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LAPPHUNDS |
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These two breeds
are almost identical, although the FCI recognizes both, and the Swedish
and Finnish Kennel Clubs each recognize their own breed as distinct. The
standard for the Finnish variety allows for a slightly larger size, although
recent correspondence from Finland states that most dogs are in the smaller
range and there is thought of changing the standard.
Part of the
confusion lies with the Lapp people. They are an old group native to the
Arctic Circle, and the area they populated has always been known as Lapland,
although never comprising a separate country. The area called Lapland
actually includes parts of northern Norway, Sweden, Finland and even northwest
Russia. Thus, any dogs developed by the Lapps were named for them; those
brought south into Sweden were called Swedish Lapphunds, and the ones
coming into Finland became the Finnish Lapphund. Lapland is not far from
the area of the Samoyede people in central Siberia, and the Lapland herding
breeds bear much resemblance to the Samoyed dog.
The Lapphunds
are natural herders of the ancient Nordic spitz type. Although much
of reindeer herding has disappeared over the centuries, the dogs have
adapted to work with sheep and cattle. Lapphunds were first brought
to Finland from Pello in Lapland in the 1930s. These dogs were later
bred with the longhaired Karelian Bear Dog, creating a breed called
the CockhilTs Finnish Lapphound. When the Finnish Kennel Club decided
to separate the Lapphound and the Lapponian Herder, the Cockhill variety
was abolished, and breeders looked to Lapland to restore the original
type.
Because of
their moderate size and their courageous, affectionate nature, they
make fine house pets that are natural alarm dogs. They have the longer
coat and look very much like the German Spitz (i.e., Keeshond) as well
as the Samoyed. Although the standards allow Irish white markings, self-colored
dogs seem to predominate. The heavily plumed tail is carried up on the
back.
The Finnish
Kennel Club is concerned about preserving this breed, and notes particularly
that breeding programs must emphasize the differences between the
Lapinkoira and the Lapi-nporokoira. The Lapinporokoira (or Lapponian
Herder) is larger, shorter coated, and has a body that is longer than
tall. To keep the modern breeds distinct, the emphasis is on breeding
Lapphunds that are moderate in size, nearly square-bodied, and long-coated.
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