Also known as the Suomenajokoira and the Finnish Bracke, the Finnish Hound is an outgoing and friendly breed. But how do you know whether you are ready to purchase a pet and if this breed is right for you? This information is absolutely necessary in making the decision to purchase a pet.
History
The origin of the Finnish Hound can be traced back to 19th century Finland, when a blacksmith named Tammelin began experimenting with crossing various breeds. Tammelin eventually crossed English, German Swiss, and Scandinavian Hound breeds, and the Finnish Hound was finally born.
Throughout its history, the Finnish Hound has been most commonly used for hunting, tracking, scenting, and retrieving game such as fox and rabbit, proving its superior abilities to perform in the harshest of terrain while providing companionship.
Today, while the Finnish Hound has attained a regional popularity as a hunting and companion dog, the breed remains extremely rare outside of its native Finland.
Personality Traits
Best known for its friendly and enthusiastic nature, the Finnish Hound is a genuinely happy breed. These dogs thrive on strong and dependable relationships with humans, and often look to their owner for guidance and leadership. This breed is highly intelligent and generally easy to train. As a pet, the Finnish Hound is obedient, loyal, loving, and affectionate. The Finnish Hound is not suited for full-time indoor or apartment living, as it enjoys spending time outdoors and taking long walks.
Train-ability
Due to its need for human relationships and willingness to learn, the Finnish Hound generally responds well to basic training and commands. These dogs are very intelligent and have the ability to learn to perform most any task their trainer is willing to take the time to teach.
Establishing immediate trust and respect is key to successfully training the Finnish Hound. This breed can be somewhat sensitive to criticism and responds best to positive reinforcement and reward-based training.
Benefits and Disadvantages of the Breed
There are many benefits to owning a Finnish Hound, such as its no hassle, low maintenance coat. This breed is very bright, easy to train, obedient by nature, and capable of learning to perform many impressive tricks and tasks. When properly socialized from a young age, the Finnish Hound gets along well with children and other pets, known for its sweet and gentle approach to small children. These dogs are very alert and aware of their surroundings, serving as an effective watch dog by announcing the arrival of guests and unwanted visitors. The Finnish Hound is obedient, loyal, loving, and affectionate, making an excellent hunting dog, family pet, and companion alike.
Unfortunately, there are also disadvantages to owning a Finnish Hound. These active and athletic dogs require large amounts of daily exercise and room to run and play. Anyone wishing to purchase this breed lacking the adequate amount of time and space to dedicate to the dog is strongly advised against doing so. A Finnish Hound not receiving the proper amount of exercise and space will often act out by destroying property, chewing, barking, whining, and ignoring basic training such as housebreaking.
The Finnish Hound has a strong instinct to hunt and will occasionally indulge in a good chase. When on the run, these dogs are very quick, and may pose a threat to other animals, neighborhood pets, and small woodland creatures. These dogs must be leashed or properly secured at all times when outdoors.
This breed is known for being rather excitable when greeting humans and at play. Excessive barking, jumping, and full-body wags may lead to headaches and accidents. Proper training can reduce this kind of behavior in the Finnish Hound.
As previously mentioned, the Finnish Hound remains extremely rare outside of its native Finland and can prove quite difficult to obtain. Individuals seeking to purchase this breed often encounter such challenges as inability to locate breeder, high prices, and being placed on long waiting lists.
While the Finnish Hound is typically known as a healthy and hearty breed, they do suffer from a few health problems, including: hip dysplasia, degenerative disk disease and other spinal conditions, primary lens luxation – dislocation of the lens, glaucoma, sensitivity to anesthesia, and bloat.
Now that you know all about the breed, do you think you are ready to own a Finnish Hound? Remember, purchasing a pet is a big decision and should be discussed thoroughly and seriously with your entire family.
