Lapponian Herder

The Lapponian Herder is the short-coated Sámi reindeer dog — the working counterpart to the longer-coated Finnish Lapphund.

History

The Sámi kept two kinds of reindeer dog, and this is the one bred more for the herding work than for the look: it drives reindeer by barking and quick movement across open tundra. It was separated from the Lapphund as a distinct breed in the 1960s, and remains a genuine working dog in Finnish Lapland.

Temperament

The breed is known for being energetic, calm with people and highly vocal at work, friendly with its household and willing to work at a distance from its handler.

Care and training

It needs a great deal of exercise and a job; the barking is functional and hard to suppress in an idle dog. The medium coat sheds seasonally.

Health

Generally healthy, with hip dysplasia and hereditary eye conditions among the known tendencies. These are patterns for the breed rather than a forecast for one dog; the measured facts are in the panel.