Many potential dog owners have their hearts set on this specific breed, and what’s not to love about the adorable Finnish Spitz? This medium-sized breed is known for its abundance of energy, as well as their loyalty.
Are you looking into getting a Finnish Spitz puppy? It would be best if you adopt or purchase your new companion from a reputable shelter or breeder. You should also make sure that you know what to expect from your puppy and how to prepare and adequately care for your new family member.
If you are interested in adopting a Finnish Spitz, this article will give you plenty of information to get started! We also have an article on Border Collie puppies, if you are interested.
Preparing Your Home For a Finnish Spitz Pup
You know you want a dog, you will likely be tempted to go out and get your Finnish Spitz right away.
However, you should first make sure your entire home is ready for a new companion. Your house should be a safe place for a puppy, but you should also talk to any other household members.
If you also have cats you might want to read my article on Finnish Spitz and cats.
Make sure any roommates or family members that live with you are also okay with getting a dog. While you may think everyone is a dog lover, this is not always the case! Find out if the Finky is a good apartment dog in my article here.
Have a meeting with everyone who lives in your home and make sure they are all completely okay with this big transition.
Once you are sure everyone agrees to get a dog, you should discuss specific boundaries, chores, and limitations. Which family members will be taking the dog out on walks? Whose job is it to feed the dog?
Other things to consider might be where the dog is allowed to go. Are beds and couches off-limits? What about certain rooms?
Do you want to know if a Finnish Spitz is a good apartment dog? I have written an article you can read it here.
Also, be sure to mention what characteristics you can expect from a Finnish Spitz. As they are bred to be hunting dogs, they are notoriously loud at barking and require a great deal of exercise. Do Finnish Spitz bark a lot? read my article here.
So long as everyone in your household is okay with these things, however, you can move along in the adoption process.
From there, it’s time to start puppy-proofing. Puppies are excellent at getting into everything they aren’t supposed to. Any exposed wires should have covers over them, and you should invest in baby gates to rope off any areas where you don’t want your puppy to venture into.
It would be best if you also hide anything you don’t want your dog chewing on. If you have any house-plants, do some research to make sure they aren’t potentially toxic to your dog.
Do you have a swimming pool? Find out if your new puppy can swim here.
Necessary Supplies When You Get a Finkie Puppy
Another crucial step before adopting a puppy is to make sure you have all of the necessary supplies. Some of these supplies include food and water dishes, food, treats, a collar and leash, plenty of toys, a kennel, and a dog bed.
If your puppy is quite young, you should also get training pads to put near your dog’s sleeping area in case of any accidents.
Make sure you are financially prepared to buy any other necessary supplies that may come up.
Another important item to consider is the first aid kit. In case of any medical emergencies, it’s a good idea to have a few essentials that are pre-designated for your dog.
Some of the most important things to include in a first aid kit might be gauze, non-stick bandages, medical tape, scissors, cotton balls, and disinfectants.
It would be best if you also researched nearby veterinarians and animal emergency hospitals. It might be a good idea to put this contact information on the fridge in case of an emergency.
Adopting Your Finnish Spitz Puppy
With all of the initial stuff out of the way, it’s time to get to the fun part.
Finding a Finnish Spitz puppy at a local shelter may be difficult, so if you truly have your heart set on this breed, you will likely need to get one from a breeder.
When selecting a breeder, you should always be wary and look for someone reputable. It’s best to avoid puppy mills at all costs. These breeders whose sole purpose is to make money, resulting in dogs kept in poor conditions, as well as with puppies that maybe sickly or infected.
Before deciding on your puppy, you should do extensive research to ensure you are getting your dog from a reputable source.
When adopting a puppy, you should note that your dog’s temperament will likely change as it grows older.
One of the downsides to adopting puppies is that you can’t really know your dog’s true personality until a year or so, once it has grown up and settled down. Still, you can get a general idea of your puppy’s temperament while meeting it.
It would help if you visited your breeder in person, both to get a look at the conditions, as well as to see all of the puppies available. You can also request a small amount of playtime with the puppy to see if you will both get along well.
Once you’ve chosen the puppy you want, it’s time to commence the adoption process!
Taking Your Puppy Home
Getting a new dog is an exciting experience for everyone involved. You will likely want to show your dog every part of its new home right away.
However, this will prove to be a little too overwhelming for your new companion. In order to reduce stress, you should designate one room for your puppy to stay in for a little while.
If you have a lot of family members, you should only allow two or three visitors at a time, as too many will stress out the puppy.
After about a week, you can begin to show the dog other rooms in the house, but make sure it’s not too much at once! A brand new house seems a lot bigger and scarier to a new puppy transitioning to a different part of the world.
The goal is to make this new transition as smooth and stress-free as possible.
The first couple of weeks with your new puppy will prove to be very fun, but they might also be a bit frustrating, especially if this is your first time owning a dog.
You will quickly realize that puppies are mischievous little creatures capable of getting into anything and everything. A few throw pillows and pieces of furniture might be your puppy’s first victims, and while you will probably be tempted to scream and shout, you should remain patient and calm at all times.
Tell your dog “No” in a loud, firm voice, but don’t be aggressive. Finnish Spitz, in particular, is known for being a bit stubborn at times. So getting your new puppy acquainted with your rules will take no small amount of patience.
In the end, it will be well worth it, as these dogs make loyal and loving companions for many years.
Taking Care For a Finnish Spitz
Finnish Spitz requires moderate care overall, and are relatively easy dogs to keep and Maintain.
They can be prone to obesity if they are not given proper exercise or fed the right diet. You should avoid giving your dog fatty foods and make sure you do not overfeed your dog.
While treats make an excellent motivator for training, they should not be given too often. This breed does well when fed dry food. We have an article here about when to feed a puppy dry food. And I have another article on what Finnish Spitz’ eat here.
The Finnish Spitz goes through two heavy sheds per year, but they do not shed terribly outside of that. It is best if you brush your dog once a week on average. I have written an article about grooming a Finnish Spitz.
The coat of your Finnish Spitz does not need to be trimmed at all, and they rarely require bathing.
Because their skin does not produce very many oils, the Finnish Spitz does not become odorous. Bathing only really becomes necessary after a day spent playing in the mud.
While your dog is going through its heavy shed, it is best to brush your dog every day to speed up the process. You can also gently bathe and blow-dry your dog, as well, if you want to get rid of any excess fur as quickly as possible.
I have written a full article on shedding in a Finnish Spitz.
Conclusion
The Finnish Spitz is a gorgeous, adorable, and energetic breed that makes an excellent companion. The main things to keep in mind if you are considering adopting this dog are noise and activity level.
Before making a Finnish Spitz a permanent member of your family, you should be honest with yourself about whether you can provide the environment that this active dog requires.
Getting a dog is a serious work, and it requires research, thoughtfulness, and the certainty that you will be able to give this dog a forever home.
This article is a good start for thinking about whether or not a Finnish Spitz is right; hopefully, we have covered all subjects to help you. If you do feel something is missing, let us know in the comments.
If you are certain you can take your dog on daily walks and know that you can groom and feed your dog properly, then the Finnish Spitz is a wonderful breed to choose as a companion!
I have a full article on everything there is to know about the Finnish Spitz.
