Swedish Lapphund

Breed Rating

Breed Details

General

The Swedish Lapphund dog breed originated from Sweden. It is one of three Lapphund breeds developed from a type of dog used by the Sami people for herding and guarding their reindeer. Sometimes called 'the black beauty of Norrland', is most likely one of Sweden's oldest breeds. Other names of the Swedish Lapphund are Lapphund, Lapland Spitz and Lapplandska Spets while the Swedish name of the breed is Svensk lapphund.

These dogs are very receptive and willing to work. They are alert, lively, kind and affectionate by nature. They can be very easy to train and very suitable for agility, obedience, herding and tracking. They are loyal, enthusiastic and tenacious. They are wonderful with children if they were raised with them. They get along very well with other dogs and if properly introduced, with other non-canine pets as well.

Color

The Lapphund's coat color can sometimes be Black, Bear Brown or a combination of the two. White markings on the chest, feet and tip of the tail can sometimes appear and is acceptable in the show ring if not more than this.

Coat

This dog's coat is a profuse double coat with the outer coat standing straight off the body and a dense, finely curled undercoat. The coat is shorter on the head and front of the legs. A collarette appears at the neck.

Personality

The Lapphunds are loyal, enthusiastic and tenacious. Their exceptional intelligence and independence makes them highly trainable. They need to be challenged physically and mentally to avoid developing a destructive or noisy behavior in an attempt to amuse them. This dog can sometimes be very noisy as their breed was originally developed as reindeer herders and that they were taught to bark most of the time while working. Thus, if you'd use them as a housedog, they need to be trained to not bark or bark lesser.

Care

The Lappie's thick double coat forming a ruff around the neck and is longer on the back of the legs and the tail. Daily brushing is required to maintain a shiny coat and to maintain the bond between the dog and the human especially during the Spring and Fall shedding seasons to help keep excess hair under control. Otherwise, weekly brushing would suffice. The coat is semi-waterproof and the dirt easily brushes off when the coat is dry. It has a lovely shiny coat and grooming it regularly would keep it that way. The rest of the grooming requires basic care. Nails are trimmed once a month or as needed. Weekly, check their ears for dirt, redness or bad odor indicating an infection. If it looks dirty, use cotton ball dampened with a pH-balanced ear cleaner to wipe them out. Their teeth should be brushed frequently for keep good overall health and fresh breath. Grooming should be started as early as possible in their puppyhood so they would get used to the process of grooming. These dogs are generally known as healthy dogs as there are not many documented problems for the breed. However, PRA and hip dysplacia has surfaced in their native Sweden.

Training

These dogs are very intelligent but they can be sometimes a little stubborn. They respond best to gentle and consistent training. They are very sensitive dogs making it a no-no to use harsh methods for training. Also, the training should start during a time when the dog is still young enough to learn new commands. This dog should be socialized early in life to prevent shyness and aggression. Their training should also include limiting their barking if they are to be used as house dogs.

Activity

The Swedish Lapphund are very energetic that they have strong working heritage and is definitely a poor choice for someone who likes to spend the whole day on the sofa. These dogs need a lot of exercise and a large space to run around. They are domesticated and will do well as house dogs but their herding instincts still exists and they should be taken out for walks or jogs regularly. They need a large space at home to play around as they can be fairly active indoors.