The Finnish Lapphund or Lappies’ as they are sometimes known, is a tough, medium-size breed of Spitz type, popular in its native country of Finland where they were developed to herd reindeer.
It is a strongly-built and muscular dog, which is also quick and agile. It has a typical spritz face, with an elegant nose and pricked ears, and a bushy tail that curves over the back. Its most distinguishing feature is its luscious and dense water-resistant coat which has a short, soft undercoat and a long topcoat. The coat comes in a number of colours, including black and cream, black and tan, white and grey, and brown and white, with one main colour usually predominating. Some also have distinctive facial markings, with a ring of lighter-coloured hair around the eyes. The Finnish Lapphund is a super friendly and intelligent dog. Their friendly nature and gentle ways make them an ideal choice for families and young children and they are also suitable as therapy dogs for children, people with disabilities, and the elderly. This is a breed which thrives on being outdoors and its thick waterproof coat is particularly well suited to colder climates. They make ideal outdoor companions, happy to walk, hike and run with their owners. The Finnish Lapphund does like to bark, a trait bred into it for herding reindeer, but with good training, this shouldnt be problematic. It also makes them useful watchdogs. The Finnish Lapphund is a lovely friendly dog, which is well suited to active families and individuals.
History
The Finnish Lapphund descends from the herding dogs used for centuries by the Sami people of Northern Finland to guard and herd reindeer. In some areas of Finland, and other parts of Scandinavia, they are still used today for the same herding purpose. The breed is also popular through his native country as a companion dog, although relatively rare outside Scandinavia.
