Overview
The Finnish Hound, or suomenajokoira, is a medium-sized scenthound bred for hunting hare and fox. It is among the most popular breeds in Finland.
It is calm and friendly in temperament, yet an energetic, versatile tracker that works independently and gives voice with passion.
History
The breed was developed in the 1800s from French, German and Swedish hounds. The aim was a hound that could work in hilly terrain and deep snow.
It ranked second among the most registered breeds in Finland in 2013.
Appearance
A strong, muscular dog a little longer than tall. Males stand 55 to 61 cm and females 52 to 58 cm, weighing about 20 to 25 kg. It has a domed skull, a black nose, dark brown eyes, drooping ears and a low tail.
The dense, coarse double coat is tricolour, mainly tan and black with small white markings on the head, neck, chest, legs and tail tip.
Temperament
Calm and friendly, never aggressive. In the field it is passionate, hard-working and independent, with great stamina.
Care and exercise
It needs a lot of daily exercise and a secure area, as it will follow a scent. The coat needs only weekly brushing. Its voice carries, so training and an understanding of barking are helpful.
Health
The breed can suffer from an inherited progressive cerebellar ataxia, which shows from about three months, and a genetic test exists. Hip dysplasia, cardiomyopathy, lymphoma, black hair follicular dysplasia and atopic dermatitis are also seen occasionally.
