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Swedish Lapphounds: Soto visiting mummy Dina on the farm
The Swedish Lapphound comes from a very old breed of herding dogs. Lots of breeds have been developed for working as guards, herders or hunters. Swedish Lapphounds are herders that for many hundred years were used by the Sami people to guard and work with their flocks of reindeer. Sami people are the indigenous people that lives in northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. The Sami people traditionally supported themselves by hunting, fishing and as times went on, acquiring their own flocks of reindeer. The Swedish Lapphound are easily taught and very co-operative and can do many guarding and herding tasks. It gets along well with most other animals. It is temperamental, proud and brave. If some unknown enters its territory it gives a warning with its characteristic bark. It is very loyal and never leaves its flock. Dina has always been loose on the farm but has never left the property without her owner. Staying close to their owner and the rest of the owners animals and their belongings it the main priority for these dogs.
They are medium sized dogs, 18 to 22 inches tall at the shoulders and weigh between 25 and 60 pounds. Male dogs may be larger than bitches. Their colour is black or brown and their fur is long, strong and doubled with a thick woolly undercoat and a fine topcoat. The undercoat is shed by moulting twice a year. One may use this wool to make warm inner soles for winter shoes. Lappish dogs are perfectly adapted to cold weather. They can get quite old – 12 to 13 years is normal and 15 to 16 years old is possible.
The Norwegian Kennel Association (Norsk Kenneklubb NKK) has a section for Lappish herd dogs. There are three types – Swedish and Finnish Lapphound and Lapsk valhound. The dogs in the story of Dina are the Swedish type. Amongst reindeer owners there are many dogs that have never been registered with the NKK. Dina’s mother had a pedigree and was registered. The father was unregistered but purebred. That’s why none of the dogs in this book are registered with any Kennel Association.
The sisters Dina and Sita on their way home after a daily hike around the property.
Breeds and breeding
Since the first wolf cub was tamed, people have customized dogs that are suited to different tasks through breeding. Breeding means that selected dogs have cubs together. When two good herding dogs have puppies, most of the cubs will have the ability to become good herd dogs. Then they have puppies with other clever herders and so it goes on. Finally it is pretty certain that a dog born of a long line of herd dogs will be good at herding. The puppy inherits its herding abilities from its parents.
The same thing happens if you want a breed of dogs with a particular colour, size or skill. It takes time and many generations of dogs but finally one gets it right. Many strange breeds of dog have been bred and they look very different from each other. Inside they are still very much alike.
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