Living with a Finnish Lapphund
Finnish Lapphunds ('Lappies') are unique, intelligent, independent, quick to learn, great alert dogs and make wonderful family companions. However, not every dog is suited to every situation or environment so please take the time to learn about the Finnish Lapphund and talk to breeders before adding one to your family.
Size
Finnish Lapphunds are a "medium" sized spitz breed, they are smaller than the Samoyed or Australian Shepherd but larger than a Japanese Spitz or Shetland Sheepdog.
Temperament
Lappies are a wonderful "all-round" dog given their intelligence & eager to please nature. They are quick to learn and together with their loving nature towards people, children and other dogs they have gained popularity as a wonderful companion breed. Lappies are natural herding dogs and use their voice to alert you and others of their intentions. Lappies love to play and socialise with other dogs, but don't expect them to play fetch with their owners all day long! As an independent dog they will choose the times that suit them and participate in a 'bit of everything'.
Finnish Lapphunds are gentle dogs and ideal for families with children and pets. All dogs require training and Lappies should be taught early basic obedience and good rules of household behavior and similarly, children should be taught to be kind, gentle and to not to mistreat a dog/puppy. As long as both behaviors are taught early and with consistency, your Lappy will be a wonderful family companion. It is wise to remember that all children should be supervised by an adult when in the company of a dog, whether it is a puppy or adult.
Coat Care
Lappies have a beautiful thick double coat that is water resistant, low allergen and insulates them against both the extreme heat & the cold. This wonderful coat is actually very easy maintenance requiring a weekly brush and a monthly wash. Many owners find that the coat's water resistance means it repels dirt easily, and once dry, a simple brush is more than enough to keep it clean. A Finnish Lapphund should never be shaved or clipped, as this destroys the guard hairs permanently and the coat will not grow back properly.
Size
Finnish Lapphunds are a "medium" sized spitz breed, they are smaller than the Samoyed or Australian Shepherd but larger than a Japanese Spitz or Shetland Sheepdog.
Temperament
Lappies are a wonderful "all-round" dog given their intelligence & eager to please nature. They are quick to learn and together with their loving nature towards people, children and other dogs they have gained popularity as a wonderful companion breed. Lappies are natural herding dogs and use their voice to alert you and others of their intentions. Lappies love to play and socialise with other dogs, but don't expect them to play fetch with their owners all day long! As an independent dog they will choose the times that suit them and participate in a 'bit of everything'.
Finnish Lapphunds are gentle dogs and ideal for families with children and pets. All dogs require training and Lappies should be taught early basic obedience and good rules of household behavior and similarly, children should be taught to be kind, gentle and to not to mistreat a dog/puppy. As long as both behaviors are taught early and with consistency, your Lappy will be a wonderful family companion. It is wise to remember that all children should be supervised by an adult when in the company of a dog, whether it is a puppy or adult.
Coat Care
Lappies have a beautiful thick double coat that is water resistant, low allergen and insulates them against both the extreme heat & the cold. This wonderful coat is actually very easy maintenance requiring a weekly brush and a monthly wash. Many owners find that the coat's water resistance means it repels dirt easily, and once dry, a simple brush is more than enough to keep it clean. A Finnish Lapphund should never be shaved or clipped, as this destroys the guard hairs permanently and the coat will not grow back properly.
"The invaluable bond, trust and love, shared between a family and their Dog is beyond measure.”
Training & Socialisation
All puppies need good obedience training and early socialisation to become the beautiful dogs they are bred to be. The first puppy socialisation window from 6 weeks to 16 weeks is a crucial time for the development of your young puppy. This comes at a challenging time for new owners as, due to the environmental risks of Parvovirus, most vets recommend not letting your puppy walk on the ground (especially areas frequented by dogs) until they are fully vaccinated.
As such, the best way to socialise your new puppy during this crucial development period is by attending puppy socialisation classes / play groups, exposing your puppy to as many different sounds, sights, people, vaccinated dogs, water, experiences, surfaces and household items etc without going outside. There are many creative ways to do this, so that you're still able to expose them as much as possible during this crucial socialisation period. This is particularly important for bite inhibition, learning canine social rules and behaviours, preventing against separation anxiety or specific phobias and creating a well-adjusted dog who takes life in their stride.
All puppies need good obedience training and early socialisation to become the beautiful dogs they are bred to be. The first puppy socialisation window from 6 weeks to 16 weeks is a crucial time for the development of your young puppy. This comes at a challenging time for new owners as, due to the environmental risks of Parvovirus, most vets recommend not letting your puppy walk on the ground (especially areas frequented by dogs) until they are fully vaccinated.
As such, the best way to socialise your new puppy during this crucial development period is by attending puppy socialisation classes / play groups, exposing your puppy to as many different sounds, sights, people, vaccinated dogs, water, experiences, surfaces and household items etc without going outside. There are many creative ways to do this, so that you're still able to expose them as much as possible during this crucial socialisation period. This is particularly important for bite inhibition, learning canine social rules and behaviours, preventing against separation anxiety or specific phobias and creating a well-adjusted dog who takes life in their stride.
Exercise Requirements
The Finnish Lapphund loves all kinds of play, socialising and fun games. On average, 45-60 minutes each day for exercise is plenty for an adult and this may involve a brisk walk, beach run, off-leash dog park time or swimming. Young puppies have much lower exercise requirements and should be encouraged to sleep for at least 20 hours each day until they are at least six months old.
The Finnish Lapphund loves all kinds of play, socialising and fun games. On average, 45-60 minutes each day for exercise is plenty for an adult and this may involve a brisk walk, beach run, off-leash dog park time or swimming. Young puppies have much lower exercise requirements and should be encouraged to sleep for at least 20 hours each day until they are at least six months old.
Canine Obedience, Agility and Sports
For owners who would like their dog to take part in regular obedience, dog sports or agility training, there are many local clubs who run classes for puppies, juveniles and adult dogs. It's a wonderful way to bond with your dog, learn new tricks and keeping them focused & learning positive behaviours. At Diamontali, we promote positive reinforcement training only to enable your dog to learn by praise when a dog does something right with no negative consequences for unwanted behaviours. Dogs are clever and negative consequences simply mean they can avoid the owner and still do the unwanted behaviour, often when they aren't watching. Its far more effective to bond with your dog well, reward them for working with you and give them plenty of praise to help promote their good behaviour.
For owners who would like their dog to take part in regular obedience, dog sports or agility training, there are many local clubs who run classes for puppies, juveniles and adult dogs. It's a wonderful way to bond with your dog, learn new tricks and keeping them focused & learning positive behaviours. At Diamontali, we promote positive reinforcement training only to enable your dog to learn by praise when a dog does something right with no negative consequences for unwanted behaviours. Dogs are clever and negative consequences simply mean they can avoid the owner and still do the unwanted behaviour, often when they aren't watching. Its far more effective to bond with your dog well, reward them for working with you and give them plenty of praise to help promote their good behaviour.
We have trained actively in canine obedience and agility for over ten years and would welcome any enquiries on how best to train a Finnish Lapphund from any potential owners.