the more true as his closeness to his masters makes him easily suffer from separation anxiety when left alone for too long., since it needs a lot of attention. The presence of a small playmate can help alleviate the problem.

In any case, it must not be a cat, rodent, bird or any other small animal. In fact, even if you are used to being around him, it is evident that he would not be safe in his presence, because the predatory instincts of the Finnish Hound they can take control at any time. It also, it is recommended to always keep it on a leash during your daily walks, to prevent you from rushing in pursuit of small animals that would pass.

The Finnish Hound it is very resistant and extremely active, so you need a lot of exercise every day. In the days when you used to hunt, your tracking activity should be an appropriate amount of exercise. The rest of the time, you need at least an hour of vigorous exercise a day: run, long walks, etc.

Keeping an active mind is also very important, so it is advisable to train him regularly to follow the tracks or play ball. This helps maintain your mental well-being., In addition to your physical health.

To be happy, the Finnish Hound needs constant access to a sufficiently large outdoor space in which to run freely. It is essential that the area is fenced in to prevent the Finnish Hound chase the surrounding animals. Not suitable for a small house without a garden or in an apartment. Wherever i live, his hunting nature causes him to bark a lot and can be a source of tension with potential neighbors.

The Finnish Hound he is intelligent and full of energy, but it is a difficult breed to train. Accustomed since its creation to hunt alone, over time has developed a strong character, independent and stubborn. He needs to have before him a master who is at least as determined, that is to say, experienced, able to show your dog that he makes up his mind and to keep a firm hand in his education throughout his life. So, not recommended for a beginning teacher, on which he would soon gain the upper hand. It also, if it is important that the rules are clear and defined from the beginning by the master, it is equally important that they are constant over time and consistent from person to person, that is to say, that all members of the house enforce them to the letter.

The Finnish Hound it's hard to handle, but it shows real sensitivity, as evidenced by his closeness to his family. So, punishments can affect you emotionally; it is preferable to take a positive approach to educate him, using positive reinforcement techniques and therefore the use of rewards: candies, petting, stimuli…

In any case, hunting practice and the ability to follow a trail require very little training, since they are things that he knows how to do instinctively.

But, is strongly inclined to want to use his hunting skills in circumstances that do not lend themselves to it, for example, rushing potential small prey on walks. Teaching your dog to remember is therefore of particular importance with the Finnish Hound. But, this can be difficult, because once he's thrown on a track, can be very reluctant to abandon it, completely ignoring the orders of its owner. Feel free to start and perfect your training in a safe, enclosed space such as your home or garden before attempting outdoor exercise..

It also, It must be remembered that this breed has been encouraged from its beginnings to bark frequently and loudly. If it's not meant to be used for hunting, it is possible to try to teach your dog to refrain from barking. But, although the latter can be reduced by specific training started at a very young age, it is impossible to hunt completely naturally, that is to say, make them disappear completely.

Finally, like any dog, benefits from being socialized from their first months, to become a balanced adult who knows how to be among humans. In addition to confronting him with a wide range of situations and stimuli (noises, smells, etc.), it should be introduced without delay to the people you will meet later in life (family, friends, neighbors, veterinary, etc.), as well as getting used to cross all kinds of humans, congeners and representatives of other species. Given their hunting instinct, This last point is not unimportant.: the more accustomed you are to the presence of other animals, less likely to hunt them later.

The Finnish Hound is generally robust and healthy.

Its dense fur provides excellent protection against cold and weather, but also against the heat. Although they need shade or even air conditioning in hot weather, the Finnish Hound is generally able to adapt to almost any climate.

The main health problems the breed is most prone to are:

• Ataxia cerebelosa, generally hereditary, which affects coordination of movements and prevents affected puppies from moving. Then it is necessary to euthanize them;

Certain heart conditions:

• Valvular disease, heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) and cardiomyopathy;

• Lymphoma, a type of cancer that affects lymphocytes, white blood cells that help the immune system fight infection. Symptoms depend on location and stage, but the most common are lack of appetite, weight loss, general weakness and lethargy, and enlarged lymph nodes in the neck. Treatment with chemotherapy and radiation therapy is usually started, but relapses are common;
• Hip and elbow dysplasia, orthopedic conditions marked by a hereditary predisposition, where the bones don't fit well. This leads to movement difficulties (limp, etc.);
• Ear infections (ear infections, etc.), favored by the drooping shape of their ears;
• Black hair follicular dysplasia, a rare dermatological condition that causes black hair loss in the first weeks of a puppy's life, to the point that it usually disappears before their first birthday. It does not usually affect the health of the dog, but it can irritate the skin and make it susceptible to infection;
• Atopic dermatitis, an inflammatory skin condition caused by an allergy. It usually has a genetic cause and is manifested by itching, systematic scratching and licking of the paws, armpits and face.

It also, an individual used for hunting is also more exposed to the risk of injury, parasites, thorns… It is highly recommended to check it every time you return home, to make sure everything is okay.

Adopting a breeder Finnish Hound serious and responsible (breed club member for example) normally allows to have the best guarantees regarding the present and future good health of the animal. Must be able to present a certificate of good health established by a veterinarian, the history of the vaccines administered and the results of the genetic tests carried out on the parents and / or the puppy in relation to diseases that may have a hereditary dimension.

It also, as with all dogs, must be taken at least once a year to a veterinarian for a complete health check. This will ensure you stay up to date on your vaccinations and can lead to early detection of any problems.. At the same time, it is important to make sure that you renew your deworming treatments whenever necessary. This is even more important as you spend a lot of time outdoors.

Use of “Finnish Hound”

The Finnish Hound is a renowned hunting dog in his homeland, where has always been, and it still being, used to hunt rabbits, foxes, wildcats and sometimes even moose. They prefer to work alone and are particularly good at following tracks in the air or on the ground., barking loudly.

Although the main purpose of breeding this breed has never been to make a pet, fits surprisingly well into family life and can sometimes be kept just for that purpose. But, only suitable for an experienced teacher, who lives in a house with a big garden, often present, and able to meet their high needs for physical activity.

Last, the Finnish Hound is loyal, Gentile, loving and affectionate with their owners: all the qualities that can make him a good psychological support dog for his owners. Their sensitivity and close bond with their owners allows them to react intuitively to their owners' emotions and offer comfort when they notice something is wrong..

In finland, the purchase price of a puppy of Finnish Hound it is usually between 600 and 800 EUR. The amount charged depends on the prestige of the breeding, the lineage from which the animal descends, as well as its intrinsic characteristics, especially physical, so there may be price differences within the same litter.

As the breed is very difficult to find outside of Scandinavia, importing from abroad is often the only option. In this case, transportation and administrative costs are added to the purchase price, not to mention the cost of possible registration in the national registry of the country of adoption. It also, It is important, of course, ensure that the regulations for importing a dog from abroad are followed.

Coexistence is important that you have with your new friend. Before considering the acquisition of a dog of the breed "Finnish Hound" you know certain factors. Not all breeds of dogs are apt to live in an apartment, you must take into account his character, their need for exercise, their interaction with other pets, their care and if you have small children, their level of tolerance towards them.

Photos:

1 – Sabueso finlandés by https://pixabay.com/fi/photos/koira-n%C3%A4lk%C3%A4-pelko-vihainen-5317972/
2 – Finnish hound by https://www.hankikoira.fi/koirarodut/suomenajokoira

• FCI CLASSIFICATION: 51
• Group 6: Scent hounds, and related breeds.
• Section 1.2: Medium-sized hound-type dogs.. With proof of work..

Federations:

• – FCI – Group 6: Scent hounds, and related breeds. – Section 1.2: Medium-sized Hounds. ⓘ

FCI - Finnish Hound

1. Finnish Bracke (English).
2. Chien courant finnois (French).
3. (Suomenajokoira, Finnenbracke, Finsk Stövare) (German).
4. (em finlandês: Suomenajokoira) (Portuguese).
5. (en finlandés: Suomenajokoira) (español).