Finnish Lapphund Dog Breed Information

The Finnish Lapphund is an Arctic herding spitz developed by the Sámi people of Finnish Lapland to move semi-domesticated reindeer across snow and tundra. The breed has grown steadily in NZ over the past decade, with most placements going to families in cooler southern regions where the dense double coat is an asset rather than a liability. It is increasingly recognised as a calm-headed, friendly alternative to the more familiar working breeds (Border Collie, Australian Shepherd) for households that want a working dog without the on-tap intensity.

Adults stand 41 to 52 cm at the shoulder and weigh 15 to 24 kg, with bitches notably smaller than dogs. The defining feature is the long, weather-resistant double coat: a soft, dense undercoat under a longer outer coat with a profuse mane around the neck and chest. Colours run black, brown, tan, cream, wolf sable, and various combinations with white markings. The expression is open and friendly, ears pricked, tail carried in the typical spitz curl over the back.

Personality and behaviour

Lapphunds are affectionate, sociable family dogs. They bond closely to the household, are patient with school-age children, and tend to greet visitors with friendly curiosity rather than reserve. With other dogs they are typically sociable, although small-animal prey drive shows up at times (the breed was bred to work near, not against, livestock, but loose chickens and rabbits are still tempting).

The trait that surprises new owners is the voice. Lapphunds bark, and they were bred to. The reindeer-herding job involved warning the herd of wolves and the handler of strays, often at distance. Modern pet Lapphunds carry the trait into the household, vocalising during play, alerting on visitors, and “talking” at family in conversation. Households on a small section with neighbours close by need to manage barking from the start. The bark is high and clear, not deep, but it is frequent.

Energy is moderate by working-spitz standards. A Lapphund will happily walk and play for an hour or two, then settle on the rug. They are not dog-sport machines on the level of a Border Collie, although the breed enjoys agility, rally and herding at club level and increasingly competes in NZ trials.

Sensitivity is a real factor. Lapphunds notice household tension, react to harsh handling by switching off, and bond intensely to family. They are not stoic working dogs. Lapphunds left isolated for long days become anxious and destructive.

Care and exercise

Plan on 60 minutes of daily exercise. A structured walk plus free play covers most adult Lapphunds. The breed enjoys hill walks, swimming in cool water, and snow if you can find any (Cardrona, Tongariro, Ohau in winter are the breed’s idea of a good day out).

The double coat is the main grooming consideration but is far less demanding than an Old English Sheepdog or Briard. Two brushing sessions a week through most of the year keeps it in order. The breed sheds heavily for two to three weeks in spring and autumn (the seasonal coat blow), and during those windows daily brushing is the only way to keep the floor liveable. The coat is largely self-cleaning. Snow, dirt and mud fall out as it dries, and bathing more than every six to eight weeks is rarely necessary.

Heat tolerance is the genuine NZ-specific issue. The dense double coat is built for sub-zero Lapland winters and translates poorly to upper-North-Island summers. The breed handles cool, damp NZ weather without complaint, but humidity above 70% with daytime temperatures over 25C creates heat-stress risk. Walk early or late, never midday, and ensure indoor cool space. Counter-intuitive but documented: shaving the coat does not help and disrupts the insulating airflow layer. Pet trims for hygiene only (rear, paws, ears) are fine; full clips are discouraged by reputable breeders and groomers familiar with the breed.

Training and household life

Lapphunds are intelligent and biddable, but not as keen to push hard at training as a Labrador or Border Collie. Reward-based training works well, especially food and toy rewards combined. The breed is sensitive enough that harsh corrections backfire, and independent enough that motivation needs to be clear.

Adolescence runs from about 10 to 18 months and is generally manageable compared to high-drive working breeds. Recall in open spaces is the most common training gap. The herding instinct kicks in around joggers, cyclists and small children, and a Lapphund that has decided to circle a moving target needs to come back when called. NZKC obedience and rally clubs in main centres run group classes (NZ$120-280 for a six to eight week course) which sort recall early.

Where to find one in NZ is now reasonably accessible compared to a decade ago. Dogs NZ lists active Lapphund breeders, mainly in the Wellington, Canterbury, Otago and Southland regions. Realistic options:

• Registered NZKC breeder. 6 to 12 month waitlist, NZ$2,500 to NZ$4,000 per puppy, hip scores plus prcd-PRA and Pompe disease DNA results available on request.
• Breed rescue. Rare. The Finnish Lapphund Club of NZ occasionally helps rehome adults but most years there is no surrendered dog.
• SPCA. Very rare appearance. Lapphund crosses (often Lapphund-x-Border or Lapphund-x-Husky) appear more often than purebreds.

The breed’s growing NZ profile reflects the genuine fit with cool-climate NZ households. Wellington’s wind, Canterbury’s frost and Otago’s winters all suit the breed comfortably, and the temperament works well with families looking for a calm-headed working dog rather than a high-drive sport one.

What surprises new owners

The amount of barking, the seasonal coat blow (it really is two to three weeks of vacuuming twice a day), and the speed at which the breed picks up training when motivation is right. The Finnish Lapphund is a working dog with the volume turned down. For households in the cooler half of NZ, the fit is unusually good.