History
Bred by the nomadic Sami people of Finnish Lapland, the Lappish dogs (ancestors of the Finnish Lapphund) have been used as watch dogs and reindeer herders for centuries. The Finnish Lapphunds started to spend more time with the families at home acting as watch dogs. The breed was first introduced to Australia in 1995 in the ACT.
Description
Profuse coat, soft & friendly faces, with the ideal expression resembling a teddy bear.
Grooming and Physical Needs
- Grooming Needs: An hour a week of grooming, more during seasonal coat blows. Desexed tend to have a softer, more profuse coat which need more regular brushing.
- Coat Type: Long, straight, harsh outer coat & a softer undercoat. Should NEVER be shaved.
- Moulting: Seasonal, heavy during a blow once a year for dogs, twice a year for bitches. Desexing can cause Lappies to “roll” their coat (dog will lose hair all year round).
- Exercise Needs: Roughly 30 minutes of exercise a day & relatively high level of mental stimulation.
- Average Life Span: 10 – 14 years, though some Lappies have been known to live until 16+.
Behaviour
- Family: Family-friendly dog who need an active & energetic owner, very intelligent and can get bored quite quickly.
- Temperament: Keen, friendly, faithful and courageous, Lappies are very people oriented dogs.
- Trainability: Very intelligent dogs, recommend frequent, short training sessions (3-5 minutes). Lappies pick up behaviours quickly and can learn a wide range of tricks easily.
- Sociability (Other Pets): Strong herding instinct, they may attempt to “herd” other pets in the house. With socialisation and training, they should live in harmony with any other pets in the house.
- Barking: Without adequate mental stimulation, can become problem barkers.
Talents
Excel in Obedience, Rally Obedience, Agility, Tracking, Herding, Dancing with Dogs, Endurance & Flyball, as well as strutting their stuff in the show ring.
Notes
Males are masculine, more bear like & bigger coats than the feminine, delicate females.