This fascinating compilation of old photographs of Sami people & their dogs is reproduced with kind permission of David P Filip. Press play to view the slideshow.
BREED HISTORY
The Finnish Lapphund is a new as well as an old breed. It is believed that the arctic spitz breed of Lapland descends as far as from 7000 BC. Being a part of the Sami culture, the breed gradually changed from a guarding and hunting dog to a reindeer herder. The first breed standard was accepted in 1945, the breed being then called "Lapponian Shepherd Dog". Square-typed, longhaired dogs found in Lapland were given a breed standard in 1967. This breed forms the basis of our current Lapphund. The Lapphund register is still open, allowing "natural", unregistered dogs be admitted to the breed if they meet the standard. The standard has been renewed in 1996. Since 1993 the official name of the breed has been Finnish Lapphund, click here to see the breed standard. The popularity of the Lapphund has been on the increase, and throughout the 1990's it has been among the 15 most popular breeds in Finland. In 1998, 579 Lapphund were registered. Sue and Rodger Dunger imported the first Lapphund into Britain in 1989 and in November 1995 The Finnish Lapphund Club of Great Britain was provisionally recognized by The Kennel Club.
Breed History
The dogs originally used by the Sami farmers, were rough coated spitz types, with long body, being rectangular in shape, with long hair, the tail being carried straight except on the move when it was carried curled over the back. The colour was very varied, black with “four eyes” being the most common.
The war and following distemper epidemic in Finland had a devastating effect on these native dogs, and the breed was almost wiped out. Various attempts were then made to safeguard the reindeer herder known to the Saame people. One attempt involved a man made creation, the Cockhill type, which resembled more the Belgium Shepherd dog that the heavy coated strongly built herders. But these were not a viable solution to the loss of the Lapphund, and they were not used in many breeding programs, so are rarely seen in the pedigrees of our current dogs.
In the 1950’s the Finnish Kennel Association (who were Finland’s second major kennel organisation at that time) started the development of a breed which was called the Lapponian herder, which was based on the indigenous reindeer herding dog population. The breed standard quoted, height to be 52-56 cm for dogs and bitches of the range 49-53 cm, the acceptable colours were defined as black, bear-brown or white. White markings on the feet, chest, throat and tip of tail, plus the familiar brown spots above the eyes, on legs and under tail were also accepted, however grey or red colours were considered to be faults.
Under the three kennel clubs of the time, different herder type breeds had developed, and in the 1960s, the three kennel clubs were unified, into the Finnish Kennel Club, and all the herder type breeds were accepted into the then Y stud register. However it was noted that types differed in the main by coat length and a review was carried out in 1967 to separate the breeds. The other differences in breed type were identified, and in 1966 the Lapponian Herder (Lapinporokoira) became a separate breed and a breed standard was agreed and published. In 1967 the Finnish Lapphund was recognised as a truly separate breed.
At about the same time the Finnish Lapphund - long haired breed appeared to lose favour with the reindeer farmers, and their skidoos , the smooth coated lapponian herder appeared to suit them better. So in the 1970s attempts were made to preserve the long haired breed as a suitable family dog. The Peski and Poromiehen kennels are credited with much of the early work to establish the breed, they selected suitable dogs from Lapland and indeed a number of the key dogs can be seen in many pedigrees today, Peski Muste and Peski Koira show the key dogs of the time, Runne, Ceepu and Velho Huli, note the registration numbers prefixed by X – to show the time when the dogs were taken to the central breed register.
As type was established a revised breed standard was agreed in 1975, and further revisions and changes were made in 1993 when the name was changed from Lapinkoira to Suomenlapinkoira. In the 1980s the differences between the two breeds became more clear, with the shorter coat Lapponian herder being longer in back and designed to trot, with good angulation. The Suomenlapinkoira, being the longer coated but shorter body type, with less angulation, and a high tail set. The Lappalaiskoirat ry (Lapphund Club of Finland) was established in 1970 and registered in 1971 and covers the interests of Lapponian Herder, Swedish Lapphunds and Finnish Lapphunds.
However, as with many breeds, some prefer to keep the Suomenlapinkoira along similar shape to the reindeer herder, and have sought to develop a breed within the breed of Finnish Lapphund called Paimensukuinen lapinkoira, which simply translates as working Finnish Lapphunds, there is no evidence that these have any more working ability than the 'show' lines, but different types do exist, and enthusiasts should acquaint themselves with the types, so that they understand the impact of either type within any breeding program.
History In UK
The breed was introduced into the UK by Roger & Sue Dunger, when after a trip to Finland they fell in love with the breed and decided to import a young bitch - Lecibsin Loru at Sulyka. Then to enable the breed to develop quickly and make the best use possible of the UK's quarantine laws, it was decide to import a bitch in whelp from Finland. The Dungers were very fortunate to be able to 'borrow' Multi Champion Lecibsin Hissukka, loaned by her owner/breeder Jukka Kuusisto, and she was mated to Fin Ch Fohrmans Hermanni.
Hissukka whelped a litter of five pups in 1991, and from this litter came the very influential sire Sulyka Lecibsin Nilla. Who mated to Loru produced two litters, which formed much of the UK's foundation stock, including the top winning male Sulyka Valio is Curdeleon and the UK's Top bitch Sulyka Mischa at Elbereth
In the mid 90’s there were a number of further importations, including a brown and tan dog - Staalon Runne of Sulyka, a black and tan dog -Tsinghuan Poarka at Chelville plus three bitches, Shezadun Abjatar at Chelville - a cream, Kutrin Lumo at Chelville - a red sable and the wolf sable - Lecibsin Hanka at Leemax. Runne was to become the breeds most popular sire of the 90’s siring nine different litters, but sadly one of the resultant pups was later diagnosed of suspected PRA, this combined with a similar suspected case found from a bitch produced by the first Loru x Nilla mating meant that UK breeders had to think carefully about future breeding programs.*
In 1999 two further bitches were imported, the first, the Finnish Champion Eetla came into quarantine having been mated in Finland to Orso Farm Maahinen and whelped a litter of four, she was to be joined later by Staalon Kidda who arrived under the Balai directive. Eetla was a different colour again to that already seen in the UK, being more black/bear brown with the eye rim spectacles. Eetla produced four puppies in quarantine increasing the gene pool yet again.
When the UK's quarantine laws were changed in February 2000, it meant that it was now possible to import dogs direct from Europe without the stressing need of 6 months quarantine, plus our own home bred bitches could travel to Finland for mating. Sulyka Mischa at Elbereth did in fact become the first bitch in the UK to be mated abroad using the Pet Passport scheme. Visiting the Lumiturpa kennel in Finland to be mated to Fin Ch Lumiturpa Nörri, a successful trip producing 8 puppies, full details here. - By Toni Jackson.
Using the pet passport scheme, many more dogs have been brought into the UK and many bitches taken overseas for mating. I have myself taken bitches abroad and this year I imported a young male from the Lecibsin Kennel. The changes in the Pet Passport Scheme now make it possible to import puppies at four months, 21 days after having their rabies vaccination at 12 weeks.
* There is now a gene test available for diagnosing prcd-PRA status - click here to visit the Optigen Site.
Breed History
The dogs originally used by the Sami farmers, were rough coated spitz types, with long body, being rectangular in shape, with long hair, the tail being carried straight except on the move when it was carried curled over the back. The colour was very varied, black with “four eyes” being the most common.
The war and following distemper epidemic in Finland had a devastating effect on these native dogs, and the breed was almost wiped out. Various attempts were then made to safeguard the reindeer herder known to the Saame people. One attempt involved a man made creation, the Cockhill type, which resembled more the Belgium Shepherd dog that the heavy coated strongly built herders. But these were not a viable solution to the loss of the Lapphund, and they were not used in many breeding programs, so are rarely seen in the pedigrees of our current dogs.
In the 1950’s the Finnish Kennel Association (who were Finland’s second major kennel organisation at that time) started the development of a breed which was called the Lapponian herder, which was based on the indigenous reindeer herding dog population. The breed standard quoted, height to be 52-56 cm for dogs and bitches of the range 49-53 cm, the acceptable colours were defined as black, bear-brown or white. White markings on the feet, chest, throat and tip of tail, plus the familiar brown spots above the eyes, on legs and under tail were also accepted, however grey or red colours were considered to be faults.
Under the three kennel clubs of the time, different herder type breeds had developed, and in the 1960s, the three kennel clubs were unified, into the Finnish Kennel Club, and all the herder type breeds were accepted into the then Y stud register. However it was noted that types differed in the main by coat length and a review was carried out in 1967 to separate the breeds. The other differences in breed type were identified, and in 1966 the Lapponian Herder (Lapinporokoira) became a separate breed and a breed standard was agreed and published. In 1967 the Finnish Lapphund was recognised as a truly separate breed.
At about the same time the Finnish Lapphund - long haired breed appeared to lose favour with the reindeer farmers, and their skidoos , the smooth coated lapponian herder appeared to suit them better. So in the 1970s attempts were made to preserve the long haired breed as a suitable family dog. The Peski and Poromiehen kennels are credited with much of the early work to establish the breed, they selected suitable dogs from Lapland and indeed a number of the key dogs can be seen in many pedigrees today, Peski Muste and Peski Koira show the key dogs of the time, Runne, Ceepu and Velho Huli, note the registration numbers prefixed by X – to show the time when the dogs were taken to the central breed register.
As type was established a revised breed standard was agreed in 1975, and further revisions and changes were made in 1993 when the name was changed from Lapinkoira to Suomenlapinkoira. In the 1980s the differences between the two breeds became more clear, with the shorter coat Lapponian herder being longer in back and designed to trot, with good angulation. The Suomenlapinkoira, being the longer coated but shorter body type, with less angulation, and a high tail set. The Lappalaiskoirat ry (Lapphund Club of Finland) was established in 1970 and registered in 1971 and covers the interests of Lapponian Herder, Swedish Lapphunds and Finnish Lapphunds.
However, as with many breeds, some prefer to keep the Suomenlapinkoira along similar shape to the reindeer herder, and have sought to develop a breed within the breed of Finnish Lapphund called Paimensukuinen lapinkoira, which simply translates as working Finnish Lapphunds, there is no evidence that these have any more working ability than the 'show' lines, but different types do exist, and enthusiasts should acquaint themselves with the types, so that they understand the impact of either type within any breeding program.
History In UK
The breed was introduced into the UK by Roger & Sue Dunger, when after a trip to Finland they fell in love with the breed and decided to import a young bitch - Lecibsin Loru at Sulyka. Then to enable the breed to develop quickly and make the best use possible of the UK's quarantine laws, it was decide to import a bitch in whelp from Finland. The Dungers were very fortunate to be able to 'borrow' Multi Champion Lecibsin Hissukka, loaned by her owner/breeder Jukka Kuusisto, and she was mated to Fin Ch Fohrmans Hermanni.
Hissukka whelped a litter of five pups in 1991, and from this litter came the very influential sire Sulyka Lecibsin Nilla. Who mated to Loru produced two litters, which formed much of the UK's foundation stock, including the top winning male Sulyka Valio is Curdeleon and the UK's Top bitch Sulyka Mischa at Elbereth
In the mid 90’s there were a number of further importations, including a brown and tan dog - Staalon Runne of Sulyka, a black and tan dog -Tsinghuan Poarka at Chelville plus three bitches, Shezadun Abjatar at Chelville - a cream, Kutrin Lumo at Chelville - a red sable and the wolf sable - Lecibsin Hanka at Leemax. Runne was to become the breeds most popular sire of the 90’s siring nine different litters, but sadly one of the resultant pups was later diagnosed of suspected PRA, this combined with a similar suspected case found from a bitch produced by the first Loru x Nilla mating meant that UK breeders had to think carefully about future breeding programs.*
In 1999 two further bitches were imported, the first, the Finnish Champion Eetla came into quarantine having been mated in Finland to Orso Farm Maahinen and whelped a litter of four, she was to be joined later by Staalon Kidda who arrived under the Balai directive. Eetla was a different colour again to that already seen in the UK, being more black/bear brown with the eye rim spectacles. Eetla produced four puppies in quarantine increasing the gene pool yet again.
When the UK's quarantine laws were changed in February 2000, it meant that it was now possible to import dogs direct from Europe without the stressing need of 6 months quarantine, plus our own home bred bitches could travel to Finland for mating. Sulyka Mischa at Elbereth did in fact become the first bitch in the UK to be mated abroad using the Pet Passport scheme. Visiting the Lumiturpa kennel in Finland to be mated to Fin Ch Lumiturpa Nörri, a successful trip producing 8 puppies, full details here. - By Toni Jackson.
Using the pet passport scheme, many more dogs have been brought into the UK and many bitches taken overseas for mating. I have myself taken bitches abroad and this year I imported a young male from the Lecibsin Kennel. The changes in the Pet Passport Scheme now make it possible to import puppies at four months, 21 days after having their rabies vaccination at 12 weeks.
* There is now a gene test available for diagnosing prcd-PRA status - click here to visit the Optigen Site.