The Finnish Lapphund is a friendly, biddable spitz bred by the Sámi to herd reindeer in the Arctic, and it is one of the more trainable, people-loving herding breeds. Its two herding-spitz traits, a strong voice and a herding drive, plus a cold-weather coat, are behind most training problems. Manage those and the Lapphund is a gentle, easy companion. Here are the five mistakes that cause the most trouble, and what to do instead.
1. Ignoring the barking early
Reindeer herding was done largely by voice, so the Lapphund is naturally vocal, and unmanaged early barking quickly becomes a fixed habit. Owners who let it slide end up with a dog that barks at every sound and movement. Shape a "quiet" cue from the start, manage the triggers, and reward calm. Our barking guide covers the full protocol.
2. Underestimating exercise and mental needs
This is a working herding spitz, and an under-exercised, under-stimulated one becomes restless and noisy. Owners charmed by the teddy-bear looks sometimes forget the working dog underneath. Provide real daily exercise plus training and mental work, and the Lapphund settles happily indoors. Aim for a good walk or run plus a short training or puzzle session every day; the herding background means the breed wants both a moving body and a working mind, and an hour of varied activity prevents most of the barking and restlessness owners complain about.
3. Exercising in the heat
That dense Arctic double coat is built for snow, not summer, and the Lapphund overheats easily in warm weather. Owners who exercise it hard on hot days risk dangerous overheating. Schedule activity for cool parts of the day, provide shade and water, and never push a panting Lapphund.
4. Suppressing the herding drive
Bred to move livestock, the Lapphund may herd and chase running children, bikes, and pets, sometimes with a nip. Owners who simply punish this end up with a frustrated dog. Channel the instinct into structured games, recall work, and a reliable "leave it" cue, so it has a legitimate outlet.
5. Harsh handling
The Lapphund is gentle, sensitive, and genuinely friendly, so harsh methods are unnecessary and counterproductive, eroding the breed's sunny biddability. Reward-based training plays straight to its strengths. Keep sessions positive and upbeat and the Lapphund learns quickly and willingly.
What works with Lapphunds
Manage the barking early, meet the real exercise and mental needs, work the dog in cool conditions, channel the herding drive into games, and train with rewards. The throughline is respecting a friendly working spitz built for the cold: cover those bases and the Finnish Lapphund is a gentle, cheerful, devoted companion.
TailorPup's Lapphund plan includes a barking protocol, channels the herding drive, schedules cool-weather exercise, and leverages the breed's friendly trainability.
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Related: How to Train a Finnish Lapphund · Barking Solutions · Recall Training