Karelian-Finnish husky: breed description and cultivation

Karelian-Finnish husky is a wonderful dog, able to demonstrate its best working qualities in the most difficult conditions. Once the appearance of this breed was a necessary step related to the need to provide fur trappers with a reliable companion with an excellent scent. But she was never destined to gain official status. Initially, the breeding material used many years later led to the unification of Karelian-Finnish huskies with Finnish spitzes - it is under this name that the breed appears at exhibitions today.

The first experiments on breeding a breed called the Karelian-Finnish husky were conducted more than 100 years ago, at the beginning of the 20th century. The mixed-breeding stock combined the features of its parents - the Olonets and Karelian commercial dogs with Finnish spitz. The resulting livestock had a bright red color and significantly higher performance than the original producers. In order to avoid closely related crossbreeding in breeding, the blood infusion of Finnish Spitz was most often used, recording them in the producers already as representatives of a new breed.

The resulting mestizo was considered purebred and until 1984 it was quite suitable for both hunters and representatives of the federation. But with the formation of the livestock, it became clear that without unification with the Finnish Spitz, further breeding is pointless.Moreover, the lack of understanding with the Finns did not allow the breed to be registered at the international level, because its name contained a foreign toponym. It was also impossible to name dogs exclusively with Karelian huskies; by that time, metalization covered almost 90% of the livestock.

The creation of the RKF also did not clarify - automatically accepting all the FCI requirements, it simply ruled out the very possibility of legalizing a popular commercial breed. In the organization’s standard, only the Finnish Spitz option is provided. Since 2006, all livestock registered at that time by the clubs have officially been attributed to them. The reason for the disappearance of the name of the Karelian-Finnish husky was the agreement signed with the FKC (Finnish analogue of the RKF) on combining the two breeding branches into one common standard.

In fact, this once deprived one of the most promising domestic dog breeds of every chance of official recognition. Moreover, many breeders do not agree that domestic breeding material was not enough to highlight an authentic, local livestock line. The breeding of the Karelian husky, a descendant of a similar old Karelian breed, continues by enthusiasts today.

Characteristics of puppies and standards of adult Karelian-Finnish huskies today correspond to those adopted for Finnish Spitz. Representatives of the breed live for a long time - up to 12-14 years, while maintaining physical activity throughout almost all of this time.

The Karelian-Finnish husky looks impressive. Fluffy red hair has a warm honey hue, hazel or black eyes give expression to the muzzle. The compact body and low height at the withers - no more than 42-50 cm for males and 38-46 cm for females, allow them to remain agile when hunting animals. The standardized description also includes restrictions on body weight - the weight of dogs, depending on gender, varies from 7 to 13 kg.

The main differences between Karelian huskies and Finnish Spitz have always been in appearance. A foreign breed, the standard of which is now accepted as the basis, initially had a more attractive phenotype. At the same time, when breeding a Karelian husky, the emphasis was on working qualities. Today, a compromise has not been found, just in the standard of the Finnish Spitz two branches are bred at once - working and decorative.

Compact size, medium height and a dry, strong constitution are far from the only pedigree features this dog is famous for.

Finnish Spitz (formerly Karelian-Finnish Laika) has the following characteristics.

• Strong square case. The back does not sag, the withers are well defined, the croup is clearly defined, sloping, the line of the abdomen tucked up.
• Neck visually short, with abundant edge, actually has a length proportional to the body.
• Limbs straight and strong, set in parallel. The hind legs have massive femoral parts, muscular tibia, and the hock is low. The paw is compact, tightly compressed, rounded in shape; the front paws are inferior to the rear in size.
• Tail long reaching to the hock. Near the base forms a sharp bend, thrown to the back, with the tip hanging down.
• Hair coat relatively short on the legs and head, body, tail, hips well pubescent. The fur of the dog is magnificent, does not fit to the body, in males in the shoulder blade the remaining hair is almost parallel to the body. The color characteristic of the Finnish Spitz is red, brighter on the back, on the cheekbones, ears, legs, tail, the coat is noticeably lighter. The presence of a white strip on the chest, nettle on the legs is allowed.
• Head compact, oval in the upper part, slightly convex on the sides. The nape and brow are not too pronounced, the frontal groove is flattened. The stop is clearly defined, but without excessive emphasis.The head looks harmonious with respect to the body. The muzzle is dry and narrow, has a smooth back without humps.
• Eyes planted obliquely, have an almond shape, small size. The iris is always dark, with no exceptions.
• Teeth smooth and strong, with a symmetrical set. Only a scissor bite is allowed. The jaws are strong.

According to the standard, breed defects include enlargement of the head and muzzle, massive bone structure, excessive or too weak tail twisting. Also disadvantages include poor development of the lower jaw, soft metacarpus, improper ears.

Finnish spitzs with iris of yellow or blue color, large white marks on the body, chest, legs, wavy coat are subject to culling. Another drawback is the pigmentation of the nose. Aggressive, vicious animals are not allowed to mate.

Karelian-Finnish husky is a funny dog ​​with a lively mind and a wonderful character. The animal has its own dignity and requires respect for itself. In animal training, one should not show authoritarianism and aggression.

In youth and childhood, Karelian-Finnish huskies are incredibly dependent on the owner, their attachment may well create some problems in the content. The pet is bored, actively expresses his feelings with a loud bark. But extreme obedience and affection as an animal grows up is replaced by independence, which turns into stubbornness. However, the Finnish Spitz perfectly sense the mood of the owner and to obtain obedience from them is still possible.

Dogs are wary of strangers, they hardly tolerate their presence on the territory that they consider their own. This makes the Karelian-Finnish husky a good watchman, able to warn the owner about the approach of strangers. Animals are lenient towards children, quite patient, able to become good companions for games. But it is better to offer communication with the dog to schoolchildren or adolescents - the kids may be too delicate.

In assessing the behavior of Karelian-Finnish huskies, the following points should be taken into account.

1. Hunting instinct. An animal, in the absence of field trips, will satisfy its needs for tracing and catching game in the territory of a house or apartment. It is necessary to provide the dog a fairly intense surge of energy.
2. Cunning and independence. These two qualities significantly affect the learning process, as the dog quickly cools to the same activities.
3. Intolerance and jealousy of other animals. If in the host family the Karelian-Finnish husky easily adapts and finds its place in the hierarchy, then with the already existing pets a common language may never be found. It should be prepared for the fact that there will be only one dog in the house. However, you can get a couple of Finnish Spitz - fellow tribesmen get along well with each other.
4. Loud barking. The dog gives voice for any reason, always and everywhere. The noise of the breed limits the possibility of its maintenance in a city apartment.
5. Fearlessness and courage. The real hero - the Karelian-Finnish husky is genetically devoid of a sense of fear of danger. At the same time, during the hunt, the animal does not lose its head and easily finds a favorable position for attack, remaining invulnerable.

When choosing a Karelian-Finnish husky puppy, it is very important to correctly determine the gender of the pet. Boys are more freedom-loving and free. Girls are much more affectionate, easier to train. You need to take the baby to the house no earlier than one and a half months old, experienced breeders do advise to postpone the meeting until the dog reaches 3 months.

For hunting, you can choose not the ideal animal for the exterior, but from really trusted manufacturers with developed working qualities. To participate in shows and exhibitions, you must initially choose Finnish Spitz from the parents of the show class with a flawless appearance. To get a dog "for the soul" is necessary only if the owner is ready to fully provide the animal with the necessary volumes of physical activity.

When choosing a puppy, you should pay attention to the following important, and significant points:

• age of parental couple - it is bad when dogs are allowed for breeding that have not reached one and a half years;
• the availability of workers and champion diplomas from manufacturers - this is good, but does not guarantee the inheritance of qualities by posterity;
• ear set - from 6 weeks they take the standard position for the breed;
• the number of puppies in the litter - the optimal number is not more than 5;
• time of birth - The most furry fur coats in winter Finnish Spitz;
• condition of the musculoskeletal system - there should be no signs of rickets;
• general view of the pet - he must be healthy, not haggard, active.

It is possible to create comfortable conditions for keeping the Karelian-Finnish husky in direct contact with the owner. This is a domestic breed that is not suitable for chain or enclosure. Fluffy hair is still not good enough to heat the animal in severe Russian frost. In the warm season, it is permissible to keep in an aviary connected to the house and equipped with a canopy, a house, and everything necessary for a comfortable life.

A puppy in an apartment or house must definitely allocate his own place, which he will know. Here a lounger is arranged, toys are placed. The dog must necessarily limit access to the master bedroom - small Finnish Spitz tend to get into bed, and if you meet them, you will have to share the bed with the pet for many years. You can wean a puppy to take a place on the bed, the first time he was in the house covering the surface with newspapers.

Walking Karelian-Finnish huskies begin with a month and a half. For a puppy, staying on the street should not be too long - 15-20 minutes is enough. Gradually, this time increases.

The procedure for caring for the Karelian-Finnish husky comes down mainly to thoroughly combing the dog twice a year - during the molting period. The rest of the time, the pet does not lose its coat, it has practically no specific smell. Hard outer hair is not prone to tangling; combing your pet twice a week with a hard iron brush is enough. The bathing procedure is carried out no more than 3 times during the year. After contact with swamp or river microflora during hunting, the coat is rinsed with clean water.

Eye care boils down periodic inspection and morning removal of lumps that form in the corners of the eyes. Hygienic procedures are performed with a cotton swab dipped in chamomile infusion. If the nature of the discharge changes to purulent, with redness of the eyeball, profuse lacrimation, it is necessary to show the pet to the veterinarian.

Claws are trimmed monthly; auricles are examined weekly. Dogs also need regular brushing, which must be repeated at least once every 3-4 days. The procedure is performed using a special nozzle and veterinary paste. Plaque at home is removed using special chewing sticks from the pet store, but it is better to periodically remove accumulated deposits in the office of a veterinarian.

An important component of pet care is protection against blood-sucking skin parasites.

A Finnish Spitz, often in the forest, must be regularly examined upon arrival home for ectoparasites.

Compact Finnish Spitz are not picky about their diet. You can feed them with a full finished product from the age of three months. Dogs are easily accustomed to the standard mode and are not inclined to beg for a supplement. They are given dry food only with obligatory access to clean water. Adolescents are also given up to 20% of fresh lean meat - beef, veal, it is possible to use pre-frozen foods.

Feeding by natural products involves cutting food into pieces - It is not recommended to give minced or finely chopped food. From 7 weeks, huskies are allowed to give bone cartilage to animals and birds. Bones give a bite no earlier than three months of age. From cereals in the first months it is recommended to give semolina on milk. From 3-4 months they give oatmeal, rice, buckwheat, millet, cooked in meat broth.

Adult Karelian-Finnish huskies benefit from fermented milk products, fresh vegetables - carrots, broccoli, sea fish fillets. It is useful to offer the dog dried fruits and cheese as a treat. With natural feeding mandatory inclusion of vitamin and mineral supplements in the animal’s diet.

This allows you to discipline the animal, shows him that the owner dictates the rules in the house. A puppy is fed up to 6 times a day for a month and a half, an eight-month-old animal is already switching to an adult diet with two meals a day.

Karelian-Finnish huskies are animals that are easy to train at a young age. But as they grow older, learning new skills becomes a problem. They quickly lose interest in learning, easily manipulate the owner, asking for delicious goodies. It takes up to 30 lessons to complete one team - this seriously delays the process of mastering even the basic set of signals from the owner.

The standard training process is always directly related to the adoption of a basic set of commands by the dog. The first of them is recognizing your own nickname. A three-month-old puppy must know its place, come to the owner’s call, and distinguish between prohibitions. The commands “Sit”, “Lie”, “Stand” are studied by the age of six months.

It is already possible to teach babies born in spring to swimming by the summer so that the dog is not afraid of water, including fast rivers and cold streams.. The training takes place starting with walks in puddles and shallow water. Then the dog can be allowed swimming in shallow ponds. The development of this skill is especially important for animals that are purchased for use in hunting. After each bath in an open reservoir, the dog needs a shower, allowing him to wash off dirt, dust, bacterial microflora.

As teenagers, Karelian-Finnish huskies have an impressive destructive power. At home they spoil and gnaw everything, despite the prohibitions - in this way an active dog learns the world. Leaving them alone for a long time is highly discouraged.

In the countryside, the Finnish Spitz has other temptations. An indestructible hunting instinct provokes a craving for an attack on poultry. If such an incident happened for the first time, the “Cannot” command is usually enough.

Karelian-Finnish husky is a hunting breed, famous for its versatility. But experienced hunters consider it the best choice for catching small fur animals or capercaillie. Hunting with a dog in this case is almost effortless - she searches for, stops, scares the game, brings a shot animal and a bird.

If interest in the beast does not arise, training is postponed for one to two months. At a certain training intensity, experienced hunters manage to prepare the carriage for bear engagement. But this approach can be attributed rather to the category of demonstrations - in the usual hunt for such feats only very patient and smart likes are capable.

The awakening of instincts in the Finnish Spitz is often very late - at the age of about one and a half years. Do not worry, but work to arouse hunting interest should be gradually carried out. The puppy is given a beaten bird, animal skins. In the presence of a more experienced dog, they are taken as an example by an engraving dog. Young Karelian-Finnish huskies study well with the example of an older friend.

When hunting a large beast, dogs of this breed demonstrate amazing accuracy and caution. The agile and agile Karelian-Finnish husky can keep a distance from the angry beast, and its sonorous voice allows you to distract the boar from the hunter. It is worth adding that This persistent and brave dog has practically no equal in abilities for game extraction, like its ancestor of the old Karelian breed.

First of all, it is worth considering authentic Finnish names that are well suited to representatives of this unique breed. To make the puppy remember his nickname faster, it is recommended to choose a short and sonorous combination of letters with a solid ending.

Names associated with local Karelian, Russian place names or the names of animals obtained with the help of dogs of this breed are no less popular among hunters. Dogs are characterized by names: Bold, Fast, Sable, Urals, Aldan, Abrek, Nabat, Suyan, Falk, Yarro. Owners of Finnish Spitz girls can recommend names such as Squirrel, Iris, Achcha, Vlast, Gokto, Fidget, Zateika, Lange, Ora, Secchi, Elf.

Owners of Karelian-Finnish huskies always note the cheerful character and rare beauty of their pets. Dogs are kind and affectionate to family members, girls are especially attached to children, often become good companions in their active games. Many Karelian-Finnish huskies display hunting abilities as early as six months of age.

The Finnish Spitz is an ideal companion for runners, bike riders. The dog is almost tireless and able to withstand many hours of marathons without extra effort.

Hunter owners consider the Karelian-Finnish husky to be one of the best commercial breeds. It is universal, indispensable in the production of small fur-bearing animals and birds, and does not give in to a bear or a wild boar. The animal works in water no worse than the cops, they often go on duck hunting with it. Moreover, the dog does not spoil the bird and delivers it to the owner safe and sound.

You can learn more about the education of the Karelian-Finnish husky in the next video.