Finnish Hound
Finland's popular hare and fox hound, friendly and calm at home and a tireless solo hunter outdoors.
At a glance
- Size
- Medium
- Height at the withers
- Males 55–61 cm · Females 52–58 cm
- Weight
- Males 22–27 kg · Females 20–25 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–14 years
- Exercise
- 90–150 min a day
- Grooming
- Once a week
- Coat
- Double coat, short
- Colours
- Tricolour
- Bred for
- Hunting by scent
- Country of origin
- Finland
- FCI
- Group 6, no. 51 · Scent hounds
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 4/5 – High |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 4/5 – High |
| Good with other dogs | 4/5 – High |
| Good with cats | 2/5 – Low |
| Open to strangers | 4/5 – High |
| Energy | 4/5 – High |
| Playfulness | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Needs mental stimulation | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Easy to train | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Prey drive | 5/5 – Very high |
| Watchful and protective | 2/5 – Low |
| Barking | 4/5 – High |
| Shedding | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Grooming effort | 1/5 – Very low |
| Drooling | 1/5 – Very low |
| Good for first-time owners | 2/5 – Low |
| Suits apartment living | 1/5 – Very low |
| Adaptability | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with being alone | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with heat | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with cold | 4/5 – High |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- live in a cool climate and love outdoor life
- want a friendly, calm hound indoors
- enjoy hiking or tracking
Think twice if you …
- need a dog to be off lead often
- keep cats or small animals
- are away all day
Care
Temperament
Friendly, calm and gentle at home, independent and energetic on a trail.
Exercise
Needs long daily walks plus chances to run safely; tracking, hiking and scent work suit it well.
Grooming
The short double coat needs a weekly brush and more during seasonal shedding.
Training
Good-natured but independent; patient, reward-based training and solid recall practice are needed.
Health
The breed has an inherited cerebellar ataxia for which a DNA test exists, and hip and elbow dysplasia also occur. Breeding dogs are usually DNA-tested and hip-scored, so ask the breeder for results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
- Elbows (ED)
DNA tests
- Cerebellar ataxia (SEL1L)
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Finnish Hound was developed in the 19th century from Scandinavian, German and other European hounds, and has long been one of the most popular breeds in Finland. Unlike many pack hounds, it is used to hunt hare and fox on its own, driving the game towards the hunter with its voice.
It is a friendly, calm dog at home, usually good with children and visitors. Outdoors it is energetic and determined, able to work for hours in snow. It needs lots of exercise and safe areas, and it suits active owners who understand how strongly a scent hound follows its nose.
Did you know?
Finnish Hounds are traditionally hunted singly rather than in packs, driving hare or fox in a circle back towards the hunter.