The Swedish Lapphund is a lively, alert spitz known for its friendly nature and historic role herding reindeer.
How the Swedish Lapphund coat is built, and what that means when you groom it.
Critical: A Swedish Lapphund should not be shaved.
The undercoat keeps heat out as well as in, and the outer coat shields the skin from sun and insect bites. Clipping the whole coat off removes both. It often grows back patchy, soft or a different colour, and in some animals the guard hairs never return properly. Brush the undercoat out instead of cutting it off.
Information: A Swedish Lapphund drops its undercoat in heavy bursts.
The undercoat comes out in heavy bursts over a few weeks. An undercoat rake, or a bath followed by a proper blow-dry, clears it far faster than daily brushing. Clipping the coat down is not a shortcut for this.
The Swedish Lapphund is a medium-sized spitz from Sweden, friendly and alert, with a long history herding reindeer alongside the Sami people.
The Swedish Lapphund is a medium-sized spitz breed that developed in the north of Sweden. It is one of the country's oldest native dogs, shaped over centuries of work with the Sami people who herded reindeer across Lapland. The breed is built for cold weather and long days outdoors, with a dense double coat and a compact, square frame.
In temperament the Swedish Lapphund is friendly, intelligent, and active. It forms close bonds with its family and stays alert to its surroundings. The breed is known for being vocal, a trait that traces back to its herding work, where barking helped move and control reindeer.
Today the Swedish Lapphund is mainly a companion and an active family dog. It still carries the energy and watchfulness of a working breed, so it does best with people who can give it daily exercise and mental engagement.
| Trait | Detail |
|---|---|
| Origin | Sweden |
| Size | Medium |
| Lifespan | 12 to 13 years |
| Group/role | Spitz; historic reindeer herder |
| Good with | Families, active households, other dogs |
The Swedish Lapphund suits owners who are home often and enjoy outdoor activity. It fits households that can offer regular walks, training, and company. The breed's tendency to bark means it is better suited to homes where some noise is acceptable, and where an owner is willing to train a quiet command early.
The Swedish Lapphund is one of Sweden's oldest breeds, developed by the Sami people as a reindeer-herding and guard dog in the far north.
The Swedish Lapphund is among the oldest of the Nordic spitz breeds. Its ancestors lived alongside the Sami people in Lapland, the region spanning northern Sweden and neighboring lands. There the dogs worked with reindeer herds, helping to gather and guide the animals and to warn of predators.
The breed's heritage is closely tied to the herding economy of the Sami. A dog that could bark on command, move reindeer, and survive harsh winters was valuable, and the Swedish Lapphund was bred for exactly that combination of voice, stamina, and weatherproof coat.
As reindeer husbandry changed and motorized transport replaced some traditional methods, the working role of the breed declined. Breeders in Sweden worked to preserve the dog as a distinct native breed, and it became established within the country's kennel club system. The Swedish Lapphund is recognized internationally by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale within its spitz and primitive types grouping.
The breed remains uncommon outside Scandinavia. It is kept today mostly as a companion, with some dogs still active in herding, agility, and obedience.
The Swedish Lapphund is a medium spitz with a square build, prick ears, a curled tail, and a thick weatherproof double coat that is usually black or brown.
The Swedish Lapphund has the classic spitz outline: a roughly square body, erect triangular ears, a wedge-shaped head, and a tail carried curled over the back. It is medium in size and gives an impression of strength and agility without heaviness. The expression is alert and lively.
The coat is the most striking feature. It is a dense, standing double coat that protected the breed during work in cold, wet conditions.
| Feature | Standard |
|---|---|
| Height | About 40 to 51 cm at the withers (males larger than females) |
| Weight | About 19 to 21 kg |
| Coat | Dense, standing double coat; longer on neck, chest, and back of legs |
| Colors | Black and brown (liver); small white markings permitted |
| Eyes | Dark, round, set slightly apart, alert expression |
The outer coat is straight and stands away from the body, while the undercoat is soft and thick. The most common colors are black and brown, with shades varying from deep black to a lighter liver brown. Small white markings on the chest or feet are accepted within the standard. The coat sheds heavily during seasonal molts and needs regular brushing to manage loose hair and prevent matting.
The Swedish Lapphund is friendly, intelligent, and alert, devoted to its family and watchful with strangers, and notably vocal compared with many breeds.
The Swedish Lapphund is an affectionate and people-focused breed. It bonds strongly with its household and prefers to be involved in family activity rather than left alone for long stretches. With children it is generally gentle and playful, though supervision is sensible with any dog and young child.
With strangers the breed is alert and watchful. It will announce visitors and tends to be reserved at first rather than openly aggressive. This watchdog instinct, combined with its readiness to bark, makes it an effective alarm dog.
With other pets the Swedish Lapphund is usually sociable, especially when raised alongside them. Its herding background can show as an interest in movement, so early socialization helps. The breed is intelligent and quick to learn, but it has an independent streak and responds best to consistent, positive training.
| Trait | Rating |
|---|---|
| Affection | 5 |
| Energy | 4 |
| Trainability | 4 |
| Vocalness | 5 |
| Shedding | 4 |
The Swedish Lapphund needs regular brushing for its double coat, daily exercise, and mental work, and it thrives in cool climates with active company.
The Swedish Lapphund is a hardy breed, but its thick coat and high activity level mean it has clear daily needs. Grooming, exercise, and mental engagement are the main areas to plan for.
The Swedish Lapphund is well suited to cool climates and copes poorly with prolonged heat because of its heavy coat. It does best with a garden and active owners, though it can adapt to other settings if given enough exercise and company. The breed dislikes being isolated and may bark more if left alone too long.
The Swedish Lapphund does well on a balanced complete diet matched to its medium size and activity level, fed in measured portions to avoid weight gain.
The Swedish Lapphund is an active medium-sized dog and does well on a good-quality complete diet formulated for its life stage and energy level. Because the breed is busy and athletic, working or very active dogs may need more food than a sedentary house companion. Watch body condition rather than relying on the bag's guideline alone, and adjust portions to keep the dog lean.
| Life stage | Amount per day | Meals |
|---|---|---|
| Puppy (2 to 6 months) | Per product guide for growth | 3 to 4 |
| Junior (6 to 12 months) | Per product guide, tapering | 2 to 3 |
| Adult | About 200 to 300 g of dry food | 2 |
| Senior | Slightly reduced, lower calorie | 2 |
Keep treats to no more than about ten percent of daily calories and account for them when measuring meals. Most Swedish Lapphunds on a complete, balanced diet need no routine supplements. Fresh water should always be available. Speak with a veterinarian before adding any supplement, especially for puppies or older dogs.
The Swedish Lapphund is generally healthy with a lifespan of 12 to 13 years, though it can carry breed risks such as hip dysplasia and an inherited eye condition.
The Swedish Lapphund is a robust, long-working breed and is generally healthy. Typical lifespan is 12 to 13 years. As with many purebred dogs, there are a few inherited conditions that responsible breeders screen for, and buyers should ask to see health-test results for the parents.
| Condition | Signs | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Hip dysplasia | Stiffness, limping, reluctance to exercise | Screened by hip scoring of breeding dogs |
| Progressive retinal atrophy | Night blindness, declining vision | Inherited eye disease; DNA and eye testing available |
| Diabetes mellitus | Increased thirst, weight loss, frequent urination | Manageable with veterinary care and diet |
The Swedish Lapphund is intelligent and trainable but independent and vocal, so it responds best to early, consistent, reward-based training.
The Swedish Lapphund is clever and learns quickly, a legacy of its herding work. That intelligence comes with an independent streak, so it can decide for itself whether a request is worth following. Short, varied, reward-based sessions hold its attention better than long, repetitive drills. Early socialization with people, other dogs, and everyday situations is important.
Because the breed is naturally vocal, teaching a reliable quiet command early helps manage barking. Recall is also worth prioritizing, since the breed's interest in movement can pull it after other animals.
Swedish Lapphund breeding follows the normal canine pattern, with health-tested parents, a roughly nine-week pregnancy, and moderate litter sizes.
Breeding a Swedish Lapphund should be approached responsibly and is best left to experienced breeders working with health-tested dogs. Bitches reach sexual maturity within the first year, but breeding is normally delayed until a dog is physically mature and has passed relevant health screening, including hip and eye assessments.
Mating follows the standard canine cycle, with the female receptive during her seasonal heat. Pregnancy lasts about 63 days. Litters are typically moderate in size for a medium breed. The dam usually whelps and raises the puppies with minimal intervention, though a quiet, warm whelping area and veterinary support should be in place.
Puppies stay with the dam and littermates until at least eight weeks of age, which supports healthy social development. Early handling and gentle exposure to household life help produce well-adjusted adults. Because the breed is uncommon outside Scandinavia, prospective owners may face waiting lists.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Sexual maturity | Around 6 to 12 months |
| Recommended first breeding | After physical maturity and health testing |
| Gestation | About 63 days |
| Typical litter size | 4 to 6 puppies |
| Weaning age | About 6 to 8 weeks |
| Leave for new home | From 8 weeks |
The city vet office handles the RA 9482 paperwork; a free United Pet Club record is what a finder anywhere can actually search for your Swedish Lapphund.
The Anti-Rabies Act, Republic Act 9482, tells every dog owner to register with the city or municipal veterinary office and keep the anti-rabies shots current, and that covers the local paperwork for your Swedish Lapphund. What the city record cannot do is tell a finder two provinces away how to reach you. A free United Pet Club profile fills that gap for life. Registering your dog costs nothing to start and nothing later.
If a vet has already implanted a chip, the number still has to be filed where a scanner can trace it, because an unfiled chip points at nobody. Register the microchip free on the lifetime plan: any brand sold in the Philippines qualifies, updates after you move house or change SIM cost nothing, and the record stays searchable here and abroad. Create your free account and cover both in one go.
Open a free United Pet Club account, add your Swedish Lapphund's details and a photo, then save the profile. It stays free for his whole life and sits alongside the city vet office registration RA 9482 requires.
Type the 15-digit chip number into your free account together with your mobile number and address. The lifetime plan charges nothing for the registration or for any update, whatever brand the clinic used.
Yes, RA 9482 requires dog registration with your city or municipal veterinary office, along with current anti-rabies vaccination. The United Pet Club profile is the searchable half: free, worldwide, and tied to your current mobile.
Nothing. The free lifetime plan covers the profile, the microchip record, and every update, with no renewal fees at all.
Common questions about the Swedish Lapphund cover its size, temperament, care needs, lifespan, suitability, and availability.
It is a medium-sized breed, standing roughly 40 to 51 cm at the shoulder and weighing about 19 to 21 kg, with males usually larger than females.
Yes. It is friendly and affectionate, bonds closely with its family, and is generally good with children when properly socialized. It is also alert and makes a capable watchdog.
They are moderate in care needs. The double coat requires regular brushing and heavier grooming during molts, and the breed needs daily exercise and mental work. It is not suited to being left alone for long periods.
Typical lifespan is 12 to 13 years. Choosing a puppy from health-tested parents and keeping the dog lean and active supports a long, healthy life.
They are a vocal breed by nature, a trait from their reindeer-herding past. Early training of a quiet command and enough daily activity help keep barking manageable.
It suits active owners who are home often and enjoy outdoor activity, can manage seasonal shedding, and accept some barking. It is less suited to very hot climates or households away all day.
The breed is uncommon outside Scandinavia, so prospective owners may need to contact specialist breeders and join a waiting list.
