Finnish Lapphund

The Finnish Lapphund is a dog that was developed to herd. This breed is a small but powerful dog of the ancient Spitz type. Although it is one of the most common breed types in its native Finland, it is a breed that is rarely seen outside the Nordic countries. These little dogs were used as a general all-around herding dog, moving reindeer and other livestock from pasture to pasture. As do all the breeds of the Spitz type, this breed has prick ears and a tail which is held high and curled over its back. This dog is sturdy, compact and slightly longer than it is high. It has a wedge-shaped head and medium long muzzle. Its double coat is thick and dense, with a woolly undercoat for warmth and an outer coat to repel wet weather. In its homeland, some people spin the shed fur into yarn. The coat occurs in any color, including red, white, sable, black, and wolf-gray which displays varying degrees of hue and darkened points. One of the most common colors is black and tan. The Finnish Lapphund stands an average 16 to 20 inches high, with the males being the larger. This breed has an average lifespan of 12 to 15 years, but to find individuals of 16 or 17 in Finland is not uncommon. The forebear of the Finnish Lapphund was the breed that traveled with the nomadic Samoyedes people of Russia as they hunted and fished their way over Siberia. Their dogs had to be versatile: they served as watchdogs and they hunted, they were used in teams to pull sleds full of supplies. They were the constant companions of these people, sharing their campfires and food; they herded the tribe's captive reindeer; they were the bedwarmers for families through the cold Siberian nights. The Finnish Lapphund was developed by exploiting herding ability in breeding. It has little ability as a watchdog and is in fact very friendly toward people stangers or no. Recent DNA research suggests that the Spitz-type dog from which the Finnish Lapphund, the Samoyed, and the Swedish Lapphund derive, was living and working in Siberia around 3,000 years ago. The earliest documentation of the unique, hardy working and herding dogs of the Siberian nomads occurs in the 17th century. The Swedes and Norwegians were the first to make an effort to standardize the Lappland breeds. In the mid-20th century Swedish Lapphund fanciers became concerned that the distemper outbreaks in Europe that came after the Second World War had almost destroyed the Swedish Lapphund population. In response, they drafted the first breed standard in 1944. The Fins followed by publishing the first standard for the Lapphund in 1945, when it was called the "Lapponian Shepherd Dog"�. Eventually, this breed was separated into two distinct breeds according to coat type, with the shorter coat being the Lapponian and the long coat being the Finnish Lapphund. Many of the qualities that were undoubtedly bred into these dogs to serve them well in their ancient roles still survive in the Finnish Lapphund. Like most herding dogs, this breed is very intelligent; many owners notice that the breed seems to be thinking through a situation before it acts. The Finnish Lapphund needs plenty of mental stimulation as well as an enormous amount of physical activity. It will do best in an active family. Life in a small house or apartment will be difficult without the owner's making a special effort to provide adequate daily exercise outdoors. In its native Finland, the Finnish Lapphund is one of only two breeds permitted to be kenneled outdoors in the winter. Brisk daily walks are recommended for the Finnish Lapphund. This breed can make an excellent jogging partner. It is helpful and cheerfully obedient as a farm worker. As a stock dog it shows an upright and loose-eyed style droving style, and can be given to frequent barking as it works. It is thought that in its early development the barking was encouraged to distinguish it from a wolf amongst the herd. However, this breed is not normally one to bark for no reason, particularly when not working. The coat of the Finnish Lapphund is easy to care for and is not prone to tangling. It should be brushed a least once weekly to remove dead hairs and debris, keep skin healthy, and discourage matting. The male Finnish Lapphund generally has a longer coat than does the female. This breed sheds heavily in spring and fall; with diligent brushing shedding can be minimal at other times of the year. This breed tends to be hardy and healthy; typical herding breed issues rarely plague it. The Finnish Lapphund may exhibit hip dysplasia and inherited eye disorders such as progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) and cataracts, where the breeder is not careful to work to eliminate such tendencies in the bloodline. This breed is friendly with people, loves children, and gets along well with other dogs and other household pets. However, it may occasionally try to herd children and smaller animals such as the household cats. The Finnish Lapphund is generally cheerful, active, and possesses self-assurance and some independence, while at the same time being extremely affectionate with its owners. The Finnish Lapphund bonds very closely with its human pack, and needs adequate playtime and attention or it can develop behavioral problems such as excessive licking, chewing or separation anxiety when left alone. This Spitz-type dog is considered by many dog trainers to be the easiest of the breeds to train, given its high intelligence, cheerful disposition and innate eagerness to please. Besides being used as a herding dog, the Finnish Lapphund is today successful in agility and obedience competitions, and is sometimes used as a therapy dog. It has consistently demonstrated during herding trials in the U.S. that it retains much of its herding ability and is useful for working sheep.

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