Finnish Hound

Also known as: Finnenbracke, Finnish Bracke

In Finland this hound was developed to trail fox and hare, baying loudly on the scent while the hunter waits along the animal's likely path. The tricolor coloring and long drooping ears are typical of European scenthounds, and the frame stays around 25 kilograms, light enough for long runs through forest terrain. The short, dense coat needs minimal grooming. The breed was fixed in the late 19th century by crossing local hounds with German and Swiss lines. In Finland it's still far more common in the field than in town. The voice is strong and carries, which can be a problem for close neighbors. Life expectancy runs 11 to 13 years.

Browse dog food sized right for this breed

Finnish Hound: how old in human years?

52–61 cmHeight
18–25 kgWeight
11–13 yrsLife expectancy

Bosnian Coarse-haired Hound (Barak)

FCI group: Scenthounds and Related Breeds
FCI section: Section 1.2: Scenthounds, Medium sized
FCI: 51
Country of origin: Finland

Energy level

4/5
Trainability

3/5
Family friendly

4/5
Grooming need

1/5

At a glance

Height

Males 55–61 cm

Females 52–58 cm

Weight

Males 20–25 kg

Females 18–23 kg

Life expectancy

11–13 yrs

Coat

short, dense (short)

Temperament & Family Life

Finnish Hound's average temperament and family-life score for this breed is moderate.

Family friendly 4/5
Good with children 4/5
Good with other dogs 4/5
Friendly with strangers 3/5
Intelligence 4/5
Trainability 3/5

Exercise, Energy & Space

Finnish Hound's energy and exercise needs are high.

Energy level 4/5
Exercise need 4/5
Apartment friendly 1/5
Prey drive 5/5
Hunting instinct 5/5

Guarding & Alertness

Finnish Hound's guarding and alertness traits are low.

Guarding instinct 1/5
Watchfulness 2/5
Barking level 4/5

Grooming & Care

Finnish Hound's grooming needs are low.

Shedding 2/5
Drooling 2/5
Grooming need 1/5

Living with the Finnish Hound

On an autumn morning in the forest, you'll hear a Finnish Hound before you see him: a ringing, far-carrying voice announcing that he's on a hare or fox and the trail is still warm. He is an independent hunting dog, bred to work the woods for hours with no human at his side, so his energy and stamina are no joke. Every day he needs long walks, a run, plenty of sniffing and some freedom, and his hunting drive is strong enough that off-lead time belongs in fenced spaces only. A flat is too small for him, and the neighbours would remember his voice for a long time.

He can learn and is willing, but on his own terms: a clever hound listens to his nose first and to you second. Patience, treats and scent games beat sternness, and recall is something to keep practising for life. A bored hound will express his boredom out loud, so he needs work for his mind as much as miles for his legs.

At home, once he's had his share of forest, the Finnish Hound turns into a calm, friendly and gentle family member. He's usually great with children, accepts other dogs without much ceremony, and is polite but not pushy with strangers. He won't guard anything, but for an active family living close to nature and fond of long hikes, he makes a tireless and cheerful companion.

Grooming and coat

The Finnish Hound wears a short, dense, slightly harsh coat built for whole days in Finnish forests, where snow, wet moss and cold are just part of the scenery. Keeping it in order is simple: once a week, go over it with a rubber brush or grooming mitt, a little more often while it's shedding. Shedding is moderate, there's no clipping to do, and a bath is only needed when your hound has found something fragrant to roll in.

What needs more attention is what hides under the coat and the ears. After every long walk in the woods, run your hands over the body to check for ticks, and look between the paw pads for needles or balls of ice. Lift those drop ears once a week and check the inside is clean and doesn't smell. An active dog often wears his nails down himself, but if you hear them clicking on the floor, it's time to trim.

How to do it:

By age:

Health and possible conditions

We don't have reliable health information specific to this breed, so we don't list conditions here. Keep up regular vet check-ups, and if you are getting a puppy, ask the breeder about the parents' health testing.

This is general information, not veterinary advice. For your own dog's health, tests and treatment, see a vet.

Food for large breeds — cheapest per kg

This list is chosen by the breed's weight (25 kg) rather than the breed itself: shops label food by dog size, so every breed of the same size gets the same list. Prices are updated daily.

≈ 295 g of dry food a day, from €16,14 a month For a neutered, normally active 21,5 kg dog. Calculate for your dog