Finnish lapphund dog breed, temperament, training finnish lapphund puppies

The Finnish Lapphund dog is a medium sized dog belonging to the Spitz family.



It is a sturdy and easy going breed which has been traditionally used to herd reindeer. However, because of its easy going and friendly temperament, it has become a popular companion dog.

As the name suggests, the Finnish Lapphund is a native of Finland. Though popular in the Nordic countries, it is hardly known outside of them.



Within the breed too, there are two major lines. One is the original working dog belonging to the herding line and the other is the exhibition line.

The Finnish Lapphund has distinctive facial markings and wolf-like features, including a mane. The lapphund is strongly built and is longer than it is taller.



It has a very thick and long coat and extremely mobile ears. The double coat contains of a thick fluffy undercoat and a somewhat coarse top coat. It is the coat that makes the dog both waterproof and resistant to cold weather. Though the coat is thick and profuse, it requires very less maintenance. The coat of the Lapphund is so insulating that it is one of the only two breeds that is legally allowed to be kept in an outdoor kennel.

It has a long snout, like that of a wolf's. The acceptable colors of the coat are either black or brown though some of the other commonly found colors in the breed are white, red, and sable. This is predominantly a black dog. It may have distinct facial markings and it is uncommon to see a Finnish Lapphund without any. The tail is long and curved with a lot of fur.

The Finnish Lapphund is an extremely intelligent and active dog. Because of its high intelligence, the dog can be easily trained. Breeders and owners often claim that the dogs are so intelligent that they are able to think through their actions. Though they are found in very limited numbers, they have excelled as herders, runners and are even extensively used for pet therapy. However, they tend to be extremely curious and therefore often need to be watched rather closely.

The dogs usually bark only with a purpose and were at first distinguished from wolves only because of their barks. They are the ideal companions in the outdoors because they are both insulated to the cold weather and waterproof. Their intelligence, easy trainability and agility make them ideal for families with young children. They are friendly and tend to avoid threatening situations.