Swedish Lapphund

The Swedish Lapphund is one of the oldest breeds in northern Europe, descended from the dogs the Sami people used for millennia to herd reindeer across Lapland. The double coat, with a medium-length outer layer, protects against extreme cold but needs regular brushing, especially during shedding season. An adult male can weigh up to 30 kilograms, sturdy yet agile, built for long days outdoors in freezing conditions. Today it serves less as a herder and more as a family dog and a capable performer in sports like agility. It is vocal and alert, naturally inclined to announce strangers. Despite its ancient origins, the breed nearly vanished in the mid twentieth century and was rebuilt from a small surviving population. It needs about as much mental stimulation as physical exercise. Life expectancy runs 12 to 14 years.

Browse dog food sized right for this breed

Swedish Lapphund: how old in human years?

40–51 cmHeight
15–30 kgWeight
12–14 yrsLife expectancy

Peruvian Hairless Dog

FCI group: Spitz and Nordic/Ancient-type Dogs
FCI section: Section 3: Nordic Watchdogs and Herders
FCI: 135
Country of origin: Sweden

Energy level

4/5
Trainability

4/5
Family friendly

4/5
Grooming need

4/5

At a glance

Height

Males 45–51 cm

Females 40–46 cm

Weight

Males 20–30 kg

Females 15–25 kg

Life expectancy

12–14 yrs

Coat

double coat, medium-long outer coat (long)

Temperament & Family Life

Swedish Lapphund's average temperament and family-life score for this breed is moderate.

Family friendly 4/5
Good with children 4/5
Good with other dogs 3/5
Friendly with strangers 3/5
Intelligence 4/5
Trainability 4/5

Exercise, Energy & Space

Swedish Lapphund's energy and exercise needs are moderate.

Energy level 4/5
Exercise need 4/5
Apartment friendly 3/5
Prey drive 2/5
Hunting instinct 2/5

Guarding & Alertness

Swedish Lapphund's guarding and alertness traits are moderate.

Guarding instinct 2/5
Watchfulness 5/5
Barking level 4/5

Grooming & Care

Swedish Lapphund's grooming needs are moderate.

Shedding 4/5
Drooling 1/5
Grooming need 4/5

Living with the Swedish Lapphund

The first visitor to pass your house today was the postman, the second a neighbour on a bike, the third a crow on the fence, and you heard about each of them immediately. The Swedish Lapphund comes from the far north, where the Sámi used it to herd and guard reindeer, so alertness and a voice are its working tools. There will be a fair amount of barking, and teaching it to stop is worth starting in its first weeks with you.

Otherwise it is lively, clever and keen to learn, especially when training feels like a game or a job: obedience, herding practice, agility or scent work suit it well. It needs proper exercise every day, not just a quick walk, and cold or snow don't bother it in the slightest. Its prey drive is mild, so recall is easier to build than with many hunting breeds, though running children can look to a herder like a flock that has wandered off.

It is devoted and gentle with its family and good with children, and with other dogs, once properly introduced, it usually makes friends. It is reserved with strangers at first but not unfriendly, and it is no guard. It can live in a flat if it gets enough exercise and your neighbours can live with its voice, but it is happiest with an active family that will head outdoors in any weather.

Grooming and coat

The Swedish Lapphund is dressed for the north: under a medium-long, straight outer coat sits a dense, soft undercoat that keeps out both frost and sleet. Once or twice a week, brush the coat and comb it through to the skin, especially behind the ears, in the ruff around the neck, on the thighs and the tail, where the undercoat mats first. It sheds heavily, and when it changes its undercoat in spring and autumn, tufts of fur roll across your floors like tumbleweed, so during those weeks brush every day.

The coat shouldn't be clipped, since it insulates against both cold and heat, and baths can be rare: dried dirt mostly brushes out. After a bath, dry the undercoat thoroughly. Check the ears, the paws and between the toes weekly, where snowballs cling in winter, and keep the nails trimmed. Red skin or constant scratching is a reason to talk to your vet.

How to do it:

By age:

Health and possible conditions

We don't have reliable health information specific to this breed, so we don't list conditions here. Keep up regular vet check-ups, and if you are getting a puppy, ask the breeder about the parents' health testing.

This is general information, not veterinary advice. For your own dog's health, tests and treatment, see a vet.

Food for large breeds — cheapest per kg

This list is chosen by the breed's weight (30 kg) rather than the breed itself: shops label food by dog size, so every breed of the same size gets the same list. Prices are updated daily.

≈ 305 g of dry food a day, from €16,70 a month For a neutered, normally active 22,5 kg dog. Calculate for your dog