Lapponian Shepherd – Dog Breed Information

Posted on Jul 31, 2020, suze

A picture of a now-extinct Lapponian Shepherd in snow.

Breeds

Lapponian Shepherd is an extinct dog breed from the southern part of Finland. It is also known as Cockhill’s Finnish Lapphound although it didn’t originate in Lappland.

The Lapponian Shepherd was a medium-sized herding breed that lived in the southern parts of Finland till the late 20th Century.

Origin & History

Lapponian Shepherd originated in the 1930s in southern Finland. Moreover, the breed resulted as a cross between the Lapponian Reindeer-Herding Dogs or simply Finnish Lapphunds and the long-haired Karelian Bear Dog.

Lapponian Sheperd originated in south Finland in the 1930s.

The Finnish Lapphunds were brought to the south and crossed with Karelian Bear dogs. The mix was later named Cockhill’s Finnish Lapphund and got officially certified as Lapponian Shepherd in 1945. But later on, the Lapponian Herder and Finnish Lapphund were kept under the same breed, Therefore, people started crossing the breeds with each other.

However, in 1967, the Lapponian Shepherd was split into two breeds Lapponian Herder and Finnish Lapphund by the Finnish Kennel Club. The kennel club didn’t count the Cockhill’s Finnish Lapphound.

How did the Lapponian shepherd become Extinct?

The Lapponian Shepherd became extinct in the early 1980s due to the popularity of the Finnish Lapphund. As it grew popular in the majority of the country, the people no longer had an interest in rearing the Lapponian Shepherds. Therefore, the breed vanished from existence and remain today only in the bloodline of the Finnish Lapphund.

Temperament, Behavior, & Personality

The Lapponian Shepherd possessed a calm, docile and gentle temperament. They were active and energetic dogs due to which they needed to be kept busy with activities. Similarly, they were friendly and behaved properly with other dogs and animals.

Talking about the personality, the Lapponian Shepherd has a bold, independent and sweet personality. Though they may seem aloof to strangers, they get along very well once they know people properly.

Was Lapponian Shepherd a Child-Friendly Breed?

Yes, the Lapponian Shepherd was a very child-friendly breed. As they were friendly and affectionate, they would make great partners for toddlers and kids of all ages.

However, the only thing to consider was their herding instinct. As they had a high tendency to herd, they would sometimes bark, nip, and drag the children. Therefore, it was very necessary to keep the dog and children under supervision.

Facts

Despite being known as the Lapponian Shepherd, it didn’t actually originate in Lappland.
It is often confused with its close relative, Lapponian Herder.
It is also known as Cockhill’s Finnish Lapphund.