Customer Reviews

Finnish Spitz: A Closer Look

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I recently purchased and read Finnish Spitz: A Closer Look. This book provides excellent information on the breed as well as insight into the breeding and selection process. I had no idea how much science and research went into producing puppies that would be healthy, good-natured, and that would conform to the breed standard. Learning this increased my appreciation for the responsible and compassionate work Joan Grant has done with this breed. Some animal rights groups have left the impression that animal breeders are hard-hearted, callous puppy mills whose only interest is the almighty dollar. Although there are disreputable people who do breed in this manner, Grant's book shows that good, responsible breeders have the happiness and wellness of the dogs at the center of their work. I've come to understand how important it is to purchase a dog from a reputable breeder.

Grant sprinkles her memoir of her experience with Finnish Spitz with many personal stories and experiences from other Finnish Spitz owners. These stories give good insights into the breed and how to work with it. One of the nicest features of this book is its abundance of photographs.

Grant also gives good tips on training this breed.

In this book, I also learned the role that dog shows play in helping maintain the desired features in this breed that enable them to continue being the alert, gentle, and beautiful dogs that they are. The underlying purpose of dogs shows is to maintain the unique abilities and looks of each breed so that owners can have a dog that will be able to do the work the dog is bred to do and to maintain the health of the animals.

I recommend this book not only for owners of Finnish Spitz, but also for anyone curious about breeding and the history of the dogs in North America. It is easy to read and very enjoyable.

I got my first Finnish Spitz through a breed rescue group over a year ago. Since these were my first dogs ever and, obviously, my first Finnish Spitz, I've read stacks of books on dogs, dog training, and dog behavior so that I could be a good owner and provide an environment where they could thrive and also be a positive contribution to our family. They have become the perfect pets for us -- gentle, kind, obedient, cheerful, and very smart. I've found my dogs to be the perfect family companions and quite easy to train in obedience classes. One of them is registered with the Delta Society to do animal-assisted therapy and activities with people in hospitals, nursing homes, special needs day cares, and so forth. Some dog encyclopedias and internet sites say that this "Finnish barking dog" is very noisy. However, my dogs were easily trained to be quiet and to bark only at appropriate times.

Among the books that I've read on dogs, these are titles that I also recommend: On Talking Terms With Dogs: Calming Signals This book explains how dogs communicate with one another and how we can use their own signals to help them. No Bad Dogs: The Woodhouse Way. Be the Pack Leader: Use Cesar's Way to Transform Your Dog . . . and Your Life Actually all of the books and DVDs by him are very helpful in understanding dog psychology. Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others Excellent resource if you want to use your dog to help others.How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend: The Classic Training Manual for Dog Owners (Revised & Updated Edition) Again, all of the books by these monks are excellent.

Fun and informative book on the breed. Not only its history, but vignettes about the author's dogs that will make you laugh, cry, and want one of these awesome dogs. Joan was one of the first people to import this breed to North America, and has arguably bred some of the best dogs in Canada and the US. And, if she didn't breed them, many of the current owners & breeders have her dogs either in their homes or in their dogs' pedigrees. Highly recommended!