Finnish Hound
🧠 Temperament & character
The Finnish Hound is regarded as good-natured, calm and people-oriented and fits into family life surprisingly well. Out in the field his passionate hunting instinct awakens, and he pursues hare and fox with great endurance and a loud trailing voice. He greets strangers in a friendly manner and is rarely aggressive. His pronounced trailing voice and hunting drive, however, remain present at all times.
📜 Origin & history
The Finnish Hound emerged in the early 20th century when Finnish breeders crossed various Scandinavian, German and French scent hounds to create a hunting dog adapted to the harsh climate. The first breed standard was established in 1932. Today the Suomenajokoira is the most numerous dog breed in Finland and is kept almost exclusively as a solo hunting dog.
✂️ Grooming, care & training
The Finnish Hound's short, dense coat is easy to care for and needs only occasional brushing. As an enduring hunting dog he needs a great deal of exercise as well as tasks that challenge the nose and mind, such as tracking or search games. Training succeeds with patience and consistency, for the independent trail work makes him wilful at times. Without sufficient occupation he becomes restless and follows his own nose.
🩺 Health
The Finnish Hound is a basically robust and long-lived breed with a life expectancy of around twelve to fourteen years. A hereditary cerebellar ataxia is known, which responsible breeders watch for through targeted selection. Anyone looking for a puppy should place value on healthy, tested parent animals and corresponding documentation.
🏡 Who is this breed right for?
The Finnish Hound feels most comfortable with active people or hunters who offer him plenty of daily exercise. For a city apartment without intensive occupation he is little suited because of his hunting drive and loud voice. In a house with a garden and in an exercise-loving family he can be a congenial companion. In Switzerland he is only rarely encountered, as he remains strongly geared towards hunting.