Lapponian Herder

Pastoral

Coat

Solid:
Tan: with markings in the traditional or minimal creeping pattern.
Grizzle: Grey, Red or Liver grizzle (regular or sooty).
Masking: All of the above may be masked. Extended mask may include the toes/fingers. Mask matches main body colour (in grizzles, it matches the shading colour).
Urajiro: All of the above may have urajiro.
White Markings: Allowed as trim or irish spotting, but any white head/facial markings are not preferred in this breed. Lack of white tailtip in irish spotted dogz is not a fault in this breed and is preferred. Slight ticking is allowed.

Eyes

except in livers which have

Nose

except in livers which have

Faults

Incorrect eye colour. Head and/or muzzle spot is a heavy fault.

Disqualifications

None

Varieties

None

Notes

The lapponian herder, also known as finnish reindeer herder, is known as the kelpie of the north, and has been used by the Sami has a herding dog for centuries. In the 1900's, it was mixed up with other breeds and almost lost forever, and in the 1950's swedish and finnish breeders started a breeding project to reconstruct this ancient breed. They succeeded better in Finland, and the lapponian herder was recognized in 1966.
This breed is an excellent working dog. Like other lapphund breeds it enjoys barking while working. Today it is mostly kept as a companion dog, but it requires a fair amount of exercise.

The lapponian herder is a clearly rectangular spitz. The head is elongated with little stop and straight top of muzzle. Dry lips. The eyes should have a lively expression. The ears are set wide apart, erect and broad at the base. The neck is powerful and dry. Deep chest with strong back and slight tuck up. The tail is set low and well covered in fur. The coat is of medium length, straight with coarse topcoat and soft undercoat.

Breed Files

Filename: CS Finnish Reindeer Herder
Offset: 8675
Base: Mutt
SCP: Great Dane
Accepted: February 8, 2006
Notes: Includes variations in height, muzzle length, leg length, body type/fur length, and comes with optional ear fuzz and claws. Three different tail types included. Incomplete muzzle markings will gradually increase in fault until April 2011, and only dogz with correct markings can be registered after October 2010.

Filename: ReindeerH
Offset: 9922
Base: Dalmatian
SCP: Dalmatian
Accepted: November 25, 2003
Notes: Varying amount of feathering on the thigh and tail.