The Finnish Lapphund “lappie” is a gorgeous “medium-sized” breed originally bred to herd reindeer and act as a watchdog.
It has a beautiful, thick coat that comes in various colours and insulates against cold temperatures.
Lappies are fairly uncommon in Australia but have been slowly growing in popularity.
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Here's five important things to know about the breed:
They are versatile, usually people-focused dogs, making them good family companions. Despite their moderate size, most Finnish Lapphunds possess energy and stamina as they were bred as working dogs.
They thrive on regular exercise and mental stimulation and usually enjoy dog sports like agility, obedience, and herding trials. Most also enjoy hanging out with their family at home.
They can be sensitive to heat, so care must be taken in the warmer months to exercise them during the cooler parts of the day.
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Grooming: Lappies don't have a typical ‘doggy odour' and don't need to be bathed too often. They should have a thorough brush once or twice a week, so you need to dedicate 30 to 60 minutes per week to grooming.
During the seasonal shedding of their undercoat, they require much more grooming to remove the loose undercoat that is dropped – the amount of hair shed at this time can be a shock to first time owners.
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They can be barky: Finnish Lapphunds are known for being vocal, whether excited, alerting you to potential intruders, or simply seeking attention. For this reason, they may not be a good choice if you live close to neighbours who may object to their noise. Alert barking makes them good watchdogs.
They are usually great with children: They form strong bonds with their families and thrive on companionship and affection. While they typically get along well with children, many factors are at play including genetics and early socialisation.
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Health issues: they can suffer from hip and elbow dysplasia and a condition called Progressive Retinal Atrophy. Good breeders will test their breeding stock for these issues.
Please don't buy online through places like Gumtree, but rather through registered breeders who health test the parents and screen the pups for health issues.
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