Finnish Lapphund - TOP 10 Interesting Facts

1) Origin
This is very old dog breed, developed in an isolated region of the world hundreds years ago. They developed from the Northern Spitzes, but at some point of their history, they were selectively cross-bred with the female wolf in the region known as Lappland. The Finnish Lapphund was developed by Sami people, a semi nomadic tribe that lived in Scandinavia.

2) Reindeer herder
It is quite common that different breeds are used for herding sheeps or cattle, but the Finnish Lapphund was originally used to herd reindeer. And it is a hard job, because reindeer is a strong and quick animal with big hooves that can be deadly. That is why, the Finnish Lapphund must be a brave and fast dog with very quick reflexes.

3) Not a Lapdog
When you hear the breeds name – Finnish Lapphund – for the first time, you might think it is some cute lapdog from Finland. Well, that is very far from the truth, because this is highly active dog. They definitely need daily exercise, long walk, task oriented and vigorous playtime. Or you can try some dog sport with them, they do great at agility, herding trials, flyball or mushing and carting.

4) Barkers

When the Finnish Lapphund herd the reindeer, they used barking to control the herd so its no wonder they love to bark even today. They have pretty unique bark, a high pitched squeek. Thanks to this, they actually makes good watchdogs. On the other hand, they are not the best guards, because they are too friendly for this purpose.

5) Size
The Finnish Lapphund looks bigger than it actually is, because of their fluffy coat, but it is a medium sized dog with average height between 17-21 inches which is 43-54 cm and weight between 33-53 pounds, which is 15-25 kg. The females are naturally little bit smaller than males.

6) Coat
Well i already mentioned their coat and since it is a very distinctive part of their appearance, lets describe it little bit more. It is a dense thick doublecoat. The undercoat is short and thick but very soft making the outer coat stand on end. You can find the Finnish Lapphunds in all the colors, commonly in white, black, red, and brown, as well as combinations of colors such as black and tan.

7) Family companions
Lappies are great family companions. They are friendly, eager to please and gentle. Thanks to this gentle temperament, they do great around children. Of course, you should always supervise your dog with a very young kid. Finnish Lapphunds are also very playful and active, so they truly are perfect companions for older kids.

8) Smart dogs
The Finnish Lapphund is an intelligent and bright dog. It is true, that they can have stubborn streaks from time to time, but generally, this is eager to please dog who enjoys training sessions and learning new commands. With a patinet trainer, they are capable of learning a lot of different tricks.

9) Maintenance
Because of the dense fluffy thick doublecoat, Finnish Lapphunds require regular weekly brushing to remove the dead hair and prevent matting. It is especially important to brush their coat behind the ears, in the groin area and in the armpits. They do not need much bathing, since they dont have the typical doggy odor. Just like with all dogs, you should regularly check their eyes, ears and nails and clean them or clip them if needed.

10) Health
The Finnish Lapphund is a naturally healthy breed with a good average lifespan between 12-14 years, but it is not uncommon for them to live up to 17 years. Just like all the dog breeds, they do suffer from some health issues, most commonly from hip and elbow dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy or cataracts.