The Finnish Lapphund is an intelligent spitz breed originally bred to herd reindeer. The breed loves to amuse his family and delights in making people laugh. Good-natured with both people and animals, he is rarely aggressive. In fact, his gentle and submissive temperament makes him great with kids. This is a dog that needs regular companionship and should always live inside with the family. With many Finnish Lapphunds living around 15 years, this is a commitment not to be taken lightly.
Lappies (as they are affectionately called), make great watch dogs. They are ever-alert to strange sounds and will absolutely let you know if someone is outside! This tendency to bark, however, does not make them the best candidates for living in an apartment. Houses with yards also better suit their energy requirements. While not a high-energy breed, Lappies still require a moderate amount of exercise. If they have another dog to play with, many will make full use of the fenced yard to run around in! Note – most breeders require that the yard be fenced for the safety of the dog. Lapphunds have high prey drives and tend to “herd” animals off the property… and then keep wandering.
Finnish Lapphunds are eager to please and learn quickly, making them great obedience dogs. Spitz breeds in general aren’t usually known for their obedience prowess, making Lappies one of the easier spitz-type dogs to train. This said… they are still spitz and therefore still can be hard-headed when they want to be. An owner must remember that, despite the occasional stubbornness, this is a working breed that needs a job to do – and training is imperative to the mental well-being of the dog. Obedience training can serve as a job for the dog itself, and it is also the groundwork for other jobs and activities such as herding, tracking or agility. A Finnish Lapphund that is given regular training and activities will be much less likely to become destructive or develop bad habits like non-stop barking. 
The Lappy has a very thick, profuse coat that needs regular care. He must be combed and brushed out on a regular basis (1-3 times a week), making sure to get all the way down to the skin. It is best to start this grooming routine when the dog is still a puppy so that he will get used to being brushed. He should also be bathed once or twice a month… and drying can take forever! Never shave a Lappy – the undercoat serves to insulate against the heat as well as the cold. As long as a good routine is put into place, the coat is not difficult or exceptionally time-consuming to take care of. As might be expected, this breed does shed.
Because of their easy temperaments, the Finnish Lapphund can be a good match for a first-time dog owner, provided that the person puts in the necessary time to care for the dog. The breed is also very healthy in general, which may put the novice owner at ease. Although the energy level can be high for puppies and young dogs, they do mellow out with age.
