Depicted on the walls of cave dwellings dated around 7000 BC, the Finnish Lapphund has been around awhile, although it is a relatively new breed to North America. The Lappie is a friendly and family oriented breed that likes to be an integral part of the family and does not do well as just an outside dog. They are playful, energetic and eager to please their masters, though they love to be a couch potato with their favorite human in their downtime. They are quick to learn, though they may manifest an independent streak, and are very loyal to the family.http://www.finnishlapphund.ca/

This breed is a well balanced dog of the Spitz kind with a strong base and muscle. He grows a double coat, one that is long, straight and coarse on the top, and a downy under coat that keeps him warm. His ears are small and erect with plenty of hair inside to keep out the cold. All colors are seen and accepted in the Lappie as long as one color is dominant over the others. Colors that are registrable are black, blond, tan, cream, brown, wolf sable, blue and brindle.http://www.akc.org/breeds/finnish_lapphund/color_markings.cfm An interesting feature of the dog is the light colored hair around his eyes that give him the impression of wearing glasses.http://www.finnishlapphund.ca/

One may think that this breed is a lap dog when the name is first brought up, but the Finnish Lapphund originated in Lapland, the very far north region of Finland. Their ancestors were used for watchdogs, hunting companions, and herding reindeer for the Saami people.http://www.finnishlapphund.org/history.htm The advent of the snow mobile displaced the dogs and they were being used as herding dogs less and less. Around 1940 the people of Finland grew interested in saving this breed and establishing a standard for it. Dogs were obtained from the Saami people for breeding purposes and in 1945 the first standard for Finnish Lapphund was established. Today the breed is the third most popular breed in Finland with over 1000 puppies being registered per year.http://www.finnishlapphund.org/history.htm

Although there is no record of the first Lappies to come to North America, it is believed that they came over with Finnish immigrants. 1987 saw the first real effort in importing and breeding these dogs for recognition in America and in 2008 the American Kennel Club recognized the breed under the miscellaneous class, effective July 1, 2009.http://www.finnishlapphund.org/history.htm

The Lapphund is a double coated dog that needs minimal care, it is slightly water resistant. The Lappie will shed at least once a year, with the females shedding twice. Basic care is all that is required with this lovely coat, regular brushing, and occasional baths. Care must be taken to remove the dead hair in brushing to avoid skin diseases.http://www.finnishlapphund.ca/

With his thick, woolly coat the Lappie is extremely tolerant of the cold and loves to romp and play in the snow; however, they are very intolerant of the heat and extreme care must be taken by owners in the warmer climates that the Lappie does not become over-heated. He must have adequate shade, water, and a place with air conditioning in high temperatures.

The Finnish Lapphund is overall a very healthy breed. There is a small percentage that may exhibit PRA, HC and hip dyplasia. It is always best to purchase your dog from a reputable breeder, avoid puppy mills, and have your dog vet checked for these things if you are planning on breeding. Do not be afraid to ask for vet certificates on the parents that states the parents are free from the above problems.

This breed is not intended for watchdogs, although they may sound the alarm, they are particularly submissive toward people and friendly with strangers.http://www.akc.org/breeds/finnish_lapphund/history.cfm

The Finnish Lapphund is sanctioned by the AKC to participate in obedience, rally, agility and tracking, and herding.http://www.finnishlapphund.org/history.htm His ancestry as a herding dog allows him to take an active part in sheep herding competitions and his keen mind and trainable nature lend themselves well to obedience. The Lappie is an active dog that loves to be played with and agility works well for some.

Over all this dog is a great family pet and companion. They have a bit of wanderlust but do well with children and other pets, they are not aggressive and are a very loyal dog.