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Swedish Lapphund

Price range

$1500.00 - $2000.00

Common names

Swedish cattle dog Swedish Shepherd Vastgotaspets

Size

Large

Dog group

Working Group

Coat length

Short

Energy

Medium

Kid friendly

Medium

Life expectancy

11 to 12 years

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As Seen in

What does an Swedish Lapphund look like?

General Appearance of the Swedish Lapphund

Typical Spitz dog of slightly less than medium size and with a proud head carriage. Its coat is weather resistant.

It is black in colour (although some bronzing is often seen), with small white markings on the chest, paws, and tail permitted by the breed standard.

Available in these colours

What colours do Swedish Lapphund come in?

Swedish Lapphund come in a variety of colours, including Black, Black, Red Sable, Sable, Sable, Grey Sable.

All about the
Swedish Lapphund.

Swedish Lappunds, also called the ''Swedish Lappies'' or just ''Lappies'' is a member of the Spitz family along with the Akitas, Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes. They are named after the Lapland in the northernmost parts of Sweden, Finland, and Norway, and they're the national dog of Sweden. They originally worked with the nomadic Sami people of Lappland as herders and guard dogs of their reindeers and was rumoured to be the favourite canines of Santa Claus.

Swedish Lappunds can go up to 41-51 cm high and weighs 14-20 kg.
These medium-sized dogs wear a thick double coat in either brown, black, or black and brown, others with white markings and has prick ears, a wedge-shaped head, and waves a tail that curls over their backs as they move.

They are lively, alert, kind and affectionate dogs. Their abilities as herding dogs made them very useful in the reindeer trade. Lappies used to use their bark to scare off predators and alert reindeers of their presence. Although they don't encounter many wolves or do much herding these days, he retains his tendency to bark.

All about the Swedish Lapphund adult stats

Weight

Low 19.00 KG

High 21.00 KG

Height

Low 40.00 cm

High 64.00 cm

Weight

Low 19.00 KG

High 21.00 KG

Height

Low 45.00 cm

High 51.00 cm

Swedish Lapphund.

Characteristics & Tendencies:

TENDENCY TO DIG
Snoring
Drooling
Exercise needs
Grooming needs
Barking

Care and Maintenance

Feeding

How much do
Swedish Lapphund eat?
1.00 to 1.50 cups of food a day

Exercise

How much
exercise do they need?
20 to 30 Mins

Temperament

Are they kid friendly? The Swedish Lapphund is great with families and loves kids but should be watched around small children as they have herding instincts ingrained in them and may nip at a child to keep them wrangled

Living

Do they need a lot of space? A house with a big yard is ideal

Frequently asked questions about the Swedish Lapphund.

Swedish Lapphund tend to have constant shedding throughout the year. Lapphunds have a tough, coarse outer coat and a soft, dense undercoat, so routine everyday brushing will be needed and be prepared to vacuum often. Lappies shed seasonally and can blow their coats twice a year when shedding will be much heavier. The amount and frequency of hair loss also depend on the health status of your dog.

Despite that their dense and long, shining coat, Swedish Lappies are very easy to groom. Regular weekly brushings when the coat is shedding and occasional baths are enough to keep the coat in good condition. Their unique coats do not easily smell, and it cleans itself from dirt, with this, they require little maintenance. During their heavy moulting season, taking them to a groomer can be helpful when dealing with the large amount of fur they shed. Shaving is a definite no for Lappies, and their coat should maintain their natural length all year round. When you hear their nails clicking on the ground when they walk, that's a sign their nails should be clipped. Regular brushing of teeth is also recommended to prevent any tartar buildup.

Swedish Lapphunds has a medium to high energy level in which they may need at least an hour of daily exercises. They may turn on and be very energetic, alert, and active; at the same time, they can turn off and settle down and relax.

They are an intelligent and active breed who requires regular mental and physical stimulation to prevent them from getting bored. Let them go out and have a run around on a fenced yard.

As with most breeds, a bored Lappie will find his way into mischief. If it is a very hot day, lessen their activities, for they are prone to overheating. Many Lapphunds have excelled in competitive activities like agility trials; this can also represent an ideal form of exercise for these clever and athletic breeds.

Swedish Lapphunds are overall a healthy breed. But there are a few health issues you and your vet should keep an eye on, including progressive retinal atrophy, Hip Dysplasia, and diabetes. Annual vet check-ups are recommended to monitor your dog's health as they grow.


Swedish Lapphunds are great with families, and they love kids but should always be supervised when around small children. Because of their herding instincts ingrained in them, they tend to nip at the children to keep them wrangled. Bess to teach your kids how to act around dogs. Teach your child never to approach any dog while they're sleeping or eating or to try to take the dog's food away. Beyond that, Swedish Lapphunds are suitable for kids because they can be playful, energetic, and affectionate around them.

Swedish Lapphunds are easily trained, strong, and very devoted to their family. Early training is essential to prevent them from barking excessively. They also responds best when positive reinforcements such as treats and praises are used. Patience and rigorous consistency in training are essential for them. Socializing your Lappies with as many people as possible while they're still young can help manage their barking tendencies. However, this may not quite eliminate their behaviour entirely; it may lessen the frequency of the trait.


Swedish Lappunds do get along well with other dogs and cats in the household, especially if they've been raised with them. Lappies are amiable, very social dogs who will get along well with everyone.

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Specified Conditions includes:

  • Cruciate ligament damage
  • Intervertebral disc disease
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Patella luxation
  • Elbow dysplasia
  • Cherry eye
  • Entropion
  • Ectropion,
  • Osteochondritis dissecans (‘OCD’)
  • Lumps

Lumps means the protuberance or localised area of swelling or unusual growth that can occur anywhere on or in the body including tumours, warts, cysts, growths, mucoceles, haematomas and abscesses.

You can apply to reduce the 6-month exclusion period for Specified Conditions by using our request for Waiver Form. Simply take this form to your next vet visit and submit the completed form back to [email protected] within 14 days of the visit.

Optional Extra Benefits

During the application process You will be provided with the option to include Optional Extra Benefits that cover certain conditions and Treatments which are not otherwise covered under the Policy.

The Optional Extra Benefits are:

Alternative Therapies, Behavioural Problems, and Dental Illness.

Examples of Alternative Therapies: Acupuncture, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy.

Examples of Behavioural Problems: Excessive licking, fur pulling, pacing and destructive chewing.

Examples of Dental Illnesses: Dental diseases, gingivitis, periodontal disease.