Finnish Lapphund (original) (raw)
The Sami bred the Finnish Lapphund to herd reindeer!
Introduction
The Finnish Lapphund is an ancient hunting and herding dog bred by the Sami people in the Lapland region of Scandinavia. Remains of dogs from this area date back almost 7,000 years. The dogs traveled with this nomadic tribe, hunting reindeer. As they gave up their nomadic ways, the Sami began to use the Lapphund for herding.
Their historical proximity to their families makes “Lappies” crave company and attention, giving them a strong affectionate attachment to their owners. Though a little wary of strangers, they are excellent with families and children. Their tendency to bark makes them excellent watchdogs.
The Finnish Lapphund was originally bred in Finland to herd reindeer.
©iStock.com/Ilona Didkovska
3 Pros and Cons of Owning a Finnish Lapphund
A lot of the things that make Finnish Lapphunds so great can also be their downfall. Many of these issues with the Lappy can be avoided with good ownership and maintenance.
| Pros! | Cons! |
|---|---|
| The Finnish Lapphund is an affectionate, devoted dog that is great with families and children. | Its identification with its family can make it wary of strangers. It isn’t typically aggressive, but it can take some time to warm up to strangers. |
| The Lapphund is a beautiful dog. Its luxurious fur coat and sparkling, attentive eyes can melt the heart of any dog lover. | That luxurious coat requires a fair amount of upkeep; it sheds a lot, and an owner needs to brush it regularly. |
| Its devotion to family and its wariness with strangers makes it an excellent watchdog. The Lapphund, like many herding dogs, has a strong bark, which it uses to alert its family to an intruder. | The Lappy’s strong desire to bark can be disruptive. An owner should train the dog early to know when it is appropriate to bark. |
The Best Dog Food For a Finnish Lapphund
The Lapphund has modest food requirements for a dog with its size and energy levels. High-protein dry dog food with meat as its primary ingredient is suitable for this dog’s needs. We at A-Z Animals recommend Hill’s Science Diet Adult Small Paws Chicken Meal.
[lasso id=”497343″ link_id=”1786130″ ref=”amzn-hills-science-diet-dry-dog-food-adult-chicken-barley-recipe-15-lb-bag”]
Finnish Lapphund Size and Weight
The Finnish Lapphund is a medium-sized dog, though its bountiful fur coat makes it look larger. The male stands 18-21 inches tall at the shoulder and weighs 33-53 lbs. Females are 16-19 inches tall and, like the males, also weigh 33-53 lbs.
| Height (Male) | 18-21 inches |
|---|---|
| Height (Female) | 16-19 inches |
| Weight (Male) | 33-53 pounds |
| Weight (Female) | 33-53 pounds |
Finnish Lapphund Common Health Issues
A generally healthy breed, the Lapphund can still be impacted by a few issues. Elbow and hip dysplasia are potential problems for the dog. A veterinarian can use X-ray machines to diagnose this issue. The Lapphund is also prone to progressive retinal atrophy and cataracts, which can result in blindness.
Finnish Lapphund Temperament
Lappies are affectionate and gentle and also alert, curious, and agile. They bond well with their families, fit in with the family’s day-to-day life, are good companions for outdoor activities, and they are good with children. Not aggressive, they tend to run away from danger and confrontation.
How To Take Care of a Finnish Lapphund
Finnish Lapphund Maintenance And Grooming
The beautiful double coat of the Finnish Lapphund requires a great deal of attention. Brush the coat weekly to remove dead hair, reduce matting, and wash only when necessary. When grooming the dog, do not shave its coat.
Clean the ears regularly to avoid wax and debris buildup. Also, trim the nails regularly and brush the dog’s teeth at least three times weekly to reduce dental issues.
Finnish Lapphund Training
Finnish Lapphunds are peaceful dogs who need a long, brisk walk every day to stay healthy and happy.
©iStock.com/suefeldberg
The Finnish Lapphund is intelligent and enjoys work, so they enjoy training sessions as long as they are fun and engaging. If they’re not having fun, they can be a bit distractible due to their hunting drive. They don’t respond well to rough or harsh handling, as their submissive nature causes them to withdraw and hold themselves back.
Recall training is a good idea to offset their hunting and herding instincts and reduce their propensity to run off. Additionally, socializing and training them to be quiet on command will keep them from being a nuisance. Lappies can also be trained as support dogs for the elderly or those with disabilities.
Finnish Lapphund Exercise
Lappies should have at least an hour of daily activity, which can include a mix of walking, play, agility, or obedience training. A fenced-in yard is ideal for giving them room to investigate and play. They can handle more than an hour of activity and enjoy running alongside a bike or a jogger, but they shouldn’t be this active until they mature out of the puppy stage. Finally, don’t exercise a Finnish Lapphund in the heat; they are more accustomed to cooler temperatures.
Finnish Lapphund Puppies
Puppies should be exposed to other puppies, people, and social situations starting when they are about seven weeks old to ensure they are well-adjusted. Socialization will also make it easier to train them to be quiet on command and to avoid excessive barking.
Finnish Lapphunds have, on average, four puppies in each litter.
©Popova Valeriya/Shutterstock.com
Finnish Lapphunds And Children
The Finnish Lapphund is a loving, playful dog and enjoys time with children. The Sami trained them to be with the family, and the dogs do quite well with kids, especially when they’ve been raised around them.
That being said, a dog should never be left unsupervised with small children, mainly because small children don’t know how to read the dog’s social cues. Aggressive pulling and tugging can cause even the most loving family dog to snap at a child. Also, a house full of small children can trigger the Lappy’s barking and herding instincts, creating a chaotic environment.
Dogs Similar to the Finnish Lapphund
- Finnish Spitz: Like the Finnish Spitz, the Lapphund is also a Spitz (German for pointed), a kind of dog with pointed ears and nose and a tail that curls over the dog’s back. Most of these dogs originate within the Arctic circle and Siberia.
- Icelandic Sheepdog: The Norse brought their version of the famous Scandinavian Spitz-type dog to Iceland about 1,100 years ago. Like the Lappy, the Icelandic Sheepdog is a fun-loving family dog.
Popular Names for Finnish Lapphunds
A few popular names for Finnish Laphund include:
- Jani
- Esa
- Niko
- Leif
- Odin
- Lumi
- Aurora
- Nelli
- Thora
- Riika
Related Animals
View all 123 animals that start with F
The Finish Lapphund is an excellent family dog, is not aggressive, and is good with children.
Yes. Due to their history of herding dogs, barking is in their nature.
Though they are well known in Finland, they are otherwise rare in the rest of the world.
Yes! As ancient hunting and then herding dogs, the Lapphund spent cold evenings curled up with their families to keep warm. They truly love being with their families.
The Lapphund does not typically have a strong doggy odor.
No.