![Swedish Lapphund Dog Breed](/sites/default/files/styles/square_medium_440x440/public/2022-08/Swedish-Lapphund.jpg?itok=ITpjQqIF)
Family-friendly: | 4/5 |
Exercise needs: | 3/5 |
Easy to train: | 4/5 |
Tolerates being alone: | 2/5 |
Likes other pets: | 4/5 |
Energy level: | 3/5 |
Grooming needs: | 3/5 |
Shedding: | 4/5 |
The Swedish Lapphund is generally a healthy breed, but can suffer from:
- Hip dysplasia
- Diabetes mellitus¹ which is a condition where dogs develop very high sugar levels because they do not produce a normal amount of insulin.
Priority Kennel Club health schemes and testing:
None but there are several recommended schemes that the Kennel Club recommends which can be found here.
¹T. Fall et al, 'Diabetes Mellitus in a Population of 180,000 Insured Dogs: Incidence, Survival, and Breed Distribution', 2007, Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
The Swedish Lapphund is a very versatile dog, originally bred to hunt reindeer, when the Sami peoples began herding the breed was easily retrained to herd instead of hunt. They were also used to hunt elk, foxes and birds, which all require different skills from the dog!
They are the oldest of Sweden’s nine native breeds, and are the National Dog of Sweden.