Finnish Lapphund: The Complete Guide to This Smiley Spitz

Finnish Lapphund is a medium-sized Spitz-type working dog from Finnish Lapland, kept for centuries by the Sami people to herd reindeer across the Arctic Circle. The FCI accepts it as Suomenlapinkoira in Group 5, the Nordic watchdogs and herders, and the breed was officially recognized in 1955. Males stand about 49 cm at the withers and females about 44 cm, and adults typically weigh between 17 and 19 kg.

This is a calm, intelligent, and affectionate dog with a profuse double coat and a tail that curls over the back. Finnish Lapphunds bark to announce strangers but are not aggressive; they live easily with children and other dogs, and they do poorly when left alone for long periods.

These are the headline figures, with the source noted because the registries publish slightly different numbers.

What Is a Finnish Lapphund?

The Finnish Lapphund is a Spitz-type herding dog from Finnish Lapland, developed by the Sami people to work reindeer across the Arctic Circle. The FCI classifies it in Group 5 among the Nordic watchdogs and herders, and the current standard was published in 2016. It is a profusely coated, sturdily built dog that moves with a quick, agile trot and can shift easily into a gallop.

These are the figures worth keeping, with the source noted because the registries publish slightly different numbers.

Convert the American figures and the gap disappears: 21 inches equals about 53 cm and 19 inches equals about 48 cm, both inside the FCI range. Weight figures sit inside the same band. Heights agree across registries; only the published weight ranges differ.

Where Does the Finnish Lapphund Come From?

Lapland is a region north of the Arctic Circle that takes in parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and northwestern Russia. It is named for the Sami people, who have sparsely inhabited the region for several thousand years. Traditionally, the Sami depended on reindeer for food, and life in this harsh environment would not have been possible without the Spitz dogs which helped the Sami hunt, and later herd, the reindeer.

Eventually these herding Spitz-type dogs developed into three breeds: the Swedish Lapphund, the Lapponian Herder, and the Finnish Lapphund. The Finnish Lapphund is the original native breed, and it is still used today as a herding dog.

The breed first came to the United States in 1987, and the American Kennel Club admitted it to the Miscellaneous Class in 2009 before granting full recognition in the Herding Group on June 30, 2011. It is the AKC’s 173rd breed.

DNA research places the Finnish Lapphund within a mitochondrial DNA sub-clade referred to as d1 that is found only in northern Scandinavia. Scientists describe it as the result of a hybridization between a female wolf and a male dog that occurred post-domestication, originating at most 480 to 3,000 years ago, and shared with other Sami-related breeds including the Swedish Lapphund, Lapponian Herder, Jamthund, Norwegian Elkhound, and Hällefors Elkhound.

In Finland, the first breed standards were set in 1945 by the Finnish Kennel Club. In the 1960s, the Finnish kennel associations were unified, and in 1966 the breeds were reassessed: the shorter-coated Lapponian Herder was defined in 1966, and the longer-coated Finnish Lapphund was defined in 1967. Snowmobiles reduced the need for herding dogs, but the longer-haired breed survived and remains popular in Finland.

What Does a Finnish Lapphund Look Like?

The Finnish Lapphund is a medium-sized, sturdily built Spitz-type dog from Finnish Lapland, kept for centuries by the Sami people to herd reindeer across the Arctic Circle. The FCI classifies it in Group 5 among the Nordic watchdogs and herders, and accepted it definitively in 1955. Males stand about 49 cm at the withers and females about 44 cm, and adults typically weigh between 17 and 19 kg.

• The ears are medium-sized, broad at the base, set rather well apart, triangular in shape, and very mobile; they are carried either erect or semi-erect. Drop ears are a serious fault.
• The eyes are rather large and oval-shaped, dark brown in color and harmonizing with the colour of the coat; the expression is intelligent and kindly.
• The feet are oval-shaped and compact, with well-arched toes and thick, elastic pads; they are covered with thick hair, and dewclaws may be removed.
• The tail is medium-length, thick at the root, tapering gradually to a point; it is carried curled over the back when the dog is alert or moving, and hangs down between the legs when relaxed.

All colours are allowed, but a single colour must predominate. Markings of colours other than the main colour are allowed on the head, neck, chest, legs, and the tip of the tail. The AKC breed standard lists black, brown, cream, blue, and lilac, with markings including white and tan, domino, tan points, sable, white markings, and wolf sable. Black and tan is a common combination: a predominantly black dog with tan legs and face.

Many Finnish Lapphunds have very distinctive facial markings, like “spectacles”: a ring of lighter-coloured hair around the eyes that gives the impression that the dog is wearing spectacles. Like other Spitz types, the tail is carried curving over the back.

Shop for Your Breed

❮

Just Food For Dogs – Fresh Frozen

Fresh meals. Gently cooked, then frozen to lock in nutrients. 100% Human Grade Ingredients. Gently Cooked in the USA. #1 Vet-Recommended Fresh Food.

Shop on JustFoodForDogs

Raw Paws Pet Food – Frozen Raw Pet Food

Feeding your pet a frozen raw pet food diet is a simple way to deliver real, whole-food nutrition in its most natural form.

Shop on RawPawsPetFood

Bravecto Chews for Dogs

Bravecto is a long-lasting flea and tick protection option for your dog. 1 dose of Bravecto chew provides up to 12 weeks of powerful protection, which is nearly 3 times longer than a monthly treatment.

Shop on BestVetCare.com

Deworming Treatments for Dogs

BestVetCare offers you a wide range of worm treatments which come in a variety of forms such as oral paste, tablets, granules, and liquid solutions.

Shop on BestVetCare.com

❯

HappyPetZone participates in various affiliate programs with brands and retailers. We may receive a commission on purchases made through our links, at no extra cost to you.

What Is the Finnish Lapphund’s Temperament Like?

The Finnish Lapphund is intelligent, willing, affectionate and adaptable. It has natural herding instincts and a tendency to bark, which training can diminish. It makes an excellent watchdog that will bark at strangers, but it lacks any tendency toward aggression. Finnish Lapphunds live very easily with children and other dogs.

Beneath that smiling face is a dog with a strong herding instinct. The Finnish Lapphund watches everything, and that alertness makes for an excellent watchdog. At home, expect a loyal, affectionate companion who bonds closely with family members and thrives on connection. This breed does not do well left alone for long stretches.

Intelligence runs deep here too. Owners sometimes joke that their Finnish Lapphund is too smart for its own good, since bored dogs invent their own entertainment. Because of their herding background, some individuals chase moving objects, including children or smaller pets. Supervision and structured socialization go a long way toward preventing that habit.

How Much Exercise Does a Finnish Lapphund Need?

Finnish Lapphunds are calm dogs with moderate exercise requirements. A long, brisk walk every day is usually enough to keep the breed healthy and happy. Lappies rarely exercise themselves, so a half-hour play session with their owner and a ball, or with another dog, can also satisfy their exercise needs.

This is a herding breed, so many Lappies enjoy participating in herding trials. Other canine sports in which they can excel include agility, obedience, rally, and tracking.

• One long, brisk walk every day, plus a half-hour play session with their owner and a ball, or with another dog.
• Scent games, puzzle toys, and scent work to keep the mind occupied.
• A structured sport such as agility, obedience, rally, or tracking, which gives the herding drive a legal outlet.
• Consistent recall practice, because a distracted Finnish Lapphund may chase wildlife if it spots something moving.

On wet days, indoor games keep the routine intact, and these ways to tire out a high-energy dog suit a Lappy’s mind as well as its legs.

How Do You Train a Finnish Lapphund?

Training a Finnish Lapphund works well with short sessions, clear rules, and rewards the dog can eat. The breed learns fast and bores fast, so five to ten minutes twice a day beats one long session at the weekend. Start commands at home with few distractions, then add distance, duration, and new places one at a time.

1. Teach a name response before anything else. Say the name once, reward the moment the dog looks back, and repeat in every room until the answer is instant.
2. Reward the behaviour you want instead of correcting the behaviour you dislike. Lappies are sensitive to harsh handling and stop offering new behaviours when a trainer raises a voice.
3. Practise recall on a long line before trusting an open field. Herding instinct can override a trained recall when something starts moving.
4. Give the dog a job every week. Herding trials, agility, rally, obedience, and tracking all use the same brain that once moved reindeer.
5. Manage barking with a cue the dog understands. Reward quiet after the doorbell rings, and teach a settle command for the evening.
6. Make handling part of the training. Touching paws, ears, and tail each week makes vet visits and nail trims calmer for everyone.

Puppy classes and regular visits to busy places in the first months do most of the work for adult manners. Owners who skip that stage often spend years managing a dog that barks at every visitor and pulls toward every dog on the street.

Can a Finnish Lapphund Be Left Off the Lead?

Only with caution and training. The breed’s herding background means a Lappy may chase moving objects, including children, smaller pets, or wildlife. Reliable recall training matters because a distracted Finnish Lapphund may chase whatever catches its eye.

• Teach a recall cue early and reward every check-in, not only the formal recall.
• Practise on a long line in an open area before risking off-lead work.
• Never punish a late return, because the recall you are training is always the next one.
• Never let a Finnish Lapphund loose near livestock or road traffic unless its recall is rock-solid.

How Do You Groom a Finnish Lapphund?

The Finnish Lapphund has a double coat: a short outer coat over a soft, dense undercoat. Weekly brushing removes loose hair and keeps the coat looking tidy; during shedding season, daily brushing is needed. Lappies do not have a doggie odour, so an occasional bath is usually sufficient. Lappies should never be shaved, as it reduces their ability to keep cool in warm weather and warm in cold weather.

• Brush weekly during most of the year, and daily during the shedding periods.
• Bathe only when necessary, since over-bathing strips natural oils from the double coat.
• Trim nails regularly, as overly long nails can be painful to the dog and cause problems walking and running.
• Check ears regularly for signs of infection and brush the teeth often.

What Health Problems Do Finnish Lapphunds Have?

Finnish Lapphunds are generally healthy dogs, but there are a few conditions the breed is prone to. Two of these are elbow and hip dysplasia, both of which can be detected with X-rays. Also present in some Lappies is progressive retinal atrophy, which causes vision loss. Responsible breeders check their breeding stock for conditions that can affect the breed.

The AKC’s national breed club recommends the following health tests:

• A patella evaluation checks the kneecaps for luxation, a slipping joint that can cause lameness later in life.
• A hip evaluation screens for hip dysplasia, a developmental problem of the hip joint that leads to arthritis.
• An elbow evaluation screens for elbow dysplasia, which often shows up as stiffness in middle age.
• An ophthalmologist evaluation checks the eyes for inherited conditions such as cataracts and retinal disease.
• A Pompe disease DNA test identifies carriers of glycogen storage disease type II.
• A degenerative myelopathy DNA test identifies carriers of the progressive spinal cord disease.
• A PRA-prcd DNA test identifies carriers of progressive retinal atrophy, which causes slow vision loss.

Pompe disease (glycogen storage disease type II) is a progressive disorder of glycogen metabolism, and degenerative myelopathy is a progressive disease of the spinal cord. Both can be detected with DNA tests before breeding decisions are made.

Lifespan is given by the Kennel Club as over 12 years, while many Lappies live around 12 to 15 years. Any dog that collapses, struggles to breathe, bleeds heavily, or shows sudden severe pain needs a vet immediately. This guide is educational and does not replace veterinary advice for the dog in front of you.

PET INSURANCE

Lemonade Pet Insurance

Explore customizable pet insurance coverage and learn whether Lemonade is the right fit for your dog or cat.

• Customizable coverage options
• Online policy management

Get a quote on Lemonade ↗ Happy Pet Zone may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through affiliate links, at no extra cost to you.

Is a Finnish Lapphund Right for You?

The Finnish Lapphund suits an active lifestyle and owners who have some prior dog experience. Apartment living can work, provided daily exercise needs are met consistently. However, frequent barking might create friction with close neighbours.

Families with young children should supervise interactions closely, as recommended with any breed. Households with cats or small pets may need extra training to manage the Finnish Lapphund’s herding instincts. First-time owners might find the combination of intelligence, vocal tendencies, and grooming needs challenging without guidance from a trainer or experienced breeder.

It works if all of these are true:

• You can provide a daily walk and mental work, and you are home for much of the day.
• You will brush weekly, and daily during shedding seasons.
• You want a dog that barks to announce visitors but is not aggressive toward people.
• You are prepared to manage barking around close neighbours.

Look elsewhere if any of these apply:

• You want a guard dog, because this breed will greet visitors rather than confront them.
• You need a dog that is happy to be left alone for long periods every day.
• You cannot commit to weekly brushing and daily brushing during shedding seasons.
• You want a breed with an extensive published database of health test results.

For another Finnish breed with a very different voice, the Finnish Spitz guide covers Finland’s national dog and a genuine champion at official barking competitions. For another northern Spitz, the Norwegian Elkhound guide covers a hunter that tracks moose and bears. Compare every option in our Dog Breeds hub.

Frequently Asked Questions