breed of nonsporting dog known as the national dog of Finland; has dense, medium-length, chestnut red to pale yellow-gold coat with a long ruff around neck; foxlike face; high-set ears are sharply pointed and very mobile; plumed, bushy tail curls over the back in complete circle; almond-shaped eyes are very dark; adult stands 15–20 inches (38–51 centimeters) tall at shoulders and weighs about 30 pounds (14 kilograms); puppies born gray; sturdy, clean dog with lively, alert manner and an affinity for barking; origins go back to antiquity, when they were watchdogs of ancient northern Finns and Sami (Lapps); breed has had a written standard since 1812; also called the Finnish cock-eared dog or the barking bird dog because of its habit of “yodeling” while hunting birds.