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Breed profile

Finnish Lapphund

A fluffy Finnish reindeer herder with a soft face and a thick coat. Easy-going and friendly, and it will drop a good deal of that coat on you.

A fluffy black and white Finnish Lapphund wearing a red dog backpack stands in the snow, tongue out
A reindeer herder's coat, made for snow.Photo: Htm / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Weight
15–24 kg33–53 lb
Height
41–52 cm16–20 in
Lifespan
12–15 yrs
Group
Pastoral / Herding
Origin
Finland
Popularity
#127 US#135 UK · 2025

Known for: Cold climatesFamily dogs

Energy
Shedding
Trainability
Barking
Good with kids
Flat-friendly

Temperament

Friendly, Easy-going, Alert, Hardy.

Health problems to know about

  • Progressive retinal atrophy (prcd-PRA)
  • Hereditary cataract
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Pompe disease (GSDII)

Ask breeders for the parents' health test results, and check what your national breed club recommends screening for.

Daily care

About an hour of exercise a day, with some herding-style games. Brush weekly, and daily during the twice-yearly moult. The coat suits cold weather far better than heat.

A good fit for

Families, cooler climates, people who want a sociable, trainable dog of moderate size.

Probably not ideal for

Hot climates, very tidy houses, close neighbours if the dog learns to bark at everything.

Sources

  1. Royal Kennel Club: Finnish Lapphund
  2. Finnish Lapphund Club of Great Britain: Breed Health
  3. Wikipedia: Finnish Lapphund

Popularity: AKC 2025 registration rankings (US); Royal Kennel Club 2025 registrations (UK, ranked by us). Breed traits are tendencies, not guarantees. Individual dogs vary, and mixed breeds and rescues can be wonderful fits too.

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