The Finnish Lapphund is a medium-sized dog that came from Finland where it was primarily used to herd and guard reindeer. This is a Spitz breed that is known by various names including the Finnish Lapphund, Lappie, Lapphund, Lapinkoira and the Suomenlapinkoira. The Finnish Lapphund has been in existence for centuries herding reindeer in Lapland, Finland. However, when snowmobiles were created, the dogs were converted to lovable companions and guardians of homesteads. Originally, Lapphunds were known as Lapponian Shepherds, and there were long-haired and short-haired varieties. In 1967, the two varieties were declared to be separate breeds, with the long-haired dogs being dubbed Finnish Lapphunds. It was not until 1987 that the breed began gaining popularity in the United States, and it was not recognized by the American Kennel Club until the year 2011.
The Finnish Lapphund is medium-sized dog with a strong, sturdy appearance. They have long muzzles and medium-sized, erect ears that sit high atop their heads. Their tails curls over their backs, like most other Spitz-breeds. They have a thick double coat, with a fluffy undercoat and a coarse, profuse outer coats. Their coats need to be brushed regularly to reduce shedding. They cannot tolerate heat. Finnish Lapphunds can weigh anywhere between 33 and 53 pounds, with most males being bigger than females. These are long-haired dogs that have a thick undercoat and a longer, harsh overcoat. They can come in several different colors including black, red, black and tan, white, tri-color, orange, wolf sable, cream, and brown. Lapphunds have wedge-shaped heads with small, triangular prick ears, a black nose and eyes that can be hazel, amber or dark brown. Their tail is long, heavily feathered and curls up and over the back. These are muscular dogs that have square-shaped bodies, sturdy legs and medium-sized paws.
Personality
Finnish Lapps are friendly, sociable and happy dogs. They are very affectionate and fond of children. They are eager to please their owners and are therefore easy to train. They need daily exercise in the form of runs or long walks. Since they were bred for herding, they may try to herd small children or other pets. They may be reserved towards strangers or other dogs, but are never aggressive. Finnish Lapphunds are very intelligent dogs that take quite well to training. They are also extremely active and love children making them great family pets. Although Lapphunds are friendly and gentle with people they know, they can be very distrusting of strangers. They tend to bark quite a bit. As such, if you do not like yappy dogs, this may not be the breed for you.
Breed Characteristics
| Life Span: | 12 - 15 years |
| Nicknames: | Lapphunds, Lapponian Shepherds, Lappie, Lapphund, Lapinkoira, Suomenlapinkoira |
Finnish Lapphund Build Information
The Finnish Lapphund is medium-sized dog with a strong, sturdy appearance. They have long muzzles and medium-sized, erect ears that sit high atop their heads. Their tails curls over their backs, like most other Spitz-breeds. They have a thick double coat, with a fluffy undercoat and a coarse, profuse outer coats. Their coats need to be brushed regularly to reduce shedding. They cannot tolerate heat. Finnish Lapphunds can weigh anywhere between 33 and 53 pounds, with most males being bigger than females. These are long-haired dogs that have a thick undercoat and a longer, harsh overcoat. They can come in several different colors including black, red, black and tan, white, tri-color, orange, wolf sable, cream, and brown. Lapphunds have wedge-shaped heads with small, triangular prick ears, a black nose and eyes that can be hazel, amber or dark brown. Their tail is long, heavily feathered and curls up and over the back. These are muscular dogs that have square-shaped bodies, sturdy legs and medium-sized paws.
| Size: | Medium |
Behaviour and Personality
Finnish Lapps are friendly, sociable and happy dogs. They are very affectionate and fond of children. They are eager to please their owners and are therefore easy to train. They need daily exercise in the form of runs or long walks. Since they were bred for herding, they may try to herd small children or other pets. They may be reserved towards strangers or other dogs, but are never aggressive. Finnish Lapphunds are very intelligent dogs that take quite well to training. They are also extremely active and love children making them great family pets. Although Lapphunds are friendly and gentle with people they know, they can be very distrusting of strangers. They tend to bark quite a bit. As such, if you do not like yappy dogs, this may not be the breed for you.
| Activity Level: | Very Active |
| Affection Level: | very affectionate |
| Kid Friendliness: | Very friendly |
Appearance
Due to the nature of the Finnish Lapphund's coat, you will need to brush your pet daily to prevent mats and control shedding. While you will only need to bathe your dog once or twice a month, you should check its ears regularly for wax buildup. Additionally, you will want to trim the tips of the nails when they become overly long using a pliers-type nail clipper.
| Shedding: | Heavy |
| Grooming: | High Maintenance |
Finnish Lapphund Common Health Conditions
While the average lifespan for healthy Finnish Lapphunds is 12 to 14 years, some have been known to live as long as 16 or 17 years. This is typically a hardy breed that suffers from few health issues. However, there have been isolated cases when Lapphunds have been known to develop the following conditions: Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Cataracts, Hip and Elbow Dysplasia, and Patellar Luxation. If you are looking for a dog with a sweet nature that loves to play and will make a great companion, the Finnish Lapphund may be the dog for you! Furthermore, this is a breed that gets along extremely well with children of all ages and a variety of other household pets.
Finnish Lapphund Pet Insurance
When adding a dog or cat to your family you want to make sure your pet is happy, healthy and protected. During its lifetime your pet is exposed to many illnesses and diseases and some breeds are affected by a congenital disease which is a condition existing at birth. At these moments when your pet is ill or maybe needs surgery, you want to be protected for the unexpected and high veterinarian costs.
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Breed Talents and Facts
Finnish Lapphunds excel in a variety of arenas including herding, tracking, flyball, obedience, therapy work and agility. Lapphunds get along quite well with other pets including cats, rabbits and other dogs. Finnish Lapphunds require a lot of exercise. As such, they may not be the best pets for sedentary individuals.
| Training: | Moderately easy |