GROUP 5 - WORKING DOGS

Brief History
With origins among the ancient hunting tribes of northern Scandinavia, the Lapphund was used mainly for assisting hunters and guarding, but when the tribes began keeping domestic reindeer, then the Lapphund became a herder. The Lapphund is the oldest of Sweden’s nine native breeds and is the national dog.

Average Life Span
When considering a dog, please realise that you are taking it on for its lifetime.
The average life span is 12 to 14 years.

Temperament
He is lively, kind, alert and affectionate. The Lapphund is playful and non-aggressive, but early training is essential to prevent excessive barking.

General Breed Description
The Swedish Lapphund is a lively and intelligent medium sized spitz breed. The Lapphund is usually solid black but can also be brown or liver. A social breed, the Lapphund needs companionship. As with all breeds, early socialisation and training is essential. They would benefit from daily exercise. He should not be left alone for long periods of time, as a bored Lapphund will create mischief.

Coat and Care Requirements
The Lapphund has a medium length, double coat which would be kept in good condition with weekly brushing. Despite their profuse coat, they are relatively easy to groom, but when shedding more vigilant attention is required.

Size
Height: Males 45 to 51cms, Females 40 to 46cms.

Health
All breeds have individual health issues. When speaking to breeders it is recommended you enquire about breed’s health and what health testing the breeder does. The Lapphund is generally a healthy breed, however health conditions do occur occasionally. These may include inherited diseases.

Suitability
With an eager and curious nature, an independent mind and occasional stubborn streak, training a Lapphund needs patience and persistence. However, he is well suited to herding, agility obedience and other canine sports. As with all dogs, young children and pets should always be supervised when together.

In Conclusion
Now you know a little more about this breed. If you have decided this is the dog for you and wish to investigate further, please contact the Breed Club or Dogs Victoria. They will be able to give you information about available puppies and also suggest dog events where you can see the breed and speak to breeders. In this way you will gain a better perspective of the breed and its needs. With any breed of dog, it is important to research and determine suitability for your lifestyle before committing to a puppy which will be a part of your family for many years to come.

Whilst many breeds are recommended for families, it is imperative that when children are with dogs they are supervised at all times. Basic obedience training is a vital part of dog ownership.

Dogs Victoria is about the responsible ownership of all dogs and in particular the preservation of pure breeds.

Link to Dogs Australia Breed Standard: https://dogsaustralia.org.au/breed/detail/106