Swedish Lapphund Dog Breed Information
Also known as: Lapphund, Svensk Lapphund
An ancient black spitz herder of the Sami people of northern Scandinavia, used historically to manage reindeer herds. Friendly, vocal, and rare in NZ.
A highly affectionate, highly trainable, great with young children dog. On the practical side: minimal drool. The trade-off is sheds plenty.
About the Swedish Lapphund.
The Swedish Lapphund is an ancient black spitz herder of the Sami people, used for thousands of years to move reindeer across the Scandinavian Arctic. NZ numbers are tiny, and the breed sits with a small enthusiast network rather than as a mainstream family option.
Personality and behaviour
Friendly and affectionate at home, naturally good with children, alert and vocal as a doorbell rather than as a guard. The trait that surprises new NZ owners is the barking: the breed was bred to move reindeer with voice and the habit is hard to extinguish. Suits households where vocalness is acceptable.
Care and exercise
60 minutes a day plus mental work is plenty. Brush the double coat twice a week and daily through seasonal coat blow, which is dramatic. Northland and Auckland summers are tough on the breed; Otago and Southland are an excellent fit. Diet is steady, around 200-280 g of quality dry food a day.
The Swedish Lapphund, by the numbers.
Each trait scored 1 to 5 on the AKC scale. The verdict synthesises the data; the panels below show the strengths, group averages, and the full trait table.
Top strengths
Family Life
avg 4.7Affectionate with Family
Good with Young Children
Good with Other Dogs
Physical
avg 2.7Shedding
Grooming Frequency
Drooling
Social
avg 3.5Openness to Strangers
Playfulness
Watchdog / Protective
Adaptability
Personality
avg 4.0Trainability
Energy Level
Barking Level
Mental Stimulation Needs
Living with a Swedish Lapphund.
A 24-hour breakdown of how this breed's day typically goes, scaled to its energy, mental-stimulation, and grooming needs.
What a Swedish Lapphund costs to own.
An indicative NZ lifetime cost: purchase, setup, then food, vet, insurance, grooming and other annual outgoings. Adjust the inputs to see how your choices change the total.
A Swedish Lapphund costs about
$260per month
$60
$9
$44,212
Adjust the inputs:
Where the monthly cost goes
Food
$87 / mo
$1,040/yr · breed-appropriate dry & wet food
Insurance
$69 / mo
$824/yr · lifetime cover protects against breed-specific claims
Vet (avg)
$44 / mo
$530/yr · routine checks plus breed-specific risk
Grooming
$23 / mo
$280/yr · brushes, shampoo, professional clips
Other
$38 / mo
$450/yr · toys, treats, dental, boarding
Indicative NZ averages calculated from breed weight, grooming need and screened-condition count. One-off costs (purchase $3,150 + setup $450) are factored into the lifetime total but not the monthly figure.
How does the Swedish Lapphund compare?
This breed
Swedish Lapphund
$44,212
13-year lifetime cost
- Purchase + setup$3,600
- Food (lifetime)$13,520
- Vet (lifetime)$6,890
- Insurance (lifetime)$10,712
- Grooming (lifetime)$3,640
- Other (lifetime)$5,850
Reference
Average NZ medium dog
$38,920
12-year lifetime cost
- Purchase + setup$2,200
- Food (lifetime)$13,200
- Vet (lifetime)$6,000
- Insurance (lifetime)$11,400
- Grooming (lifetime)$2,400
- Other (lifetime)$3,720
A Swedish Lapphund costs about $5,292 more over a lifetime than the average nz medium dog, mostly higherother and higherpurchase + setup.
What to ask the breeder.
Reputable NZKC breeders test for these conditions and share results without being prompted. If a breeder won't share screening results, that is itself an answer.
Occasional
2 conditionsHip dysplasia
An occasional condition in the Swedish Lapphund. Worth asking about and DNA testing where available.
Cataracts
An occasional condition in the Swedish Lapphund. Worth asking about and DNA testing where available.
Rare but urgent
1 conditionProgressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
Rare in the Swedish Lapphund but worth knowing the warning signs.
The Swedish Lapphund in NZ.
- Popularity: Very rare. Few NZKC registrations per year.
- Typical price: NZ$2500–3800 from registered breeders
- Rescue availability: rare
- NZ climate fit: Suits Otago/Southland cold; struggles in Northland summer humidity.
- Living space: Lifestyle blocks and rural homes with paddock space.
Who the Swedish Lapphund is for.
Suits
- Active families with rural or lifestyle block setting
- Owners who can tolerate or train around vocalness
Less suited to
- Apartment dwellers (the barking is genuine)
- Households in hot Northland summers without aircon
Common questions.
How is it different from a Finnish Lapphund?
Will it bark a lot?
If the Swedish Lapphund appeals, also consider.
Breeds with a similar profile that might suit your household.
Finnish Lapphund
An Arctic spitz-type herder developed by the Sámi to move reindeer in Finnish Lapland. Friendly, calm-headed, weather-resistant, and increasingly popular with NZ families in the cooler southern regions.
Norwegian Buhund
A compact Viking-era spitz herder from Norway, used for centuries to herd sheep and guard farmsteads. Rare in NZ but suited to cool-region lifestyle blocks and active families wanting a smaller working spitz.
Icelandic Sheepdog
Iceland's only native dog breed, a small spitz-type herder with a friendly, vocal temperament. Increasingly visible in NZ as a family dog for cooler regions, with a small but established Dogs NZ population.
Samoyed
The white "smiling" Siberian sled and reindeer-herding dog. Friendly, vocal, fluffy beyond reason and built for cold. Suits Otago and Southland far better than Northland.
Last reviewed:
Sources for this pageInformation only. Breed traits and health notes on this page are aggregated from public registry and breed-authority sources. Individual animals vary; this page is general information, not veterinary, behavioural, or insurance advice. Always consult a registered NZ vet or breeder for guidance specific to your situation.