The Swedish Lapphund (Svensk Lapphund) or Lapponian Dog is a Spitz type working dog originating from Sweden. In fact, this is one of the oldest Swedish dog breeds as well as one of three Lapphund breeds – other two being the Finnish Lapphund and Lapponian Herder – that were developed by ancient tribes of Sámi people from northern Scandinavia. Based on the fossil remains of a dog discovered near Varanger in Norway, which was quite reminiscent of today’s Lapphund dogs, scientists have estimated that this breed is approximately 7.000 years old. This puts Lapponian Dog into the group of oldest Spitz type breeds in the world. It is interesting to know that Swedish Lapphund, together with the Lapponian Herder, Finnish Lapphund, Norwegian Elkhound, and Swedish Elkhound, genetically, belong to a group of dogs developed through interbreeding of male dogs and female wolves. In the FCI, this dog is included in the Nordic Watchdogs And Herding Dogs group in the class of primitive dog breeds. Continue Reading →