Finnish Lapphund
History
The Finnish Lapphund is a new as well as an old breed.
It is believed that the arctic spitz breed of Lapland
descends as far as from 7000 BC. Being a part of the
Sami culture, the breed gradually changed from a
guarding and hunting dog to a reindeer herder.
The first breed standard was accepted in 1945, the
breed being then called "Lapponian Shepherd Dog".
Square-typed, longhaired dogs found in Lapland were
given a breed standard in 1967. This breed forms the
basis of our current Lapphund. The Lapphund register is
still open, allowing "natural", unregistered dogs be
admitted to the breed if they meet the standard. The
standard has been renewed in 1996. Since 1993 the
official name of the breed has been Finnish Lapphund.
The popularity of the Lapphund has been on the
increase, and throughout the 1990's it has been among
the 15 most popular breeds in Finland. In 1998, 579
Lapphunds were registered.
Sue and Rodger Dunger imported the first Lapphunds into
Britain in 1989 and in November 1995 The Finnish
Lapphund Club of Great Britain was provisionally
recognised by The Kennel Club.
Character
The Lapphund is intelligent (even cunning),
independent, humble and co-operative. As a proof of his
intelligence, a Lapphund thinks before going into
action. He is a quick learner. He likes to watch his
family's life from aside, treating the family as a
reindeer herd, a flock to be tended. Being a humble
herder, he will do everything for you upon
encouragement. He is easy to train, a most suitable
companion for dog sports, and also weatherproof.
A Lapphund dog differs from a bitch both in appearance
and in character. A bitch is smaller and more
submissive. The breed easily adapts to different
circumstances, and can well be kept in an apartment
building.
Appearance
For a hundred years, the appearance of the Lapphund has
remained the same. He is a genuine arctic spitz with
long, straight and coarse coat, and a thick undercoat.
The dog has an impressive collar of hair. The
expression is soft and humble with an individual look.
The ears are prick, or have folded tips.
All colours are allowed as long as the primary colour
is dominant. A Lapphund speciality is a black dog with
"eye-glasses".
The sexual distinctions between a dog and a bitch are
clear. The sexes must be easily distinguished from one
another. The dog and bitch stand 49 and 44 cm at the
withers (3 cm less or more is allowed) respectively.
The right type is more important than the size.
Health and Care
The Lapphund is one of the healthiest breeds in
Finland. Lapphunds often reach the age of 13 to 15. A
small percentage of the Lapphunds have PRA or HC, and
very few hip dysplasia cases are found. The Lapphund
belongs to PEVISA (the program against inheritable
diseases), which requires examination of the breeding
stock before the puppies can be registered.
The thick coat demands only regular brushing and a wash
once a year.
Summary
Classification Spitz and primitive types
Size Medium
Height Males 49 cm (19.5 ins), Females 44cm (17 ins)
Grooming Regular
Exercise At least twice a day
Activity Medium
Good with children Yes
Good with dogs Yes
Good with other pets Yes
Information and Photograph kindly
supplied by:
Finnish Lapphund Club of Great Britain
Secretary;
- Mrs Heather Head, Hunter’s Moon, Meadow Row, BRYN,
West Glamorgan SA13 2RP
Tel: - 01639 871497
Standard of Perfection
Finnish Lapphund
(Soumen Lapinkoira)
As accepted by the Federation Cynologique
Internationale
March 12, 1999
Translation: Finnish Kennel Club.
Origin: Finland
Date of publication of the original valid standard:
12-Mar-1999
Utilization: Originally a herder and watch dog used in
work of keeping reindeer. Today also popular as a
companion dog.
Classification F.C.I.: Group 5 - Spitz and Primitive
Type
Section 3 - Nordic Watchdogs and Herders
Without Working Trial.
Brief Historical Summary: For hundreds of years the
Lapps have used dogs of the same type as Finnish
Lapphund as reindeer herders and watchdogs in
Fennoscandia and in the northern parts of Russia. Due
to these dogs the first standard of the Lapponian
Herder was established by the Finnish Kennel Club in
1945. The breeds name was changed to Lapphund in 1967.
In the 1970’s the type and picture of the breed became
fixed and the standard had been specified several
times. The breed name was again changed into Finnish
Lapphund in 1993. The breed type has become stable in a
short time and today the breed is very popular mainly
as a house and hobby dog in the whole of Finland.
General Appearance: Smaller than medium sized, the
conformation is strong for the size, slightly longer
than the height at the withers. Long and thick coated
dog with pricked ears.
Important Proportions: The depth of the body is
slightly less that the half of the height at the
withers. The muzzle is slightly shorter than the skull.
The skull is slightly longer than broad, the depth is
the same as the breadth.
Behavior/Temperament: Keen, courageous, calm, and
willing to learn. Friendly and faithful.
Head: Strong in outline, rather broad.
Cranial Region:
Skull: Broad, slightly convex. The forehead is rather
domed. The frontal furrow
is clearly defined.
Stop: Clearly defined.
Facial region:
Nose: Preferably black, yet harmonizing with the coat
colour.
Muzzle: Strong, broad and straight; viewed from the
above and in profile, evenly
but only slightly tapering.
Lips: Tight.
Jaws/Teeth: The jaws are strong. Scissor bite.
Cheeks: The zygomatic arches are clearly marked.
Eyes: Dark brown in colour, yet harmonizing with the
coat colour; oval shaped.
The expression is soft and friendly.
Ears: Medium sized, carried erect or semi-erect, set
rather far apart, rather broad
at the base, triangular in shape and very mobile.
Neck: Medium in length, strong and covered with profuse
hair.
Body:
Withers: Muscular and broad, slightly marked.
Back: Strong and straight.
Loin: Short and muscular.
Croup: Of medium length, well developed, only slightly
oblique.
Chest: Deep, rather long, reaching almost to the
elbows, not very broad. The ribs are
slightly arched, the forechest clearly visible, not
very strong.
Underline: Slightly tucked up.
Tail: Set rather high, medium in length, covered with
profuse and long hair. The tip of the
tail may have a J-formed hook. In movement the tail is
curved over the back or side,
in rest it may hang.
Limbs:
Forequarters:
General Appearance: Powerful with strong bones. Viewed
from the front, straight and parallel.
Shoulders: Slightly oblique.
Upper Arm: As long as the shoulder blade. the angle
between shoulder and upper arm is rather
open.
Elbows: Placed slightly lower than the lower edge of
the ribcage, pointing straight backwards.
Forearm: Rather strong, vertical.
Carpus: Flexible.
Pasterns: Of medium length, slightly oblique.
Forefeet: Well arched, oval rather than round, covered
with dense hair. The pads are elastic
with the sides covered with dense hair.
Hindquarters:
General Appearance: Strong boned, powerful, viewed from
behind, straight and parallel.
The angulation is clearly marked but not too strongly.
Upper Thigh: Of medium length, rather broad with well
developed muscles.
Stifle: Pointed forward, the angulation is rather
clearly marked.
Second Thigh: Relatively long and sinewy.
Metatarsus: Rather short, strong and vertical.
Hind Feet: Dewclaws are not desirable.
Gait/Movement: Effortless. Changes easily from trot to
gallop, which is the most natural style of
movement. The legs move parallel. When working agile
and fast.
Shin: Tight overall without wrinkles.
Coat:
Hair: Profuse, especially the males have an abundant
mane. The outer coat is long,
straight and harsh. On the head and on the front side
of the legs the coat is shorter.
There has to be an undercoat that is soft and dense.
Colour: All colours are permitted. The basic colour
must be dominant. Colours other
than the basic colour can occur on head, neck, chest,
underside of the body,
on the legs and tail.
Size:
Height at Withers: Ideal height for males 49 cm
Ideal height for females 44 cm with a tolerance of +/-
3cm
Type is more important than size.
Faults: Any departure from the foregoing points should
be considered a fault and the seriousness
with which the fault should be regarded should be in
exact proportion to its degree.
- Males not masculine and females not feminine.
- Light head.
- Insufficient stop.
- Drop ears.
- Tail carriage continuously lower than topline.
- Over angulated or too straight rear angulation.
- Lack of under coat.
- Flat coat.
- Curly coat.
- Basic colour indistinct.
Eliminating Faults:
- Overshot or undershot mouth.
- Kinky tail.
