The Finnish Lapphund
Character
Finnish Lapphunds are originally herding dogs. As a result, they tend to stay close during walks and are generally very attentive to their owner. At the same time, their working background has given them a good dose of independence. They are usually willing to cooperate, but need to understand the reason behind what is being asked. Repeating the same exercise over and over is often less appealing to them than variety.
In terms of exercise, they do best with long off-lead walks. An occasional quieter day is no problem, but it should not happen too often. A dog that gets enough exercise is generally calm and relaxed indoors. Most Finnish Lapphunds can be walked off lead quite well, although some individuals have a stronger prey drive.
The Finnish Lapphund is generally a suitable family dog. They are friendly and social towards people, and usually get along well with other dogs. However, they are not dogs that will automatically get on with every dog they meet, and especially males may occasionally feel the need to assert themselves.
Utility
Originally, the Finnish Lapphund was used by the Sámi people for herding reindeer. This working role is no longer present in the Netherlands, but they still enjoy being active and working together with their owner.
They are well suited to a variety of activities, such as obedience, tracking, agility, flyball, or herding work. Variety is important: the Finnish Lapphund works best when training is fun and varied.
