Breed Standard

Understanding the Swedish Lapphund Standard

Form follows function

What is a Breed Standard?

A breed standard is a verbal description of a breed. It includes descriptions of temperament, movement and details of the physical characteristics or conformation of the breed. It is a "word picture" describing what is believed to be the most desirable traits based on the function for which the breed is intended. You may have wondered, if you have watched a dog show, how a judge can pick a Best in Show from a variety of breeds in the ring. The judge is not comparing the dogs to each other, but to their own individual standard. The dog most closely approximating its breed standard is the one selected.

Full Standard for the Swedish Lapphund

The American Kennel Club (AKC) discusses the Swedish Lapphund at this link, and the breed has been accepted for recording in the AKC Foundation Stock Service®. The standard used worldwide for the breed is written by the Swedish Lapphund Club of Sweden (SLK) and maintained by the Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) in Belgium.

A PDF Document detailing the complete standard can be found on the FCI website. The following link takes you directly to a download of this document: Full Standard

Standard Highlights

General Appearance:

  • Typical Spitz dog of slightly less than medium size with proud head carriage.

  • It has a rectangular body shape.

Tail:

  • Rather high set, reaching to hock when extended.

  • Carried curled over back when the dog is moving.

Coat:

  • Profuse, weather resistant, double coat.

  • Hair standing straight out from body, undercoat dense and very finely curled.

  • Short on head and front of legs.

  • Longer on brisket, backside of legs and on tail.

  • Bushy, long and dense on tail.

  • Forming a ruff round neck.

Temperament:

  • Lively, alert, kind and affectionate.

  • The Lapphund is very receptive and willing to work.

  • It is very versatile, suitable for obedience training, agility, herding, tracking, etc.

  • It is easy to train, full of endurance and toughness.

Gait:

  • Light and springy, covering ground with drive.

  • Parallel tracking, converging with speed.

Header photo: Teak (Claryhills Buorre Eallin) at a dog show by Denali and Co.