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The Canine Chronicles Directory
Swedish Lapphund
The Swedish Lapphund is a medium-sized, sturdily-built, Spitz-type dog. The skull
is broad and slightly arched. The muzzle is a little longer than the length of the
head. The teeth should meet in a scissors bite. The nose is black and the oval-shaped
eyes are dark brown. The ears of this breed are pricked with slightly rounded tips.
They are small, broad at the base and set well apart. The neck is medium in length
and covered with a thick ruff of hair. The chest is well-developed and the topline
is level. The oval feet are compact with well-arched toes and thick pads. The feet
should be covered with thick hair. Dewclaws may be removed. The tail is set high
and is moderate in length. It is carried over the back when the dog is alert and
carried between the legs when the dog is at rest. The tail is covered with long
dense hair which gives it a bushy appearance. The Swedish Lapphund has a thick double
coat which allows the breed to live and work in the harshest arctic conditions.
The outer coat is long and coarse, while the undercoat is short, dense and soft.
The hair on the skull and the front parts of the legs is shorter than the body coat.
Coat colors come in black, brown or bear brown with an occasional dash of white.
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Temperament
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Swedish Lapphunds are friendly, intelligent and very vocal. They like to bark at
unusual things, making them an ideal watch dog. They have a slight instinct to herd.
This breed may think before they act, taking the time to think before they obey.
Though they are highly trainable, they can be a bit stubborn. This breed loves the
outdoors and is courageous and affectionate. They love to receive affection from
their owner and have been known to have quite a sense of humor. They are good with
children and other pets. This independent dog needs to begin training very early.
They do not like to be walked on a leash and will learn better if they are not trained
on one.
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Height, Weight
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Height: 16-20" ; Weight: 43-47 lbs.
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Health Problems
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This breed is prone to hip dysplasia. Other concerns include entropion, ectropion,
distichiasis, cataracts and PRA.
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Living Conditions
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It is not recommended to keep a Swedish Lapphund in an apartment. They do best with
lots of space. This breed loves a cooler climate. They are very vocal and love to
dig. The best owner would be an active person who lives in a colder, rural or suburban
setting.
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Exercise
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This breed needs excessive exercise in order to stay in shape. They are a very physical
breed and require a great amount of hard work every day. The Swedish Lapphund should
be walked for 3 hours a day if kept in the city.
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Life Expectancy
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About 12-15 years
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Grooming
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This breed needs regular brushing because of their bushy coat. Check the ears, nails
and teeth often.
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Origin
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The Swedish Lapphund bears a resemblance to the Samoyed and the Keeshond. The Lapphund
originally existed in Scandinavia and then moved down to both Sweden and Finland.
To avoid confusion with the name, both countries simply named the same dog after
their own country. Thus the Finnish Lapphund is from Finland and the Swedish Lapphund
is from Sweden. They are the same dogs, varying only slightly in size. The Lapphund
is recognized by the FCI, the UKC and have been accepted for recording in the AKC
Foundation Stock Service®.
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Group
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AKC/FSS Herding, UKC Northern
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