FINNISH LAPPHUND

Introduction

The Finnish Lapphund, also known as the Lapinkoira, Lapponian Shepherd Dog, Finish Lapland Dog, Suomenlapinkoira or Lappy, is a medium-sized dog that has the dense double coat typical of northern breeds combined with the temperament of a herding dog. The original Finnish Lapphunds were used for hunting and protection by the Sami, a tribe of semi-nomadic people who lived in Lapland, which is the northern region of Norway, Finland, Sweden and Russia. Eventually, the Lapphund transitioned to a herding dog, as the Sami settled into a more sedentary life of breeding reindeer.

Developed north of the Arctic Circle to live and work outside, the Lapphund's extremely dense coat allows it to withstand extremely cold temperatures. These dogs have soft, sweet, extremely expressive faces which make them look like cuddly teddy bears. They come in a variety of colors, including black, blonde, brown and tan. Still fairly unknown outside of Scandinavia, the Finnish Lapphund is wildly popular in its native countries. The snowmobile has reduced the modern need for reindeer-herding dogs. However, fans of the Finnish Lapphund continue to enjoy its intelligence and enthusiasm for outdoor activities. This breed is ideal for people with active lifestyles. It makes a wonderful family companion and is a competent watch dog.

Appearance

The Finnish Lapphund is a small to medium-sized, sturdily-built Spitz-type dog with a profuse fluffy coat, upright ears and an especially happy facial expression. This breed is intelligent, alert, agile, friendly and eager to please. Despite being quite strong for its moderate size, the Finnish Lapphund is submissive with people and has a certain softness about it, which accentuates its cheerful disposition. Mature males of this breed should be recognizably masculine. Females should look feminine in comparison. The Finnish Lapphund’s ears are set rather far apart and should be small to medium in size, triangular in shape, broad at the base and round at the tip. They may be erect or semi-erect (tipped), but they should never be dropped. The eyes of this breed should be oval and dark. Yellow or blue eyes are a serious fault. The Finnish Lapphund’s tail is high-set and well-fringed.

Size and Weight

The ideal adult male Finnish Lapphund stands 19 ½ inches at the shoulder, and the ideal female is 17 ½ inches in height. The acceptable range for males is 18 to 21 inches and for females is 16 to 19 inches. Most Finnish Lapphunds weigh between 33 and 53 pounds. Type and soundness are considered to be more important than size or weight in this breed.

Coat and Color

Finnish Lapphunds have dense, long, luxurious topcoats and short, soft, fluffy undercoats. Their outer coat is coarse, straight and water-repellant, which is important to their ability to live and work in the harsh Arctic climate. It may be slightly wavy, especially in young dogs, which is not preferred but is permitted under the breed standard, as long as it is still harsh. The under coat is soft and dense, which makes the outer coat stand erect. Males should have a profuse mane. This breed comes in all colors, from tan and blond to black and brown, but one color must predominate. The most common colors are cream, sable, black, brown and tan, with or without white markings. Less common colors are white, blue and brindle, with or without splashes of other colors. A color which consists of bands of different colors on a single hair shaft (sable, wolf-sable, or domino) is considered a single color. Patches of secondary colors are allowed on the head, neck, chest, belly, legs and tail.

Grooming Requirements

Lappies are not difficult to groom. However, it is important to start a consistent grooming regimen when they are young. Early engagement in good grooming habits makes it easier for owners to keep their pets clean and tidy without a fuss or struggle. Finnish Lapphunds shed quite a bit, especially seasonally in warm spring and summer weather. Surprisingly, their coats need no trimming. Weekly combing and brushing will keep the Lapphund’s coat clean and free from flyaway fur. The dog's nails should be trimmed every few weeks, and the ears should be cleaned as necessary. The Lappy’s teeth should be brushed regularly to maintain fresh breath and overall good dental health. In the show ring, this breed is presented in a completely natural condition, except for trimming around the feet and hocks to tidy up its appearance. The undercoat of the Finnish Lapphund tends to shed quite a bit.

History

The Finnish Lapphund is a Scandinavian breed that is closely related to the Swedish Lapphund. Both breeds originated in Lapland, an area that includes parts of northern Norway, Finland, Sweden and Russia. The Finnish Lapphund was initially used as a hunting and guard dog by the semi-nomadic people of the area, known as the Sami. Over time, the Sami stopped moving around and settled into a more sedentary lifestyle, turning their attention from roaming to raising reindeer, primarily as a source of food. Their Spitz-type dogs eventually evolved from hunters/protectors to herding dogs. They were used to manage large herds of reindeer, a role that they filled for hundreds of years. With the arrival of the snowmobile in modern times, dogs became less necessary to manage reindeer herds. Fortunately, fanciers of the breed continued to breed quality dogs in Scandinavia and elsewhere.

In the 1940s, aficionados in Finland took steps to standardize and save their breed. The Finnish Kennel Club (FKC) recognized the “Lapponian Shepherd Dog” in 1945, with both long-haired and short-haired varieties. In 1967, the two coat types were separated into distinct breeds: the long-haired version became the Lapinkoira (Finnish Lapphund), and the short-haired version became the Lapinporokoira (Lapponian Herder). The breed first came to the United States in 1987 and was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 1994 as a member of its Northern Breed Group. The Finnish breed standard was revised in 1996, and an English translation was accepted by the Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) in 1999.

The breed was admitted to the American Kennel Club’s Foundation Stock Service in 2001. It was accepted into the AKC’s Miscellaneous Class in 2009. The Finnish Lapphund was officially recognized for full AKC registration in 2011, as a member of the Herding Group. The parent club for this breed in the United States is the Finnish Lapphund Club of America. In the United Kingdom, the breed is represented by the Finnish Lapphund Club of Great Britain, and in Canada the Finnish Lapphund Club of Canada oversees breeding and registry. Today's Lapphunds are much more than reindeer-herding dogs. They are active competitors in agility trials, mushing, obedience, rally and conformation. One of the most popular breeds in Finland, the Finnish Lapphund is steadily gaining fans world-wide.

Health

The Finnish Lapphund generally is a healthy, hearty breed, with an average lifespan of between 12 and 15 years. Breed health concerns include generalized progressive retinal atrophy (GPRA), cataracts and hip dysplasia.

Personality

The Finnish Lapphund is an intelligent, affectionate and versatile herding dog at heart. He likes to keep his people - and anything else he can herd, including kids and household pets - tightly together. These adaptable animals thrive in almost any environment. Their dense coats protect them from bad weather, but they also do well in warm climates. Finnish Lapphunds make terrific family companions, especially for active outdoorsy people. They can be a bit aloof around strangers, but they are not known to be shy. They are observant, focused and watchful. Lapphunds tend to be quite vocal and energetic, which is not surprising given their original role as reindeer-herders. This breed gets along well with other dogs and they are good with children.

Activity Requirements

Finnish Lapphunds are extremely active, alert and ready to be part of whatever action is going on. They were bred for outdoor work around reindeer, cattle and horses, and they appreciate the opportunity to run and explore outside. Because they hail from frigid arctic areas, these dogs do quite well living in cold climates. They enjoy going for long walks with their owners and engaging in all sorts of active canine sports. Like many other herding breeds, the Finnish Lapphund has tremendous strength and stamina. This dog is perfectly suited for people who enjoy hiking, mountain biking, backpacking and other outdoor activities. The Finnish Lapphund wants and needs lots of exercise and may become restless and destructive if its energy needs are not met.

Trainability

In addition to physical activity, the Finnish Lapphund needs a healthy dose of mental stimulation. As a herding dog, this breed will analyze a situation before deciding how to handle it. Fortunately, the Finnish Lapphund enjoys training and working with people. This breed is relatively easy to train and enjoys using its finely-tuned observational skills to learn what is asked of it. These are fairly “soft” dogs. They respond best to positive reinforcement and reward-based training, using praise rather than punishment. Finnish Lapphunds have strong noses and excel at scent-related activities, such as tracking, scent discrimination work and search and rescue.

Behavioral Traits

When working, Finnish Lapphunds are agile, active, alert and noisy. When interacting with people, however, the breed usually is calm, friendly and submissive. Lapphunds are barkers. They have used their voice to help drive and control reindeer herds in their native Scandinavia for centuries. This trait can be problematic in urban environments, where noisy dogs are frowned upon. Barking is certainly controllable with consistent training. Still, this breed is not quiet by nature. It has a strong “startle reflex,” which comes from its reindeer-herding heritage. This breed makes a great watchdog but not a great guard dog. The Finnish Lapphund is usually gentle and quite good with children, despite the impression its size may give. The breed is also noted for its patience with the elderly and people with disabilities.