Finnish Lapphund
Origin
Finnish Lapphunds were first used as reindeer herders for the indigenous people in Nordic countries such as Russia, Sweden, Finland, and Norway. Sweden and Norway were believed to be the first countries to set the standard for the Finnish Lapphund prior to Wold War II, however after the war this breed was in danger of extinction due to a massive distemper outbreak. The Finnish Kennel Club set the standards for this breed, and named it Lappish Herder (also called Kukonharjunlainen), in 1966 the breed underwent reassessment and the Finnish Lapphund was then given definition in 1967.
Description
The Finnish Lapphund is a medium-sized dogs with strong physiques. They have a double coat which consist of coarse, long topcoats and fluffy, short undercoats. The hair on their necks and head are thicker than the rest of their body, giving them the appearance of having a mane.
| Size | Medium |
| Colour | Dogs of this breed can come in various colours; White, red, black, sable, wolf-sable and brown. However, they should have one dominant colour in their coats. |
| Coat Length | Long |
| Weight/Height Range | On average dogs stand at 46 - 50cms at the withers and weigh 21 - 23kgs, bitches average at height is 41 - 46cms from the withers and weigh 18 - 20kgs. |
| Ailments | Some Finnish Lapphunds may have genetic predispositions to eye problems such as progressive retinal atrophy PRA, and joint problems such as hip dysplasia. |
Feeding & Ownership
On the whole these dogs are not big eaters when you consider the amount of exercise they require.
| Food Cost | $10 to $15 |
Personality
The Finnish Lapphund is known as a friendly, intelligent and sociable dog who loves to work. They are a very active and energetic breed. Due to they social nature they are quite good with children and other animals.
| Intelligence | The Finnish Lapphund is intelligent breed that is keen to learn, however they can get bored quite quickly so it is recommended to do frequent and short training sessions. They very good competitors in agility trails and fly-ball competitions. |
| Energy | High |
| Suitability for Children | High |
| Tendency to Bark | Medium |
| Overall Exercise Requirement | This breed is a high-energy dog that needs a lot of exercise and mental stimulation. They require a daily walk, and they make great jogging companions. |
| Suitability as a Guard Dog | Low |
| Ease of Transportation | Medium |
| Level of Aggression | Low Medium |
| Other Animal Compatibility | High |
Grooming
Because of the density of the coat, they require frequent care and maintenance, owners will need to comb and brush their dogs' coats at least twice a week, and daily when they are shedding. As the undercoat is extremely thick they must not be allowed to matt, as this a can cause the dog to suffer.
| Grooming Requirements | Twice a week |
| Amount of Hair Shed | Heavy |
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