Finnish Lapphund

Show Breed

Find

Compare with

Size: Medium
Other Names: Lappy, Lappies, Lapinkoira, Suomenlapinkoira
Country of Origin: Finland
Accreditation:
American Kennel Club (AKC): FSS
Canadian Kennel Club (CKC): Herding
United Kennel Club (UKC): Northern Breed
Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC): Working Dogs
The Kennel Club (KC): Pastoral
New Zealand Kennel Club (NZKC): Working Dogs

The Finnish Lapphund is a medium-sized, strongly built dog, who is slightly longer than he is high. He has a profuse coat, with profuse hair around his head and neck giving the distinct impression of a mane. His ears are pricked and highly mobile. His tail is covered with profuse and long hair, and is carried curving over his back. Many Finnish Lapphunds have very distinctive facial markings. One of the unusual facial markings is "spectacles", where a ring of lighter colored hair around the eyes gives the impression that the dog is wearing spectacles.

A northern herding spitz for a house and cool climate; a heavy shedding coat, a watchful bark, and enough energy for daily work or long walks.

Traditionally, the Finnish Lapphund has been used for herding reindeer, but has also gained wide popularity as a companion animal. Although he is one of the most popular dog breeds in his native country, Finland, he is not often seen outside Scandinavia. Although small in number worldwide, a noticeable number of Finnish Lapphunds have excelled in activities such as obedience trials, agility, herding trials, and pet therapy.

Height: Male: 18-20½ inches; Female: 16-18½ inches
Weight: 33-53 pounds
Color: Almost any color can be found: white, black, red, brown, sable and wolf-sable are frequently seen; one of the most common color combinations is black and tan, a predominantly black dog with tan legs and face
Coat: Double; profuse; short, fluffy undercoat; longer, coarse topcoat
Lifespan: 12–15 years
Litter size: 3–6 puppies

Temperament

The Finnish Lapphund is extremely intelligent, friendly, and alert. He adapts well to family life, including being responsive to children. He has a gentle nature with children, people with disabilities, and the elderly. He makes a good watchdog, due to his tendency to bark at unfamiliar things. He tends to bark with a purpose, and training can normally control more rare cases of problem barking. He makes the ideal outdoor companion. He is active, cold-proof, and waterproof, and will gladly accompany people on walking or running trips.

Training

Finnish Lapphunds take well to training due to their extreme intelligence. Some owners and fanciers claim that "Lappies" even have the ability to think through actions first.

Care and grooming

Although his coat is profuse, it requires only a modest amount of maintenance. The Finnish Lapphund is an active dog, and requires a lot of exercise.

Shedding

Seasonal and heavy when the profuse undercoat blows.

Health

Finnish Lapphunds may develop progressive retinal atrophy and hip dysplasia. Eye exams and hip scores should be part of choosing a breeder.

Top

View Privacy Policy

GoPets.com accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of the advertisements placed on the GoPets.com website or for the contents of any website to which a hypertext link from GoPets.com links. The Seller Ads and links to products and/or services are provided as a service, and GoPets.com gives no warranties, expressed or implied, about the information and/or policies of the Seller Ads or the linked-to webites, or of the information shown.

GoPets.com is the sole owner of the services and of all information provided by and posted to the GoPets.com website. The use, reproduction, or storing of content for any purpose other than to contact a Seller, purchase a product or service, or compare prices is prohibited. You cannot use the information provided by GoPets.com to recreate a directory, rebrand the informaton or redistribute the information in any way. Information provided by GoPets.com is for individual, non-commercial use only. All information, processes and content contained within and that make up the services are the sole property of GoPets.com. You may not reproduce, duplicate or redistribute any information provided by GoPets.com for profit or personal gain of any kind. You may not frame any content or pages contained within the GoPets.com website unless expressly granted permission by GoPets.com.