The Finnish Lapphund is an aboriginal Spitz-like herding dog in the Arctic with good guarding and hunting abilities.

It is used as reindeer herders and is also involved in search and rescue operations and sports competitions. Outside of work, he is a wonderful companion and family friend.

History of the Breed

The history of the Finnish Lappish Laika breed goes back centuries. Scientists believe that they are the most ancient dogs living in the vast northern expanses. Finnish Lapphund is popular in countries such as Finland, Sweden, Norway, Karelia.

Once these dogs were used to transport goods, guard homes and pastures. In the 17th century, the population of the northern countries was massively engaged in reindeer herding, and huskies helped them drive and graze these animals. Also, the dogs successfully drove herds into fenced areas. But then there was no question of purposeful breeding of the breed.

Professional activity in relation to this breed began only in the 20th century, and in 45 the first breed standard appeared. Internationally, the Finnish Lapphund was recognized in 55, and the registration of the official standard took place in 75.

Appearance

The group of related breeds includes three species: 2 Lapphund – from Finland and Sweden, and the Lapland Wahlund. In all these breeds, males are different from females. Bitches are more meek, docile, they have a soft look and disposition, as well as a graceful physique. The weight of the Finnish Lapphund varies from 25 to 30 kg, the height of males is 46-52 cm, females are 40-46 cm.

Almost all dogs that live in the harsh northern regions have an abundant coat with a dense undercoat, and Lapphundas is no exception. Such a “fur coat” allowed the animals to stay outside for a long time and not freeze. The outer coat is coarse, harsh, but the undercoat is delicate and soft. On the limbs and tail, there are feathers of long hair, and the neck and chest are covered with a luxurious collar and mane.

Most working breeds do not have strict coat color requirements, and the same can be said for Lappish huskies. The standard spelled out only what texture it should have, but the colors can be very diverse. The main requirement is that there should be one shade in the coat color that dominates over the others. It can be combined with any tone, so there is practically no identical Lapphund.

Characteristics and Personality

Almost all the time, Lapps lived side by side with a person, adjusting to his needs and doing a variety of jobs. This greatly influenced the character of the dogs. Pedigree representatives are calm, loyal, and faithfully serve their families.

Lapphund is recommended for families with children, such a pet gets along well with both toddlers and older children. In addition, there will be no problems if the husky gets into a house where there are already pets – the dog will not conflict and will find a common language with them. The exception is males, who can start a fight with their own kind.

Another nuance – Lapphund has a well-developed hunting instinct, therefore, during a walk, the dog can jerk after a running animal. But with those who live with him in the same house, he is friendly.

Dogs of this breed are suspicious of strangers. Despite the fact that the pet may not happily wag its tail when meeting newcomers, and is able to make enough noise, aggressive behavior is not typical of it.

Care and Maintenance

As already noted, the main task of the owner of the Finnish Lapphund is to provide the pet with the necessary load. This is not an option when the pet is content with short walks around the house. The minimum duration of one walk is 40-50 minutes, and it should include jogging and outdoor games.
For the rest, the unpretentiousness of dogs of this breed is noted. Their dense, dense coat practically does not get tangled, does not get tangled, and has natural protection from pollution. But you still need to take care of the pet’s coat.

In a dog living on the street, the claws are ground off on their own, or they are trimmed 1-2 times a month. For a pet living in an apartment, they are trimmed once a week. Teeth also need care, they are cleaned every 5-7 days.

In addition, the inhabitants of the northern open spaces have a bad attitude to the heat and southern climate. If the climatic conditions are not very suitable for the dog, then you should provide it with shelter from the sun and take it out for walks early in the morning and in the evening when the heat subsides.

Education and Training

Perseverance is what is required of Lapphund owners looking to train their four-footed friend. Representatives of the breed are very intelligent, patient, and very amenable to training. But their independence and ability to make independent decisions can become a “stumbling block”.

So that the dog does not think over the solutions, but obeys unquestioningly, the owner must become a leader for him, a leader. But it is important to exclude the rude treatment of the dog and not allow injustice.

Often, owners are mistaken in thinking that a smart and quick-witted dog does not need socialization and training. As a rule, it is the ill-mannered, but not deprived of high intelligence, animals that cause a lot of trouble due to manifestations of stubbornness and disobedience.

Health

Lapphundas have excellent health, but the owner should take care that the pet does not develop urolithiasis. For this, it is enough for the dog to receive the necessary vitamin and mineral supplements, and also drink as much water as he needs.

In addition, there are a number of diseases that are most often diagnosed in representatives of this breed:

diseases of the visual organ;
dysplasia of large joints – hip, elbow.

How to Choose a Puppy

When choosing a pet, you should assess the general state of his physical and psychological health. The eyes, nose, and ears must be clean, the coat is fluffy and of a uniform structure. The kid should behave livelily, show moderate curiosity towards a stranger.