Finnish Lapphund

FCI standard Nº 189

Origin
Finland
Translation
Finnish Kennel Club
Group
Group 5 Spitz and primitive type
Section
Section 3 Nordic Watchdogs and Herders
Working
Without working trial
Acceptance on a definitive basis by the FCI
Monday 22 August 1955
Publication of the official valid standard
Friday 30 September 2016
Last update
Wednesday 12 October 2016
En français, cette race se dit
Chien finnois de Laponie
Diese Norm ist in deutscher Sprache sichtbar
Finnischer Lapphund
En español, esta raza se dice
Perro Finlandés de Laponia
In het Nederlands, wordt dit ras gezegd
Finse Lappenhond
In his country of origin, his name is

Suomenlapinkoira

Usage

Originally a herder and watch dog used in work of keeping reindeer. Today also popular as a companion dog.

Brief historical summary

For hundreds of years the Lapps have used dogs of the same type as Finnish Lapphund as reindeer herders and watchdogs in Fennoscandia and in the northern parts of Russia. Due to these dogs the first standard of the Lapponian Herder was established by the Finnish Kennel Club in 1945. The breed’s name was changed into Lapphund in 1967. In the 1970:s the type and picture of the breed became fixed and the standard has been specified several times. The breed name was again changed into Finnish Lapphund in 1993. The breed type has become stable in a short time and today the breed is very popular mainly as a house and hobby dog in the whole of Finland.

General appearance

Smaller than medium sized, the conformation is strong for the size, slightly longer than the height at the withers. Long and thick coated dog with pricked ears.

Important proportions

The depth of the body is slightly less than the half of the height at the withers. The muzzle is slightly shorter than the skull. The skull is slightly longer than broad, the depth is the same as the breadth.

Behaviour / temperament

Keen, courageous, calm and willing to learn. Friendly and faithful.

Head

Cranial region

Head
Strong in outline, rather broad.
Skull
Broad, slightly convex. The forehead is rather domed. The frontal furrow is clearly defined. 
Stop
Clearly defined.

Facial region

Nose
Preferably black, yet harmonizing with the coat colour.
Muzzle
Strong, broad and straight; viewed from above and in profile evenly, but only slightly tapering.
Lips
Tight.
Jaws and teeth
The jaws are strong. Scissor bite.
Cheeks
The zygomatic arches are clearly marked.
Eyes
Dark brown in colour, yet harmonizing with the coat colour; oval shaped. The expression is soft and friendly.
Ears
Medium sized, carried erect or semi-erect, set rather apart, rather broad at the base, triangular in shape and very mobile.

Neck

Medium in length, strong and covered with profuse hair.

Body

Withers
Muscular and broad, slightly marked.
Back
Strong and straight.
Loin
Short and muscular.
Croup
Of medium length, well developed, only slightly oblique.
Chest
Deep, rather long, reaching almost to the elbows, not very broad. The ribs are slightly arched; the forechest clearly visible, not very strong.
Underline and belly
Slightly tucked up.

Tail

Set rather high, medium in length, covered with profuse and long hair. The tip of the tail may have a J-formed hook. In movement the tail is curved over the back or side, in rest it may hang.

Limbs

Forequarters

Generality
Powerful with strong bones. Viewed from the front straight and parallel.
Shoulders
Slightly oblique.
Upper arm
As long as the shoulder blade. The angle between shoulder and upper arm is rather open.
Elbows
Placed slightly lower than the lower edge of the ribcage, pointing straight backwards.
Forearm
Rather strong, vertical.
Carpal
Flexible.
Pastern
Of medium length, slightly oblique.
Forefeet
Well arched, oval rather than round, covered with dense hair. The pads are elastic with the sides covered with dense hair.

Hindquarters

Generality
Strong boned, powerful, viewed from behind straight and parallel. The angulation is clearly marked but not too strongly.
Upper thigh
Of medium length, rather broad with well developed muscles.
Lower thigh
Relatively long and sinewy.
Stifle
Pointed forward, the angulation is rather clearly marked.
Metatarsus
Rather short, strong and vertical.
Hock
Moderately low set; the angulation is clearly marked but not too strongly.
Hind feet
As front feet. Dewclaws are not desirable.

Gait and movement

Effortless. Changes easily from trot to gallop, which is the most natural style of movement. The legs move parallel. When working agile and fast.

Skin

Tight overall without wrinkles.

Coat

Hair
Profuse, especially the males have an abundant mane. The outer coat is long, straight and harsh. On the head and on the frontside of the legs the coat is shorter. There has to be an undercoat that is soft and dense.
Colour
All colours are permitted. The basic colour must be dominant. Colours other than the basic colour can occur on head, neck, chest, underside of the body, on legs and tail.

Size and weight

Height at withers
Ideal height for males 49 cm, ideal height for females 44 cm. With a tolerance of ± 3 cm. The type is more important than the size.

Faults

• Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and its ability to perform its traditional work.
• Faults listed should be in degree of seriousness.

General faults

 Males not masculine and females not feminine.
 Light head.
 Insufficient stop.
 Drop-ears.
 Tail carriage continuously lower than the topline.
 Over angulated or too straight rear angulation.
 Lack of under coat.
 Flat coat.
 Curly outer coat.
 Basic colour indistinct.

Disqualifying faults

 Aggresive or overly shy.
 Overshot or undershot mouth.
 Kinky tail.

NB :

• Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
• The above mentioned faults when occurring to a highly marked degree or frequently are disqualifying.
• Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
• Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation should be used for breeding.

Bibliography

https://www.fci.be/

No comments