This month’s breed highlight….
The Finnish Lapphund
1947 Sami women and dog - picryl.com
As the name implies, Finnish Lapphunds (also known as Finnish Lapponian dogs) are dogs from Lapland, the Arctic Circle portion of northern Scandinavia and Russia. Their ancestors were originally bred as many as 7000 years ago by the Sami, a semi-nomadic people of the Arctic {American Kennel Club}. In fact, some believe that the Sami included the ancestors of modern Lapphunds in their cave paintings. Not derived from other breeds of dogs, these ancestor dogs are considered a “primitive breed”, meaning that they were a breed developed directly from wolf ancestry. After domestication, these ancestral dogs were further hybridized by male dog/female wolf pairings, either by accidental mating, or by intentional breeding {Primitive Dogs}. Over time these dogs were bred selectively by the Sami, and their line of work changed from that of hunting reindeer to herding them. By the 17th century, these Lapphunds, often known by the cute moniker of “Lappies”, were used to herd reindeer using their voices, which both moved the animals, and distinguished them from wolves {Finnish Lapphund Club of America}.
1936 Sami Family - Picryl.com
Being aboriginal to the Arctic, Finnish Lapphunds are built to withstand brutally cold conditions. They have a double coat that is thick and flowing on top, with a much more dense undercoat, which makes them appear bigger than they are. They are medium-sized dogs, weighing about 33 - 53 lbs, with males averaging 18-21 inches tall and females ranging from 16-19 inches {AKC}. They are smaller than other northern breeds, but are long, muscular, and athletic, a spitz type dog, modified for herding. Their herding style is not one of low stalking behavior, but rather jumping and leaping, and they are especially skilled in long distance herding, known as “droving” {FLCA and Primitive Dogs}.
The dogs first appeared as a breed in 1892 at the first ever Finnish dog show as “Lappish Shepherd dogs”. At this point, there was not the clear definition of breed standard that is known today {Nordisk Kennel Union}.
1915 Lappland Sheepdog in Dogs of All Nations
Since the introduction of snowmobiles into Lappland in the 20th century, these dogs became used less and less for droving, while doing more for specialized, limited work, such as rounding up stray reindeer in wooded areas. Because of this more limited use, in the early 1940s breed enthusiasts in Sweden and Finland became concerned about their ability to maintain the breed. They collected dogs from the Sami people and worked to establish a breeding program, including the introduction of a breed standard, which was accepted by the Finnish Kennel Club in 1945 {NKU}. This standard included both a short coated version and a longer haired version, as both were born into the same litters. Dogs with both of these coat types were then called Lapponian Shepherd dogs. However, by 1967, breeders had managed to separate the coat styles, and the short coated dogs were then dubbed Lapponian Herders. These dogs had also developed shorter legs than their long coated cousins {AKC}. The longer coated (and longer legged) dogs became known as Finnish Lapphunds, and by 1975 the current breed standard was accepted in Finland. As of 2005 the longer haired Finnish Lapphund is the more popular of the two, and is the third most popular breed in Finland {FLCA}.
The breed came to the United States in 1987, and the first American litter was born in 1988. In 1994, the Finnish Lapphund became recognised as a breed by the United Kennel Club (UKC), the second largest kennel club in America, in the Northern Group {United Kennel Club}. In August 2008, the Finnish Lapphund were accepted by the AKC as part of the Miscellaneous Class. By 2011 Finnish Lapphunds were officially moved from the Miscellaneous Group into the Herding Group, becoming an AKC fully recognized breed {AKC}. The Finnish Lapphund Club of America (FLCA) is the parent organization in the United States and was awarded parent club status in 2015 {FLCA}.
The breed standard now recognized by these groups includes a variety of coat colors, from black to pure white including various shades of golden, brown, cream, wolf sable, white and a domino pattern which generally includes dark colored "cap" type markings. Their coats are waterproof, fluffy, with a dense undercoat that needs to be brushed weekly, although baths are rarely needed. They do shed quite a bit more in Spring and Autumn, requiring more brushing in those seasons {FLCA}. They have pricked ears, almond shaped, dark eyes, and an upright tail that curves loosely over their backs. Their natural gait is a gallop {UKC and AKC}.
Blix - photo courtesy of Sue Kidder
Because of the work they did in close proximity to reindeer, Finnish Lapphunds were bred to be quick, brave, and agile, and they are known for their strong startle reflex {AKC}. These features make them fantastic at agility sports, as well as giving them the willingness to use their voice in many (most!) contexts. With their quick wit and agile minds and bodies, Lappies take very well to training and do well in dog sports, such as agility, obedience, rally, and tracking. They also make great therapy dogs, and can be seen working in search and rescue. While they were not bred to be guardian dogs, and tend to avoid conflict with people and other dogs, they do make great watch dogs, due to their tendency to bark and alert {Primitive Dogs}. They are considered extremely social, loyal, good-natured, and generally very submissive toward people {AKC}.
Blix - photo courtesy of Sue Kidder
Of medium build and stocky, Finnish Lapphunds are a strong and generally very healthy breed. They do however have some health issues that need to be considered before breeding. These include elbow and hip dysplasia, which can be ruled out through the use of x-rays. Finnish Lapphunds can also have retinal atrophy (GPRA), which is progressive and can cause vision impairment including blindness, as well as spinal disc issues, all of which can be detected by doing basic DNA tests {Wisdom Panel}. This being said, they generally live 12-15 years, with some living longer {AKC}.
While these are strong dogs, they are considered moderate in terms of energy, not requiring a lot of exercise to keep them fit and healthy. It should also be noted however, that these dogs were bred to use their voices for herding. This translates into a dog that barks to communicate. Although they are moderate in energy, they are intelligent dogs who need to have regular mental stimulation to minimize barking from frustration. They are also highly social and very loyal to their people, and therefore need regular attention and companionship in order to stay mentally healthy {FLCA}.
If you are considering adding a Finnish Lapphund to your family, there is a list of breeders and rescues available at the Finnish Lapphund Club of America website, complete with a registration and more general information about the breed. You can also find helpful statistics regarding the breed in the Breed Archive for Finnish Lapphunds.
Finnish Lapphund Puppies - Getty Images Plus via Getty Images