Lapponian Herder puppies

About the Lapponian Herder

The Lapponian Herder was developed in Finnish Lapland by Sami herders to work reindeer, moving them by voice and body rather than by biting, across open ground in bitter weather. It stands 46 to 51 cm and carries a short, thick double coat, usually dark with lighter markings. The temperament follows the job: energetic, hardy, closely attentive to its handler, willing to learn, and inclined to use its voice a great deal, which was exactly the point out on the tundra.

This dog needs work. Herding, obedience, agility, rally, scent work, tracking, anything that occupies it, or it will find its own occupation and the house pays. Grooming is easy: the smooth coat does not tangle, wants occasional brushing, and drops its undercoat once or twice a year in spring and autumn. It rates in the middle with children and other pets, so supervise and socialise. The barking is designed in rather than a training failure, and anyone in a terraced house or flat should think hard about that first.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Lapponian Herder puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A large breed puppy at eight weeks looks deceptively normal sized and will roughly double every few weeks for a while. Keep exercise short and low impact, the growth plates are wide open. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and it will need a job to do long before it needs long walks. Grooming is straightforward, but start handling the coat, feet and ears in week one anyway so it is never a fight later. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Hip and elbow dysplasia, screened by x-ray evaluation of breeding stock
• Inherited eye disease, screened by an ophthalmologist examination

From Lapponian Herder breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/lapponian-herder/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Your Lapponian Herder puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Large for a Lapponian Herder.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 31.8 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Other large breeds

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