The Finnish Lapphund is an Arctic spitz herding breed, developed by the Sami people of Lapland (Finland, Sweden, Norway and Russia) to work and care for their reindeer herds. Despite being used by the Sami people for centuries, the breed as we now know it was not developed until after World War II, when the Finnish Kennel Association moved to create separate breed standards for the Lapinporokoira (Lapponian Herder) and Suomenlapinkoira (Finnish Lapphund).
The first Finnish Lapphunds arrived in Australia in 1995, with the first litter born in 2001. Since then the breed has increased at a significant rate, with there now being approximately 2000 Finnish Lapphunds in the country.
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'Lappies', as they are affectionately known, are a very friendly breed. Fond of people and often very 'full-on', they are also very soft and gentle. They are naturally very submissive to humans, so a lot of care needs to be taken to find that balance between teaching boundaries and not crushing their spirit. They do not handle harsh corrections. For this reason, it is very important to develop a strong relationship with your Finnish Lapphund. They thrive on this. They are cooperative, intelligent, curious and very quick learners. But they are also a spitz breed, so have moments of being strong-willed and independent.
They are highly successful in a range of dog performance sports, including Backpacking, Obedience, Rally, Agility, Herding, Tracking, Flyball, Scentwork, and Lure Coursing. Finnish Lapphunds thrive on activities that include both mental and physical exercise, so any of these sports are great for them. They are a breed that does not cope well with corrections and will typically 'tune out' if this happens. So a gentle approach, with plenty of positive reinforcement, is best.
The hunting instinct is still strong in many Finnish Lapphunds. As such, their noses and eyes can lead them into trouble. They also have a reputation for enjoying an adventure, so watch for open gates!
Their gentle nature means they are wonderful with children and make a lovely addition to the family. They are not a breed that can be left outside and forgotten or only given attention when you feel like it. They need to be an active member of the family, included in all of their family's activities. Most Finnish Lapphunds get on well with other dogs. However, appropriate socialisation as a puppy is vital, to ensure they learn their 'doggie manners'.
Finnish Lapphunds do bark. They are a spitz breed and they use their voices to work the reindeer or just generally show their excitement at life. Whilst the amount they bark varies between individual dogs, it is important they are taught from a young age to limit their barking. Do not reward barking with attention. Generally speaking, they will not bark for the sake of it (unless they are bored) but will bark 'at' things, such as visitors arriving, the presence of wildlife, etc. My advice, if you live in a populated area, is to not allow your Finnish Lapphund access to a street view, where they can bark at everything that goes past. They will also bark when playing or aroused by activity. I allow my dogs to bark at these times.
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The breed description from the Lappish Breeds Club (Finland)
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