The Finnish Lapponion Dog
The Suomenlapinkoira comes from the far north. It is better known under the name Finnish Lapponion Dog. In our latitudes this sturdy dog is hardly known and even rarer to see. Its appearance resembles that of the German Spitz. In his homeland the Suomenlapinkoira has the task to herd reindeer. Just like these Nordic deer, the herding dog has adapted perfectly to the harsh climate and the barren landscape.
The herding dog from the high north
The homeland of the Lapphund is Finland. North of the polar circle lies the homeland of the Sami and the reindeer. These animals are not easy to herd. They are nimble, lively and agile. This and the rough climate at the Polar demand everything from a herding dog. The Suomenlapinkoira is made for exactly this task. Over the centuries, this dog developed into a robust and reliable herding dog that takes its work very seriously. Besides, the Finnish Lapponion Dog was an excellent watchdog and optimal hunting partner. At night it warmed its people in the house.
The breed standard originated very late
Already in 1750 the Suomenlapinkoira was described. Thus it is one of the oldest known dog breeds. At the beginning of the 20th century the small cuddly Finn appeared more and more often in the cities of Scandinavia. It became a popular companion dog. However, the dogs were very different from tribe to tribe of the Sami. So there was no uniform race for a long time. It was not until 1945 that the first breed definition for the Suomenlapinkoira was created. The Finnish Kennel Club named it the Lapland Herding Dog. 10 years later, the Suomenlapinkoira was also officially recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale.
In Central Europe this dog is very rare
In 1967 the name was changed to Finnish Lapponion Dog. The Finnish Lapponion Dog received its present name in 1993. In the meantime, the rustic herding dog has changed into a classic companion dog. To this day, the Finnish Lapponion Dog is pithy, lively and extremely robust. Its appearance has changed. Its coat is much longer than it used to be. In Germany and Austria the dog is still very rare.