Swedish Lapphund Breed Details
Below are basic details for the Swedish Lapphund. These details highlight the breed's average size/weight as well as the breed's best skills.
Swedish Lapphund Dog Breed
Svensk Lapphund
The Swedish Lapphund is a medium-small sized Spitz-type dog. These dogs are versatile, and have served as hunting dogs, guard dogs, and herders in their long and storied history. Working in the Scandinavian tundra forged these dogs into a very strong and resilient breed. The Swedish Lapphund is renowned for its stamina, agility, intelligence and independence. Their weatherproof coat is easy to maintain, though they will naturally require a good deal of exercise to remain fit.
Swedish Lapphunds are nearly nonexistent outside of Scandinavia, but those lucky few who have discovered this breed know that this a fantastically well-rounded dog, well suited to be both a working dog and a loving pet.
Swedish Lapphund Breed Description
Adult Lapphunds are between 16 and 20 inches tall and weigh 35-55 pounds. Their medium size gives them a nice balance between dexterity and strength, making them ideal for a number of roles. These are amiable dogs that enjoy being around people and love children. These traits make them ideal for families.
Due to their hunting instincts they may chase small animals, but if the dog is socialized at a young age this problem should be considerably mitigated. These dogs do not require a tremendous amount of brushing - a few times a week should be fine until shedding season, when daily brushing may be required. Their special coat is self-cleaning and will not smell rank. Some nail clipping will be necessary, and it is very important that these dogs get daily exercise.
Swedish Lapphund Breed History
The Swedish Lapphund has an extensive history. Its origins predate written language--historians estimate that it was first domesticated by the ancient hunting tribes of northern Scandinavia sometime around 9,000 BC. Since then, the Lapphund has been used for hunting, herding and guarding; studies have also indicated that these dogs were kept as pets even in the Stone Age.
Genetic studies have revealed that this breed has an ancestry and traits unique or very rare among extinct breeds. Despite this, the Swedish Lapphund is one of the rarest dog breeds today. A 2012 study found that only 1400 of these dogs exist in the world today, with most residing in Sweden, Finland and Norway. At the time of the study there were no more than 10 Swedish Lapphunds in the United States with verified pedigrees.
Swedish Lapphund Appearance
This is a medium-small sized dog with a rectangular build. Its face features a prominent dark nose, round, large brown eyes, and small, triangular ears that stand upright. The tail is bushy and carried over the back. The weather-resistant double coat is long, dense and soft. The topcoat hairs stick straight out from the Lapphund's body, while the undercoat is composed of dense, curly hair.
Swedish Lapphund Colors
The images below represent the coat colors and patterns associated with Swedish Lapphunds.
Black
Liver
Swedish Lapphund Temperament
The Swedish Lapphund is described as alert, curious, fearless, and friendly, and non-aggressive. These dogs are very active, so expect a lot of playful behavior. They are bright dogs and should be trainable without much issue. In the past they were often trained to bark in order to scare off potential threats, so early training should be done to teach your pet to moderate its barking.
A well-trained Swedish Lapphund can excel in a variety of roles. They are natural hunters and herders, but today some of these dogs compete with success in dog shows, dog agility competitions, and even dog dancing contests. In Scandinavia Lapphunds are sometimes employed as search and rescue dogs and army dogs. There are few things that other dogs can do that this breed cannot.
Swedish Lapphund Maintenance
The Lapphund is a low to medium maintenance breed. Their coat is resilient and will not require a tremendous amount of brushing until shedding season. These dogs do however need a generous amount of exercise in order to stay happy and fit.
Grooming Requirements
These dogs will need to be brushed several times a week to keep its coat clean and to remove excess hairs. During spring and fall, the Lapphund will shed more and may require daily brushing to keep its hair under control. Be prepared to trim the dog's nails every month or so, especially if it does not spend a great deal of time outside.
Exercise Requirements
Given this breed's intelligence and work ethic, it should be no surprise that it requires daily exercise that challenges both his mind and body. Plan to exercise him for up to an hour at least once a day. The Lapphund is not limited to walking. These dogs are more than willing to catch a Frisbee, chase a thrown ball, and probably any other game you could think up.
Living Requirements
These dogs are happiest when they can spend their day outdoors, though they are not suitable to be outdoor-only dogs they would much rather curl up in the family home when it's time for bed. Because of their thick coats, the Swedish Lapphund is not a fan of the heat and should remain indoors during hot or humid weather. They can live in apartments if the owners are active and can commit to exercising the dog outside each day.
Swedish Lapphund Health
The Swedish Lapphund is thought to be a rather healthy breed and has a life expectancy of 14 years. A few health issues have been identified in the breed, but they are not common. One of the easiest and most important things you can do to better the health of your Lapphund is to feed it properly and keep it at a healthy weight. Regular maintenance is required, as it is with any dog breed. Cleaning the Lapphund's ears and brushing its teeth will help keep him in top shape.
Below are common health issues to watch out for in the swedish lapphund dog breed.
Swedish Lapphund Health Concerns
Below are potential health concerns associated with Swedish Lapphunds.
Ear infections
Allergies
Eye infections