Finnish Lapphund

From Pet Encyclopedia

Finnish Lapphund

Finnish Lapphund

Origin of Breed

Finland

Breed Nick Names

Lapinkoira

Contents 1 Introduction 2 Origin and History 3 Appearance 4 Temperament 5 Health 6 External Links 7 References

[edit] Introduction

The Finnish Lapphund dog breed is a medium sized breed of dog which originates from Finland, it was originally bred as a herding dog for herding reindeer. In the UK Kennel club the Finnish Lapphund is classed in the Pastoral Dog Group and is a Spitz Type Dog.

The Finnish Lapphund dog is one of the most popular dog breeds in its native country and its popularity is now increasing worldwide as more people learn about the breed.

[edit] Origin and History

The Arctic Spitz of Lapland was, for thousands of years, similar to the types seen today - this has been confirmed by archaeological findings. A survey was carried out during 1959 to 1961 of the dogs found herding the reindeer and two different types were evident.

One was a nearly square, longhaired galloper; The Finnish Lapphund, or Suomemlapinkoira, the other was longer than its height, had a shorter coat, was bigger than the Lapphund and moved at a trot; The Lapponian Herder. In Finland, today's breeding pays particular attention to the proportions and strength of the skeletal structure of the body and head, together with the arctic suitability of the coat and with its colour - in which a lot of variation is accepted. Although the 2nd World War destroyed a large part of Lapland and its dogs, a good number were saved and the Finnish Clubs continue to strive to maintain the Finnish Lapphund to the type depicted in the pictures from the old standards and the stories of reindeer herding. The breed standard of the Lapphund was confirmed in 1975 and subsequently revised in 1982 and 1987. The standard has now undergone its final fine tuning to meet FCI requirements and was reissued by the FCI 12/3/99. One should never forget that the Lapphund is one of the most perfect products of nature and a part of the Finnish tradition worth taking care of. Heavy work in austere life conditions has made our Lapphunds healthy, modest farm-hands, content with very little and excellent companions for the whole family. They do everything that they can for their master and dinner plate! Therefore the contentedness and the lovely smile of the Lapphund is readiest when they are allowed to act according to the orders and instruction of their master. In the past our domestic herding dog has been called a Lapp herd dog, Lapp Spitz dog and a Lapp hound but since 1993 the breed has been called the Finnish Lapphund (Suomenlapinkoira) originating from the longhaired dogs used for reindeer herding in Lapland. It is still to some extent used as a shepherd dog for herding reindeer, cattle and sheep but the majority of Lapphunds serve as pet dogs and watch dogs for country houses and more densely populated areas, i.e. yard dogs. According to the registrations of the Finnish Kennel Club the breed is amongst the top fifteen (2010 top 5) most favoured breeds in Finland. The popularity of the Lapphund is based on its health, character, conformation and variety of colouring. For a family keen on outdoor life and exercise this dog is an excellent all year round companion for all weathers.

[edit] Appearance

The variety and combination of colours are as much part of the attraction of this breed as are the dazzling good looks which prove immensely popular in Finland not only for showing but also as a family dog. One of the National Dogs of Finland, the Lapphund is of medium size, strongly built and capable of a days work herding reindeer.

[edit] Temperament

Characteristics and temperament are accurately summarised in the Breed Standard which states; tendency to herd, intelligent, brave, calm, faithful; suitable as a companion and watch dog. Only those fortunate to be owners will know just how typical that description is of the breed.

[edit] Health

The Lapphund is one of the healthiest breeds in Finland and allergies, eczema, eye or ear inflammations are uncommon. There is a small incidence of hereditary eye disease (PRA & HC), hip scores are good as are patella checks.

Since their introduction into the UK in the late 1980's those involved with the breed have been conscientious in protecting its integrity, health and well being. In general terms, the Finnish Lapphund is a very robust and healthy breed with an expected life-span of 10-15 years.

Below is some information about issues that particularly relate to Finnish Lapphunds. Although these conditions are known to occur, they are not common. If you have questions about other dog health problems, you should always ask your vet.

Sensitivity to wormers & other drugs

Some breeds (esp. collies) are known to display a sensitivity to a family of anti-parasitic drugs known as Ivermectin and it appears that a similar reaction is seen in Finnish Lapphunds. Before worming your dogs it is worth mentioning this fact to your vet and to read the information available and familiarise yourself with the drugs involved, it is possible to avoid this family of wormers altogether.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)

This is an inherited eye defect where the retina degenerates over time. Reputable breeders test their animals regularly to reduce the chances of passing on the condition. It usually only becomes apparent in mature dogs of over 5. An American research company called Optigen have identified the gene responsible as the prcd-PRA (progressive rod cone degeneration) already known in several other breeds. If you are interested in getting your dog tested for this condition, there are clinics available, ask us for details on how you can participate. For those who are considering or waiting for an FL puppy, you should talk to your breeder who will know the status of the parents and can make you aware of the risk in advance. To ensure the integrity of the breed and to reduce the likelihood increasing the incidences of PRA only the following matings are permitted;

Clear x Clear - resulting puppies will be clear by parentage

Clear x Carrier - resulting puppies have a 50% chance of being clear or carriers

Carrier x Carrier - mating NOT permitted

Hip Dysplasia

A condition common amongst many breeds, where the ball and socket joint of the hip is not properly formed, leading to pain and difficulty walking. The Kennel Club/BVA operate a scheme whereby dogs are x-rayed and scored for the degree of dysplasia of the joint, the lower the score the better. The breed average for each breed of dog will vary, and at the time of writing the breed average for the FL is 12. The Kennel Club advises breeding from dogs with lower than the breed average. However it should be noted that HD is not a simple inherited condition, other factors such as feeding, exercise and unknown damage may play a part in the development of the condition.

Hereditary Cataracts

Another problem common among many breeds, cataracts affect the opacity of the eye’s lens. Dogs are subject to many forms of cataract, some of which are hereditary. Cataract appears as a whiteness or greyness of the lens, visible through the pupil, making it look cloudy. It appears that the hereditary cataract, which is seen in the FL, occurs after the dog is one year of age, and is not believed to be progressive. The way the condition is inherited is not proven, but reputable breeders will have their breeding stock checked regularly.

[edit] External Links

Finnish Lapphund Club of Great Britain

Lapphund Club of Finland

The Kennel Club

Lumikoira

Infindigo Finnish Lapphunds

The Swedish Lapphund Club

Finnish Lapphund Club of America

Finnish Lapphund Club of Canada

[edit] References