The Finnish Spitz is a member of the Non Sporting Group under A.K.C. rules.  In other countries it is classified under F.C.I. rules as a member of Group VI.  It's country of origin is Finland, where it is known as Suomenpystykorva (SWOH-men-pi-stih-KOR-vuh), translated as "Finnish erect-ear". The Finnish Spitz is the national dog of Finland. In Finland this breed cannot compete for a conformation title until the dog has proven itself in hunting trials.
    The Finnish Spitz is a member of the Spitz family, which includes breeds such as: the Siberian Husky, Keeshond, the Pomeranian, and the Samoyed.  What typifies a member of the Spitz family is that most were developed from Arctic and/or Viking animals.  Typically, these dogs have a stocky body, a thick coat, erect, pointed ears, and a tail that curves over the back.  Their history dates back several thousand years, to a time when a people, scientifically referred to as Finno-Urian, inhabited Central Russia.  The different tribes migrated to different areas, and bred their dogs according to their needs, thus developing separate strains. One tribe, or clan, migrated to the far northern part of Europe, where it was isolated among a land of 60,000 lakes.  The Finnish Spitz became a pure breed and was primarily used as a companion and a valuable assistant to the hunter.
     As the centuries passed, and the means of transportation changed and improved, a diversity of people inhabited once desolute and isolated lands.  These peoples had dogs for their own purposes, but since they were now living in a different place, they mated their dogs with the Finnish Spitz to bring this breed's abilities to their own dogs. Unfortunately, so much interbreeding occurred that by 1880, the Finnish Spitz was close to extinction.
     Two men from Helsinki, who were hunting in the northern forests, had the good fortune to observe the Finnish Spitz at work as a hunter.  These two sportsmen realized and appreciated the abilities of these native, purebred dogs and returned home with some rather superior specimens and the determination that they would save this breed from disappearing into the mists of time and myth.  These two gentlemen succeeded so well that in 1892 the Finnish Dog Club recognized the breed as a distinctive and pure breed. In 1897 the standard was revised in great detail and the Finnish Spitz possessed its official breed name.
     In 1927 England received its first Finnish Spitz import.  Lady Kitty Ritson was one of the people that was instrumental in forming a breed club and it was this lady that coined the nickname for the Finnish Spitz, the "Finkie", by which it is known in several countries by those that love this breed.  By 1935 The Kennel Club(English) registered the Finkie.
     In 1974 the Canadian Kennel Club admitted the Finnish Spitz to its stud book.
     In 1959 the first known Finnish Spitz was imported to the United States.  The Finnish Spitz Club of America was established in 1975.  The breed standard that the club adopted was based on the standard of the country of origin.  This occurred in 1976.  In 1988 the Finnish Spitz was formally recognized by the A.K.C., being placed in the Non Sporting Group.

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