Finnish Lapphund

As their name suggests the Finnish Lapphund originates from the harsh northern lands of Scandinavia where the breed has always been highly prized not only in a work environment but in the home too. It is a Spitz type dog which was traditionally used for herding reindeer. They are known to be incredibly courageous and loyal going about their work very seriously.

While the Finnish Lapphund remains a popular breed in Scandinavian countries this delightful dog is not seen in other areas of the world which includes here in the UK even though they are a great choice as both companion dogs and family pets thanks to their loyal kind and affectionate natures. As such anyone wanting to share their home with a Finnish Lapphund would need to register their interest with breeders and go on a waiting list for the pleasure of doing so.

Come il loro nome indica, il Finnen Lapphund proviene dalle dure regioni settentrionali della Scandinavia, dove la razza è sempre stata molto apprezzata, non solo in un contesto lavorativo ma anche a casa. È un cane di tipo Spitz che tradizionalmente veniva utilizzato per la pastorizia delle renne. Sono noti per il loro incredibile coraggio e lealtà e prendono il loro lavoro molto sul serio.

Sebbene il Finnen Lapphund rimanga una razza popolare nei paesi scandinavi, questo cane affascinante non è visto in altre parti del mondo, incluso il Regno Unito, anche se sono una scelta eccellente sia come cani da compagnia che come animali domestici familiari grazie alla loro natura leale, amichevole e affettuosa. Pertanto, chiunque desideri condividere la propria casa con un Finnen Lapphund dovrebbe registrare il proprio interesse presso gli allevatori e mettersi in lista d'attesa per poterlo avere.

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.

When it comes to their coat the Finnish Lapphund boasts having a profuse coat that consists of a coarser and straight outer coat that's a lot shorter on their heads and on the fronts of their legs. Their undercoat is much softer and dense with male Lapphunds having a more pronounce mane than their female counterparts. The accepted colours for Kennel Club registration are as follows:

• Black
• Black and tan
• Black and white
• Black tan and white
• Brown
• Brown and tan
• Brown and white
• Brown grizzle
• Brown grizzle and white
• Brown tan and white
• Brown wolf sable
• Brown wolf sable and white
• Cream
• Cream and white
• Grizzle
• Grizzle and white
• Red
• Red and white
• Sable
• Sable and white
• Tricolour
• White
• Wolf sable
• Wolf sable and white

It is worth noting that the accepted breed colours for Kennel Club registration can differ from those set out in the breed standard which are as follows:

• All colours are allowed with the main colour being the more dominant in a dog’s coat

Dogs can have different coloured markings on their heads necks chests legs tails and on the underside of their bodies.

It is worth noting that the only colour that is not acceptable under the Kennel Club breed standard is as follows:

• Merle

Gait/movement

When a Finnish Lapphund moves they take brisk effortless and agile moderately long strides with the capacity to go easily from a trot to a gallop.

Faults

The Kennel Club frowns on any exaggerations or departures from the breed standard and would judge the faults on how much they affect a dog's overall health and wellbeing as well as their ability to perform.

Males should have both testicles fully descended into their scrotums and it is worth noting that a dog can be a little lighter or heavier as well as slightly taller or shorter than set out in the Kennel Club breed standard which is only given as a guideline.

Altezza al garrese: Maschi 46 - 52 cm Femmine 41 - 47 cm

Peso medio: Maschi 15 - 24 kg Femmine 15 - 24 kg

Il Lapphund finlandese è un cane di taglia media con un'impressionante criniera di peli intorno al collo, che lo distingue dagli altri cani spitz insieme alla loro espressione dolce e amichevole. Le loro teste sono piuttosto larghe, una delle caratteristiche distintive della razza, ma nelle femmine è leggermente più raffinata rispetto ai maschi. La fronte è leggermente arrotondata con uno stop ben definito.

Il muso è corto e diritto e si assottiglia dolcemente verso il naso del cane, che è scuro ma si abbina al colore del mantello del cane, proprio come i bordi degli occhi, che sono ovali. I Lapphund hanno sempre un'espressione amichevole e dolce. Le orecchie possono essere dritte o semierette e di dimensioni medie, ben distanziate e più larghe alla base, che i cani muovono continuamente quando sono vigili. Il Lapphund finlandese ha una mascella forte con una dentatura a forbice perfetta, con i denti superiori che si sovrappongono ordinatamente a quelli inferiori.

Il loro collo è lungo e dall'aspetto robusto e ben coperto da una criniera di peli densi. Le spalle sono moderatamente inclinate con arti anteriori dritti e forti. Il corpo di un Lapphund è solido e muscoloso con una schiena bella, piatta e larga. Le costole sono moderatamente arcuate con cani che hanno un torace profondo e lungo e un petto ben definito. I lombi sono corti e ben muscolosi con l'addome leggermente retratto. I loro garretti sono di lunghezza moderata e inclinati ma ben definiti.

Il posteriore è ben ossuto e potente con cani che hanno cosce muscolose e forti arti posteriori. Le zampe sono coperte di peli densi, ovali e ben arcuate. Le code sono di lunghezza moderata e attaccate in alto, abbondantemente ricoperte di peli lunghi che i cani portano piegati sopra la schiena o di lato quando sono in movimento, ma le tengono abbassate quando riposano.

Per quanto riguarda il mantello, il Lapphund finlandese ha un pelo lussureggiante composto da un sottopelo più ruvido e diritto, molto più corto sulla testa e sulla parte anteriore delle zampe. Il sottopelo è molto più morbido e denso, con i maschi che hanno una criniera più pronunciata rispetto alle femmine. I colori accettati per la registrazione presso il Kennel Club sono i seguenti:

• Nero
• Nero e tan
• Nero e bianco
• Nero, tan e bianco
• Marrone
• Marrone e tan
• Marrone e bianco
• Marrone grizzle
• Marrone grizzle e bianco
• Marrone, tan e bianco
• Marrone wolf sable
• Marrone wolf sable e bianco
• Crema
• Crema e bianco
• Grizzle
• Grizzle e bianco
• Rosso
• Rosso e bianco
• Sable
• Sable e bianco
• Tricolore
• Bianco
• Wolf sable
• Wolf sable e bianco

È importante notare che i colori di razza accettati per la registrazione presso il Kennel Club possono differire da quelli stabiliti nel standard di razza, che sono i seguenti:

• Tutti i colori sono ammessi purché il colore principale sia predominante nel mantello di un cane

I cani possono avere marcature di colore diverso sulla testa, collo, petto, zampe, coda e sotto il corpo.

È importante notare che l'unico colore non accettabile secondo lo standard di razza del Kennel Club è il seguente:

• Merle

Andatura/movimento

Quando un Lapphund finlandese si muove, compie passi agili, fluidi e senza sforzo di lunghezza moderata, con la capacità di passare facilmente da un trotto a un galoppo.

Errori

Il Kennel Club non approva alcuna esagerazione o deviazione dallo standard di razza e valuta gli errori in base a quanto influenzano la salute e il benessere complessivo di un cane, così come la sua capacità di performare.

I maschi devono avere entrambi i testicoli completamente discesi nello scroto ed è importante notare che un cane può essere leggermente più leggero o più pesante, così come leggermente più grande o più piccolo rispetto a quanto indicato nello standard di razza del Kennel Club, che è solo una linea guida.

The Lapphund is a highly intelligent dog which makes they very easy to train. They excel when taking part in all sorts of canine sports which includes things like flyball and agility thanks the fact they are so eager and willing to work closely with their owners.

They are however known to be quite sensitive by nature and therefore Lapphunds do not respond well to any sort of harsh correction or training methods. They do answer well to positive reinforcement and when they are treated with a firm yet always fair hand which always gets the best results with a Finnish Lapphund.

Like all puppies Finnish Lapphunds are incredibly cute when young and it is all too easy to spoil them when they first arrive in new homes. As soon as a puppy is nicely settled owners must start out as they mean to go on by laying down ground rules and boundaries so that a puppy understands what is expected of them. It helps establish a pecking order and who the alpha dog is in the household. The first commands a puppy should be taught are as follows:

• Come
• Sit
• Stay
• Heel
• Quiet
• Leave it
• Down
• Bed

The Finnish Lapphund is known to be a friendly and affectionate dog around children of all ages and there is nothing they enjoy more than being part of a family. However any interaction between children and a dog has to be supervised by an adult to make sure playtime does not get too boisterous.

They are also known to get on well with other dogs thanks to their breeding but care has to be taken when a Finnish Lapphund meets smaller animals and pets which includes cats because they prey drive might just get the better of them with disastrous results.

The average life expectancy of a Finnish Lapphund is between 12 and 14 years when properly cared for and fed an appropriate good quality diet to suit their ages.

Like so many other breeds the Finnish Lapphund is known to suffer from a few hereditary health issues which are worth knowing about if you are planning share your home with one of these active and good-looking dogs. The conditions that seem to affect the breed the most include the following:

• Hip dysplasia – dogs should be hip scored under the BVA/KC hip dysplasia scheme with the breed average being 12
• Elbow dysplasia – dogs should be tested through the BVA/KC Elbow Dysplasia Scheme
• Progressive retinal atrophy (prcd-PRA) – dogs must be DNA tested under the BVA/KC eye scheme
• Persistent pupillary membrane (PPM) – litter screening
• Multifocal retinal dysplasia (MRD) – litter screening
• Pompes Disease (GSDII) – dogs must be DNA tested
• Hereditary Cataracts (HC) – dogs should be tested annually
• Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)
• Ivermectin Sensitivity
• Osteogenesis imperfecta

It is worth noting the breed average COI for the Finnish Lapphund with the Kennel Club currently stands at 2.3%.

What about vaccinations?

Finnish Lapphund puppies would have been given their initial vaccinations before being sold but it is up to their new owners to make sure they have their follow-up shots in a timely manner with the vaccination schedule for puppies being as follows:

• 10 -12 weeks old bearing in mind that a puppy would not have full protection straight away but would be fully protected 2 weeks after they have had their second vaccination

There has been a lot of discussion about the need for dogs to have boosters. As such it's best to talk to a vet before making a final decision on whether a dog should continue to have annual vaccinations which are known as boosters.

What about spaying and neutering?

A lot of vets these days recommend waiting until dogs are slightly older before spaying and neutering them which means they are more mature before undergoing the procedures. As such they advise neutering males and spaying females when they are between the ages of 6 to 9 months old and sometimes even when a dog is 12 months old.

Other vets recommend spaying and neutering dogs when they are 6 months old but never any earlier unless for medical reasons. With this said many breeds are different and it is always advisable to discuss things with a vet and then follow their advice on when a dog should be spayed or neutered.

What about obesity problems?

As with other breeds a Finnish Lapphund may gain weight after they have been spayed or neutered and it's important to keep an eye on a dog's waistline just in case they do. If a dog starts to put on weight it's important to adjust their daily calorie intake and to up the amount of exercise they are given. Older dogs too are more prone to gaining weight and again it's essential they be fed and exercised accordingly because obesity can shorten a dog's life by several years. The reason being that it puts a lot of extra strain on a dog's internal organs including the heart which could prove fatal.

What about allergies?

Some Finnish Lapphunds are prone to suffering from allergies and it's important for a dog to see a vet sooner rather than later if one flares up. Allergies can be notoriously hard to clear up and finding the triggers can be challenging. With this said a vet would be able to make a dog with an allergy more comfortable while they try to find out the triggers which could include the following:

• Certain dog foods that contain high levels of grains and other cereal-type fillers
• Airborne pollens
• Dust mites
• Environment
• Flea and tick bites
• Chemicals found in everyday household cleaning products

Participating in health schemes

All responsible Finnish Lapphund breeders would ensure that their stud dogs are tested for known hereditary and congenital health issues known to affect the breed by using the following schemes:

• BVA/KC Hip Dysplasia Scheme
• Dogs should be tested through the BVA/KC Elbow Dysplasia Scheme
• Dogs should be tested for Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)
• Eye testing for persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous (PHPV) persistent pupillary membrane (PPM) multifocal retinal dysplasia (MRD) – litter screening
• Hereditary Cataracts (HC) – dogs should be tested annually
• DNA test - prcd-PRA
• DNA test - GSDII

What about breed specific breeding restrictions?

Apart from the standard breeding restrictions that are in place for all Kennel Club registered breeds there are no other breed specific breeding restrictions in place for the Finnish Lapphund.

What about Assured Breeder Requirements?

It is mandatory for Kennel Club Assured Breeders to use the following tests on stud dogs and all other breeders are strongly advised to follow suit:

• BVA/KC Hip Dysplasia Scheme
• Eye testing

The Kennel Club strongly advises that all breeders use the following scheme on stud dogs:

• DNA test - prcd-PRA

Breeders should also consider using the following test on stud dogs:

• DNA test - GSDII

As with any other breed Finnish Lapphunds need to be groomed on a regular basis to make sure their coats and skin are kept in top condition. They also need to be given regular daily exercise to ensure they remain fit and healthy. On top of this dogs need to be fed good quality food that meets all their nutritional needs throughout their lives.

Caring for a Finnish Lapphund puppy

Finnish Lapphund puppies are boisterous and full of life which means it's essential for homes and gardens to be puppy-proofed well in advance of their arrival. A responsible breeder would have well socialised their puppies which always leads to more outgoing confident and friendly dogs right from the word go. With this said any puppy is going to feel vulnerable when they leave their mother and littermates which must be taken into account. The longer a puppy can remain with their mother the better although it should never be for too long either.

It's best to pick a puppy up when people are going to be around for the first week or so which is the time needed for a puppy to settle in. Puppy-proofing the home and garden means putting away any tools and other implements that a boisterous puppy might injure themselves on. Electric wires and cables must be put out of their reach because puppies love chewing on things. Toxic plants should be removed from flowerbeds and the home too.

Puppies need to sleep a lot to grow and develop as they should which means setting up a quiet area that's not too out of the way means they can retreat to it when they want to nap and it's important not to disturb them when they are sleeping. It's also a good idea to keep "playtime" nice and calm inside the house and to have a more active "playtime" outside in the garden which means puppies quickly learn to be less boisterous when they are inside.

The documentation a breeder provides for a puppy must have all the details of their worming date and the product used as well as the information relating to their microchip. It is essential for puppies to be wormed again keeping to a schedule which is as follows:

• Puppies should be wormed at 6 months old
• They need to be wormed again when they are 8 months old
• Puppies should be wormed when they are 10 months old
• They need to be wormed when they are 12 months old

Things you'll need for your puppy

There are certain items that new owners need to already have in the home prior to bringing a new puppy home. It's often a good idea to restrict how much space a puppy plays in more especially when you can't keep an eye on what they get up to bearing in mind that puppies are often quite boisterous which means investing in puppy gates or a large enough playpen that allows a puppy the room to express themselves while keeping them safe too. The items needed are therefore as follows:

• Good quality puppy or baby gates to fit on doors
• A good well-made playpen that's large enough for a puppy to play in so they can really express themselves as puppies like to do
• Lots of well-made toys which must include good quality chews suitable for puppies to gnaw on bearing in mind that a puppy will start teething anything from when they are 3 to 8 months old
• Good quality feed and water bowls which ideally should be ceramic rather than plastic or metal
• A grooming glove
• A slicker brush or soft bristle brush
• Dog specific toothpaste and a toothbrush
• Scissors with rounded ends
• Nail clippers
• Puppy shampoo and conditioner which must be specifically formulated for use on dogs
• A well-made dog collar or harness
• A couple of strong dog leads
• A well-made dog bed that's not too small or too big
• A well-made dog crate for use in the car and in the home that's large enough for a puppy to move around in
• Baby blankets to put in your puppy's crate and in their beds for when they want to nap or go to sleep at night

Keeping the noise down

All puppies are sensitive to noise including Finnish Lapphund puppies. It's important to keep the noise levels down when a new puppy arrives in the home. TVs and music should not be played too loud which could end up stressing a small puppy out making them withdrawn timid and shy.

Keeping vet appointments

As previously mentioned Finnish Lapphund puppies would have been given their first vaccinations by the breeders but they must have their follow up shots which is up to their new owners to organise. The vaccination schedule for puppies is as follows:

• 10 -12 weeks old bearing in mind that a puppy would not have full protection straight away but would only be fully protected 2 weeks after they have had their second vaccination

When it comes to boosters it's best to discuss these with a vet because there is a lot of debate about whether a dog really needs them after a certain time. However if a dog ever needed to go into kennels their vaccinations would need to be fully up to date.

What about older Finnish Lapphunds when they reach their senior years?

Older Finnish Lapphunds need lots of special care because as they reach their golden years they are more at risk of developing certain health concerns. Physically a dog's muzzle may start to go grey but there will be other noticeable changes too which includes the following:

• Coats become coarser
• A loss of muscle tone
• They can either become overweight or underweight
• They have reduced strength and stamina
• Older dogs have difficulty regulating their body temperature
• They often develop arthritis
• Immune systems do not work as efficiently as they once did which means dogs are more susceptible to infections
• Older dogs change mentally too which means their response time tends to be slower as such they develop the following:
• They respond less to external stimuli due to impaired vision or hearing
• They tend to be a little pickier about their food
• They have a lower pain threshold
• Become intolerant of any change
• Often an older dog can feel disorientated

Living with a Finnish Lapphund in their golden years means taking on a few more responsibilities but these are easily managed and should include looking at their diet the amount of exercise they are given how often their dog beds need changing and keeping an eye on the condition of their teeth.

Older dogs need to be fed a good quality diet that meets their needs at this stage of their lives all the while keeping a close eye on a dog's weight. A rough feeding guide for older dogs is as follows bearing in mind they should be fed highly digestible food that does not contain any additives:

• Protein content should be anything from 14 – 21%
• Fat content should be less than 10%
• Fibre content should be less than 4%
• Calcium content should be 0.5 – 0.8%
• Phosphorous content should be 0.4 – 0.7%
• Sodium content should be 0.2 – 0.4%

Older Finnish Lapphunds don't need the same amount of daily exercise as a younger dog but they still need the right amount of physical activity to maintain muscle tone and to prevent a dog from putting on too much weight. All dogs need access to fresh clean water and this is especially true of older dogs when they reach their golden years because they are more at risk of developing kidney disorders.

Thanks to their dense heavy coats Finnish Lapphunds are quite high maintenance in the grooming department especially as these dogs shed all year round. A daily brush is needed to get rid of any loose and dead hair. It will also prevent any knots and tangles from forming in a dog's coat.

It's also important to check a dog's ears on a regular basis and to clean them when necessary. If too much wax is allowed to build up in a dog's ears it can lead to a painful infection which can be hard to clear up. In short prevention is often easier than cure when it comes to ear infections.

A Finnish Lapphund is a high energy dog and as such they need a minimum of an hour's exercise every single day. On top of this they need to be given a ton of mental stimulation every day for them to be truly happy well-balanced and obedient character. However due to their very thick and dense coats care has to be taken when exercising one of these dogs when the weather is hot because they do feel the heat. Too much strenuous exercise in hot weather can result in a dog suffering heatstroke a dangerous and life-threatening condition.

A shorter walk in the morning would be fine but a longer more interesting one in the afternoon is a must. These dogs also like to be able to roam around a back garden as often as possible so they can really let off steam. However the fencing has to be extremely secure to keep these dogs in because if they find a weakness in the fence they will soon escape out and get into all sorts of trouble.

With this said young puppies should not be given too much exercise because their joints and bones are still growing and too much pressure on them could result in causing a dog a few problems later on in their lives. They should not be allowed to jump up or off furniture nor should they be allowed to run up and down the stairs because this puts too much pressure on their still growing joints and limbs**.**

If you get a Finnish Lapphund puppy from a breeder they would give you a feeding schedule and it's important to stick to the same routine feeding the same puppy food to avoid any tummy upsets. You can change a puppy's diet but this needs to be done very gradually always making sure they don't develop any digestive upsets and if they do it's best to put them back on their original diet and to discuss things with the vet before attempting to change it again.

Older dogs are not known to be fussy or finicky eaters but this does not mean you can feed them a lower quality diet. It's best to feed a mature dog twice a day once in the morning and then again in the evening making sure it's good quality food that meets all their nutritional requirements. It's also important that dogs be given the right amount of exercise so they burn off any excess calories or they might gain too much weight which can lead to all sorts of health issues. Obesity can shorten a dog's life by several years so it's important to keep an eye on their waistline from the word go.

Feeding guide for a Finnish Lapphund puppy

Puppies need to be fed a highly nutritious good quality diet for them to develop and grow as they should. As a rough guide a Finnish Lapphund puppy can be fed the following amounts every day making sure their meals are evenly spread out throughout the day and it's best to feed them 3 or 4 times a day:

• 2 months old - 191g to 244g depending on puppy's build
• 3 months old - 223g to 286g depending on puppy's build
• 4 months old - 239g to 305g depending on puppy's build
• 5 months old - 243g to 311g depending on puppy's build
• 6 months old - 243g to 311g depending on puppy's build
• 8 months old - 211g to 274g depending on puppy's build
• 10 months old - 177g to 232g depending on puppy's build

Once a puppy is 12 months old they can be fed adult dog food.

Feeding guide for an adult Finnish Lapphund

Once fully mature an adult Finnish Lapphund should be fed a good quality diet to ensure their continued good health. As a rough guide an adult dog can be fed the following amounts every day:

• Dogs weighing 15 kg can be fed 197g to 259g depending on activity
• Dogs weighing 25 kg can be fed 243g to 317g depending on activity

If you are looking to buy a Finnish Lapphund you may have to go on a waiting list because not many puppies are registered with The Kennel Club every year and you would need to pay upwards of £950 for a well-bred pedigree puppy. The cost of insuring male a 3-year-old Lapphund in northern England would be £21.45 a month for basic cover but for a lifetime policy this would set you back £43.92 a month (quote as of October 2018). When insurance companies calculate a pet's premium they factor in several things which includes where you live in the UK and a dog's age and whether they have been neutered or spayed amongst other things.

When it comes to food costs you need to buy the best quality food whether wet or dry to feed your dog throughout their lives making sure it suits the different stages of their lives. This would set you back between £30 - £40 a month. On top of this you would need to factor in veterinary costs if you want to share your home with a Finnish Lapphund and this includes their initial vaccinations their annual boosters the cost of neutering or spaying your dog when the time is right and their yearly health checks all of which quickly adds up to over a £1000 a year.

As a rough guide the average cost to keep and care for a Finnish Lapphund would be between £60 to £90 a month depending on the level of insurance cover you opt to buy for your dog but this does not include the initial cost of buying a healthy well-bred Kennel Club registered pedigree Finnish Lapphund puppy.

When visiting and buying any puppy or dog there are many important things to consider and questions to ask of the breeder/seller. You can read our generic puppy/dog advice here which includes making sure you see the puppy with its mother and to verify that the dog has been wormed and microchipped.

Finding Finnish Lapphunds in the UK can prove challenging which means that well-bred puppies can often command a lot of money. As such with Finnish Lapphunds there is specific advice questions and protocols to follow when buying a puppy which are as follows:

• Prospective owners may find online and other adverts showing images of adorable Finnish Lapphund puppies for sale. However the sellers ask buyers for money up front before agreeing to deliver a puppy to a new home. Potential buyers should never buy a puppy unseen and should never pay a deposit to a seller before collecting a puppy from them
• As previously touched upon waiting lists for well-bred Finnish Lapphund puppies can be difficult and waiting lists tend to be long. As such some amateur breeders/people breed from a dam far too often so they can make a quick profit without caring for the welfare of the puppies their dam or the breed in general. Under Kennel Club rules a dam can only produce 4 litters and she must be between a certain age to do so. Anyone wishing to buy a Finnish Lapphund puppy should think very carefully about who they purchase their puppy from and should always ask to see the relevant paperwork pertaining to a puppy's lineage their vaccinations and their microchipping
• It is worth noting that some UK breeders take their bitches abroad to be mated which has been made easier with the Pet Passport scheme. Puppies can only be imported to the UK when they are 4 months old and 21 days after having been vaccinated against rabies which they can only have once they are 12 weeks old

Quando si visita e si acquista un cucciolo o un cane, ci sono molte cose importanti da considerare e domande da fare all'allevatore/venditore. Puoi leggere qui i nostri consigli generali sui cuccioli/cani, che comprendono, tra l'altro, assicurarti di vedere il cucciolo con la sua madre e controllare se il cane è stato sverminato e microchippato.

Trovare i Finni Lapphund nel Regno Unito può essere impegnativo, il che significa che i cuccioli ben allevati spesso possono costare molto. Pertanto, ci sono domande di consiglio specifiche e protocolli da seguire quando si acquista un cucciolo, che sono i seguenti:

• I futuri proprietari possono trovare annunci online e altri annunci con immagini di adorabili cuccioli di Finni Lapphund in vendita. Tuttavia, i venditori chiedono ai compratori di pagare anticipatamente prima di accettare di portare un cucciolo in una nuova casa. I potenziali acquirenti non devono mai acquistare un cucciolo senza vederlo e non devono mai effettuare un acconto a un venditore prima di ritirare un cucciolo da loro
• Come accennato in precedenza, le liste di attesa per cuccioli di Finni Lapphund ben allevati possono essere difficili e spesso lunghe. Per questo motivo, alcuni allevatori amatoriali/persone accoppiano le femmine troppo spesso per ottenere un rapido profitto senza preoccuparsi del benessere dei cuccioli, della loro femmina o della razza in generale. Secondo le regole del Kennel Club, una femmina può avere al massimo 4 cucciolate e deve avere una certa età per farlo. Chiunque voglia acquistare un cucciolo di Finni Lapphund deve riflettere molto attentamente su chi acquistare il cucciolo e chiedere sempre di vedere i documenti pertinenti riguardanti la genealogia di un cucciolo, le loro vaccinazioni e la registrazione del microchip
• È importante notare che alcuni allevatori britannici portano le loro femmine all'estero per farle accoppiare, il che è diventato più facile con il sistema del Passaporto per Animali. I cuccioli possono essere importati nel Regno Unito solo quando hanno 4 mesi e 21 giorni dopo essere stati vaccinati contro la rabbia, il che può avvenire solo dopo che hanno compiuto 12 settimane