For many, Nordic dog equals sled dog. It is true that men in the polar regions have sometimes had only the dog as a domestic animal, so it is natural that they asked him to pull the sledge.
But we should not generalize. While the discovery of gold in Alaska and the exploration of the poles at the end of the nineteenth century helped to popularize this function, obviously reserved for Nordic dogs, the fact remains that they are also frequently used to more usual for the canine species: the guard, the management of herds, the hunt.
In Scandinavia, it is probably when the end of the ice age, about twelve thousand years ago, that appeared the first populations, in this case the Lapps. For centuries, these essentially nomadic people have lived through reindeer husbandry, which they also used as draft and pack animals, a role in which these deer were far superior to dogs. It is easy to understand that the Lapland dogs were mainly assigned to guard the large herds of reindeer, semi-domestic cattle, and their protection against wolves, bears and other predators.
The Sami dog is very old. For many specialists, it is even one of the oldest dog types: the ancestor of all Spitz, including European Spitz. Indeed, in the Varanger Peninsula, located in the far north of Norway, there is a canine skeleton, seven thousand years old, which has all the characteristics of Lapphund. We can therefore consider this dog as the essential link of one of the branches of the genealogy of the canine species, branch which originates from the polar wolf, characterized by its coiled tail.
From Lapphund, Spitz-type dogs, both Scandinavians and Europeans (formerly known as Loulous), from the Baltic Sea, which gave birth to Schipperke, Pinscher, and Schnauzer, are probably descended. The tail of these last two dogs also reveals their ancestry: if we did not cut them, it would be rolled up, like that of their ancestors Spitz. One can also think that several shepherd breeds have some Spitz blood in their veins.
Here is the dog of the Lapps placed among the ancestors of multiple races today. As such, it deserves to be included in any canine panorama claiming completeness. However, it can not be said that the Lapphund, whose exact name is Lapplândsk Spets (Swedish Dog of Lapland), has excited the enthusiasm of dog enthusiasts. Nevertheless, it already appeared, for example, in the work of veterinary doctor Heuillet Tous les chiens, published in 1934, and at the same time, the Swedish specialists were concerned about his fate, which allowed his official recognition by the International Cynological Federation in 1944.
It should be remembered that the Lapland territory covers the northern part of Norway, Sweden and Finland, and even extends as far as the Soviet Union. However, Swedish and Finnish cynophilia being the most active, it is understandable that it is in these two countries that the Sami dog has been given a breed status. This is also the case with Lapinkoïra, or Finnish Lapland Dog, which corresponds, with a few details, to Lapphund.
Today, the Lapphund is hardly encountered among the Lapps, and it is seen very little in the Swedish exhibitions. Elsewhere, it seems that it is present only in Switzerland, although in very small numbers. By consulting the statistics of the Book of French origins, we learn that a single subject was recorded, in 1983, in France. The French Club of Nordic dogs admits that they do not know of other copies living in France. Failing, therefore, to participate in dog shows, the Lapphund could compete in the category of rare dogs.
Ancestral and rare, the Lapphund is not at first singled out by any physical eccentricity. Medium in size (from 40 to 50 centimeters at the withers), it is a typical Spitz with its pointed ears and muzzle, its curled tail on its back, its compact size, its solid frame, its very well-stocked hair. But, to fulfill its traditional task of monitoring large herds of reindeer in transhumance (up to three thousand head), it must be extremely active and enduring. In addition, its hardiness must be foolproof, since it lives beyond the Arctic Circle. In addition, it is endowed with an undeniable courage, to dissuade the big predators (bears and wolves) to attack the herds, possibly to face them.
Very attentive, always alert, he is the appointed guardian of the summer camps and the Lappish villages. Sometimes it has also been adopted by Swedish farmers. Some Nordic guard dogs and shepherds also have the ability to track game. As Lapps have no other canine auxiliary than the Lapphund, it is possible that this dog may occasionally be used for hunting.
As a pet dog, the Lapphund is affectionate, attached to the whole family, kind to children. He is good at guarding the house and the garden, showing no propensity to bite. Moreover, this dog knows to be disciplined and obedient, except if his master lacks firmness, in which case his independent side will quickly take over. Contrary to what is sometimes written, no major obstacle should oppose the adaptation of the Lapland dog in our regions. His long and abundant hair is completed by a very dense undercoat that protects him from the worst weather, without him having to suffer from the heat wave. It lacks only a few enthusiasts stubborn enough to allow this fundamental character of the long history canine to be admired in the flesh in our latitudes. |
Aggressive or overly shy dogs.
English (United Kingdom)