Tonya Finosu - Facts and Information

Appearance
You can tell on the first sight, that the Tonya Finosu belongs to the Spitz dog category. They have the typical fluffy coat, erect ears and tail that is curled over the back and fox like face.
This is a smaller breed with average height between 30-32 cm, which is 12-13 inch and weight is typically between 9-12 kg, which is 20-26 lbs. Females tend to be slightly smaller, but the difference between males and females is not extremely huge.
Even though small in size, the Tonya Finosu has pretty strong and very athletic body. This dog is lightning fast and their body structure is almost square to rectangular.
The first thing you will most likely notice about Tonya Finosu is their fluffy coat. The coat is always white, it is the only permitted color. And it is a very practical coat as well! It is a dense and thick doublecoat, which is helping the dog withstand harsh, rainy and cold conditions along the Black Sea, where they were developed.

Temperament
The Tonya Finosu is very good alert watchdog, but also loving and loyal family companion. Due to their small size, they are not good choice for guarding purposes, but their alert and watchful temperament makes them great adepts for watchdogs. They will definitely alert you by barking when they will hear something suspicious around your house or when they will see a stranger approaching. They can also be used to watch over farms, where they can also be used to hunt rodents.
As you already know, thanks to the dense doublecoat, this is very adaptable breed capable of withstanding colder and rainy conditions. And indeed, if they are provided with some form of shelter, they can stay outside all day long.
But they will be happiest next to their family. They create very strong bond with its owner and with the whole family and the Tonya Finosu is known as a tolerant, friendly, playful, lively and cheerful companion. If socialized from the puppyhood, they can happily live with other dogs in the household.
The Tonya Finosu is also tolerant and playful partner for kids, but of course, you should never leave any dog breed with a very young child unsupervised.
When getting a Tonya Finosu, do not expect a coach potatoe. This is rather active breed with a lot of energy. They will be always ready for any outdoor adventure, walk, hike or jog. And they will be happiest if they are provided with proper daily exercise and playtime.

History
The Tonya Finosu is indigenous dog breed to the Trabzon province in Turkey, more specifically to the city of Tonya, which they are named after. It is a mountanious region on the Black Sea coast in northeastern Turkey.
There is not much documentation how and when the ancestors of Tonya Finosu got into the Trabzon province. The most accepted theory says, that the ancestors of Tonya Finosu were bought already in Middle Ages from sailors who frequented the Baltic and Black Sea ports during the Russian Fur trade into Europe and parts of Asia.
So the breed is relatively old, but it was never internationally recognized. They were virtually unknown outside Trabzon area for centuries. And even today, in 2022, the Tonya Finosu is not recognized by any major kennel club, but their popularity is slowly raising, which is amazing news, since they were on the verge of extinction not so long ago.
Health and grooming

The Tonya Finosu sheds some deal of fur all year long, more heavily when the climate changes, so you can expect more shedding during spring and autumn shedding seasons. It is important to brush the coat of this dog regularly in order to minimize the shedding and to keep it mat free. But this is usually pretty clean dog. No other grooming, other than brushing, is necessary. Just like with any other breed in the world, you should regularly check their eyes, ears, nails and teeth and clip them or clean them if needed.
There is not much information and no scientific studies about the health of Tonya Finosu breed. The average lifespan is around 12 or 13 years. There are no breed specific related health issues with Tonya Finosu, but they can suffer from the typical doggy issues, such as allergies and infections, some hereditary eye problems or some joint problems. But none of those should be extremely common in this breed.