Finnish Lapphunds 

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Finnish Lapphunds boast lovely personalities and are quite sensitive characters by nature, but having said this they are known to be very calm which is why they make such great family pets. They love lots of exercises and need to be kept busy both mentally and physically to be truly happy, well balanced dogs. Because they are so gentle and sensitive, they are not the best guard dogs on the planet, much preferring the quieter life the Finnish Lapphund likes to avoid any sort of conflict unless of course, they are in working mode. This is when they are more alert and can be quite forceful which they had to be when dealing with a stubborn and rather large reindeer.

Loud noises tend to startle these lovely dogs, but once they know what's going on, their laid-back personalities soon see them calm down again. The one trait that really stands out in the Finnish Lapphund is their eagerness to please which as a result means they are highly trainable and actually enjoy learning new things. When they form a strong bond with anyone, they will follow them to the ends of the earth because they are so very loyal.

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​Height at the withers: Males 46 - 52 cm, Females 41 - 47 cm
Average weight: Males 15 - 24 kg, Females 15 - 24 kg
The Finnish Lapphund is a medium sized spitz-type dog that boasts an impressive collar of hair around their neck which together with their soft and kind expressions sets them apart from other spitz dogs. Their heads are quite broad which is one of the breed's defining features, but in females, it is slightly more refined than their male counterparts. Their forehead is slightly rounded with a clearly defined stop.
Muzzles are short and straight tapering gently to a dog's nose which is dark in colour but matching a dog's coat as do the rims of their eyes which are oval in shape. Lapphunds always boast a kind, friendly and soft expression in them. Ears can be erect or semi-erect and medium in size being set well apart and broader at the base which dogs flicker continuously when alert. The Finnish Lapphund has a strong jaw with a perfect scissor bite where their upper teeth neatly overlap their lower ones.
Their necks are long and strong in appearance being well covered in a mane of dense hair. Shoulders are moderately laid back with dogs having well boned, straight and strong front legs. A Lapphund's body is firm and muscular with a nice level and broad back, Ribs are moderately sprung with dogs having a deep, long brisket and well-defined forechest. Loins are short and well-muscled with their bellies being slightly tucked up. Their croups are moderately long and sloping but well defined.
Their hindquarters are well boned and powerful with dogs boasting muscular thighs and strong back legs. Their feet are covered in dense hair being oval in shape and well arched. Tails are moderately long and set high being profusely covered in long hair which dogs carry curved over their backs or to one side when they are on the move, but they hold it down when at rest.