Labrador Husky vs Finnish Hound - Breed Comparison

As one of Finland’s most popular dogs, the Finnish Hound isn’t particularly well known outside of Finnish borders. Known also as the Finsk Stovare, the Finnish Hound, known for its hunting skills, came about because of a breeding effort which started way back in the 1800s, mixing dogs such as different French, Swedish, and German hounds.

These hounds were used with the idea being to develop a dog that could do well in Finland’s terrain. The Finnish Hound is a great hunting dog but isn’t looked upon as an particularly awesome pet, although some pet owners would beg to differ.

The Labrador Husky is a purebred, spitz-type dog which looks much like a Wolf. People think because it has the name Labrador Husky it is a cross between a Husky and Labrador. What it essentially means is that it is a Husky dog which comes from the region of Labrador, Canada.

It is a fairly unknown breed, but it is strongly believed that the dog was developed in Labrador, a region of northern Canada. In fact this is where the dog got its name from.

The attractive dog was used for sledding and it is also thought that the people of Labrador introduced Alaskan Malamute and German Shepherd in to add in some additional skills from these two dog breeds. The dogs were later domesticated so as to become companion animals.

This is a medium sized dog who stands between 52 – 62cm in height and weighs in at 20 to 25kg. The Finnish Hound can have between 4 – 8 puppies.As a scent-hound, the Finnish Hound has a short, smooth double coat which is usually in a tri-color pattern of black, tan, and white.

The attractive dog has an athletic, lean, muscular body full of energy and stamina. The eyes are brown and the dog has a peaceful expression. The medium length ears are floppy and the tail is long and carried low.

Temperament:

The Finnish Hound is friendly, calm and never aggressive. He is an intelligent dog nd will respond to the training and socialization he will require to turn him into an obedient, amicable pet, especially since he tends to be stubbon, independent and strong-willed. He isn’t recommended for small places in the city but will do better in the country with a fairy large piece of ground. The Finnish Hound is not recommended for apartment life. It is moderately active indoors and does best with at least an average-sized yard.

The wolf-like muscular Labrador Husky is a large dog standing at 51 to 71 cm in height and weighing 27 to 45 kg.

Labrador is a place known for its icy winters and the dog’s double coat protects it from the freezing temperatures.

The color of the coat can be white, grey and white, solid black, solid grey as well as red and white. In fact there can be several different coat colors in one litter.

He has a long muzzle like the wolf and blue or brown slanted eyes. Sometimes you’ll get one blue eye and one brown eye. He has pointed ears, a nose which can be black or a pinkish color, bushy tail and paws which are webbed.

Temperament:

Labrador Huskies make wonderful pets and they are good with children, particularly when they’ve been properly trained and socialized.

Because they are dogs which have worked in a pack, they also get on well with other dogs in the home. You’ll notice that your Labrador Husky won’t often bark but he will howl like a wolf.

He is a friendly dog and not aggressive. He is intelligent too and you can teach him some basic commands such as sit, stay and lie-down.

The Labrador Husky is a dog used to having a job so if you bring him into your home, you’ll need to ensure that you set aside time to exercise him as he will become frustrated and bored if he isn’t involved in your family life.

The Finnish Hound has always been a working dog and so he will require being well exercised.

He makes a good pet with homes where there are other dogs as well as children. As a hunting or working dog, these days the Finnish Hound is also regarded as a companion animal, fitting into family life well, and turning out to be a loving, loyal pet.

A Labrador Husky is a loyal, affectionate dog who is capable of forming a strong bond with his human family.

As a working dog, he loves being busy with fun and games and is playful and energetic and has good looks on his side too.

He is also an intelligent dog, strong-willed and confident and will require a firm, consistent owner who understands his need for regular exercise.

Social, lively and robust, the right environment will bring out all this beautiful dog’s best characteristics.

The Finnish Hound is looked upon as a generally healthy breed who can get to 12 years of age if looked after well. Good nutrition plays a huge role towards excellent health.

Check out common health ailments that can affect most dogs such as dental disease, obesity, hip dysplasia and a serious condition for which these dogs are particularly known – cerebellar ataxia. Lesions in the brain affect the dog’s coordination and sight. Get him to the vet as soon as you detect anything unusual with your pet.

Labrador Huskies can live to be between 10 and 13 years of age, and within a loving home he is generally looked upon as a healthy breed.

There are always typical dog problems that might be found in your dog, and a couple of the more prominent ones are listed -

Hip Dysplasia:

It can be a sad day for your Labrador Husky if he is diagnosed with hip dysplasia because if he is still used as a pack dog for pulling sleds it could well put him out of a job that he thrives on. It is a problem in the hips, and your once active dog may be in pain and may even battle to stand up after lying down.

He could even develop arthritis which can cripple him. He’ll need to get to the vet so that treatment can make life comfortable for him and to assist with pain.

Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus - Bloat:

Deep chested dogs are more prone to bloat, and your Labrador Husky is a deep chested dog. The stomach of the dog expands with gas, blocking gas escaping and putting pressure on the abdominal organs of the dog.

In some cases the stomach can twist and then immediate surgery will be required. This is a life threatening illness. Try and avoid feeding your dog one large meal and feed him smaller meals instead. These days you also get feeding bowls that encourage slower eating.

Diet:

As a medium-sized dog breed, you want to make sure to feed your dog a high-quality commercial dog food – one that has been formulated with the right amount of vitamins and minerals for the type of dog he is.

He is a high-energy hunting breed, so you wan to find a food that is appropriate to his needs. Home cooked brown rice, vegetables and chicken can be added into his kibble as a change and a treat from time to time as well as some raw meat occasionally. Make sure he always has access to fresh, cool water.

Exercise:

Physically active and mentally balanced and intelligent, the Finnish Hound will require both physical and mental stimulation to prevent him from becoming bored and frustrated.

Grooming:

As an average shedder, your pet's smooth, short-haired coat is easy to keep in tip top condition. All that is really required is to brush the coat down twice a week to keep it in peak condition.

Don’t neglect to check the inside of the dogs ears, as too much dirt and wax can cause nasty ear infections. Also, the teeth need to be brushed at least 2 or 3 times a week with special canine toothpaste and toothbrush. This will ward off tooth decay and lots of other problems within the body brought about by bad teeth.

Grooming:

You’ll want to introduce a proper grooming routine for your pet as he has a thick double coat and he sheds throughout the year. Brush the thick coat 2 or 3 times a week, and set aside time to check for fleas and ticks and any appearance of lumps.

Exercise:

These are dogs which require a lot of vigorous exercise. Left chained or ignored he can become frustrated, run-down, bored and sick. He is a living, social animal that should only be brought into a household that acts responsibly towards him.

Diet:

Choose high quality food which is for high energy dogs. If you give him dry kibble, mix in some home-made food occasionally to add variety, and also try to include some raw meat from time to time. Always ensure fresh, cool water is available.