GROOMING & WELLNESS
Grooming Your Finnish Lapphund: Expert Tips and Advice for a Healthy Coat
The Finnish Lapphund is a stunning breed known for its thick, double coat & striking beauty. Originally bred by the Sámi people to herd reindeer, these dogs require regular grooming to maintain their beautiful fur and overall health. In this wellness article, we’ll explore the best practices, grooming tips, and techniques to keep your Finnish Lapphund looking and feeling great.
understanding the
finnish lapphund coat
The Finnish Lapphund has a dense, waterproof double coat designed to protect it from harsh weather conditions. The outer coat (guard hair) is long, straight, and coarse, while the undercoat is soft and insulating. The guard hairs grow extremely slowly while the undercoat is renewed rapidly with a high turnover. This unique coat structure requires some specific grooming techniques to ensure your Lappy stays comfortable, healthy, & free from matting.
Finnish lapphunds experience a seasonal shed during the start of spring, when almost all of the undercoat is lost and the guard hairs remain. The guard hairs continue to protect your Finnish Lapphund from sunburn, abrasions, ticks or fleas and heatstroke. It’s very important to never shave your Finnish Lapphund, even in tropical or warm climates like in Australia, as the guard hairs will not grow back and you loose the vital protection they provide for your Lappy.
Coat Characteristics
Finnish lapphunds experience a seasonal shed during the start of spring, when almost all of the undercoat is lost and the guard hairs remain. The guard hairs continue to protect your Finnish Lapphund from sunburn, abrasions, ticks or fleas and heatstroke. It’s very important to never shave your Finnish Lapphund, even in tropical or warm climates like in Australia, as the guard hairs will not grow back and you loose the vital protection they provide for your Lappy.
Coat Characteristics
- Outer Coat: Long, straight, and coarse guard hairs which are extremely slow growing.
- Undercoat: Soft, dense, and insulating with a high turnover.
- Coloration: Available in various colours, including black, brown, cream and a very rare domino or sable, with a variety of tan & white markings. The undercoat can match the colour of the guard hairs, or alternatively it may be a different colour, such as cream or white.
grooming frequency
Due to their thick fur, Finnish Lapphunds benefit from regular grooming sessions. During most of the year, a thorough brushing once a fortnight is usually sufficient to remove loose hair and prevent matting. During shedding seasons (early spring and autumn), increase brushing to every 2-3 days to manage the excess fur & keep your home fur-free.
ESSENTIAL GROOMING TOOLS
- Slicker Brush: Ideal for removing loose undercoat hair and preventing mats in the undercoat. Most importantly a slicker brush does not cut the outer guard hairs (unlike other brushes, e.g. the furminator, which should not be used on a Finnish Lapphund coat).
- Undercoat Rake: Essential for reaching the undercoat and reducing shedding. This is a wide tooth comb to use prior to your slicker brush to loosen the undercoat.
- Comb: A wide-tooth comb can help detangle any knots, especially around sensitive areas like behind the ears or near the pelvis.
- Nail Clippers: Regular nail trimming is crucial for your dog’s health and comfort.
- Dog Shampoo and Conditioner: Choose a high-quality, dog-friendly shampoo to keep their coat clean and moisturised. *Human shampoos are not formulated for animal skin.
- Lickimats: Smear some delicious peanut butter on a lickimat (especially the window-mounted types), and your Lappy will spend a lot of time enjoying their treat while you brush and groom them!
Step by Step Grooming Guide
1. Prepare Your Finnish Lapphund
Before starting the grooming session, ensure your lappy is calm and has had their walk or activity for the day. Choose a quiet space and use treats to create a positive environment. If your Finnish Lapphund is not accustomed to grooming, start with short sessions to help them adjust. Smear peanut butter on a Lickimat and fix this to the window. Now your Lappy can get to work while you brush them - and this builds a very positive association with brushing!
2. Brush the Coat
Outer Coat: Use the slicker brush to gently brush the outer coat, starting at the neck and moving toward the tail. Brush in the direction of hair growth to avoid any discomfort.
Undercoat: Use the undercoat rake to reach the undercoat. Be gentle, especially in areas where the skin is very senstive or if the fur may be matted. If you encounter tangles, use your fingers or a comb to work them out slowly and gently.
3. Check for Mats
Inspect the coat for any mats or tangles, especially around the ears, armpits, and pelvis. You'll usually find a couple in this very fine hair and work gently. Use your fingers to gently separate the fur, or use the comb for more stubborn mats. If a mat is particularly tight, you may need to carefully cut it out with scissors.
4. Hydrobath
Bath your Finnish Lapphund every 3 to 4 months, or slightly more often if they get particularly muddy and there's no swimming available.
Before starting the grooming session, ensure your lappy is calm and has had their walk or activity for the day. Choose a quiet space and use treats to create a positive environment. If your Finnish Lapphund is not accustomed to grooming, start with short sessions to help them adjust. Smear peanut butter on a Lickimat and fix this to the window. Now your Lappy can get to work while you brush them - and this builds a very positive association with brushing!
2. Brush the Coat
Outer Coat: Use the slicker brush to gently brush the outer coat, starting at the neck and moving toward the tail. Brush in the direction of hair growth to avoid any discomfort.
Undercoat: Use the undercoat rake to reach the undercoat. Be gentle, especially in areas where the skin is very senstive or if the fur may be matted. If you encounter tangles, use your fingers or a comb to work them out slowly and gently.
3. Check for Mats
Inspect the coat for any mats or tangles, especially around the ears, armpits, and pelvis. You'll usually find a couple in this very fine hair and work gently. Use your fingers to gently separate the fur, or use the comb for more stubborn mats. If a mat is particularly tight, you may need to carefully cut it out with scissors.
4. Hydrobath
Bath your Finnish Lapphund every 3 to 4 months, or slightly more often if they get particularly muddy and there's no swimming available.
- Wet the Coat: Use lukewarm water and wet the coat thoroughly.
- Apply Shampoo: Use a high-quality dog shampoo, lathering it gently into the coat. Avoid the eyes and ears.
- Rinse Thoroughly: Ensure all shampoo is rinsed out to prevent irritation.
- Condition: Use a dog conditioner to help keep the coat soft and manageable.
- Drying: Towel-dry your dog and, if comfortable, use a blow dryer on a low setting to dry the coat completely. In warm climates this may not be necessary as the sun will dry the coat quickly.
- Consider Dog Cologne: This is used by professional dog groomers and makes your Lappy shine, smell amazing and makes grooming an absolute pleasure! A good quality dog cologne is extremely long lasting and you'll be thanking yourself each time they walk past you!
5. Nail Trimming
Check your dog’s nails regularly and trim when necessary. If you hear clicking sounds when they walk or it’s uncomfortable when they paw you, it’s time for a trim. Don’t do it too often as you want to avoid cutting the quick (the extremely sensitive pink area within the nail). On white nails you can visually see the quick and its simple to trim to just below that margin. Black nails are more difficult & the key is to look at the blunt cut end and stop as you start to see a central white dot appear. Take tiny amounts off each time and regularly check your progress. Use nail clippers designed for dogs, create a nice smooth cut or finish and, as mentioned, take extra care to avoid cutting into the quick, at all costs.
6. Ear Care
Check the ears for grass seeds or wax build-up. If you need to clean them gently with a vet-recommended ear cleaner. Finnish Lapphunds are a robust and healthy breed and we’ve never encountered any issues or wax build-up with their ears, other than grass seeds from long grass.
Check your dog’s nails regularly and trim when necessary. If you hear clicking sounds when they walk or it’s uncomfortable when they paw you, it’s time for a trim. Don’t do it too often as you want to avoid cutting the quick (the extremely sensitive pink area within the nail). On white nails you can visually see the quick and its simple to trim to just below that margin. Black nails are more difficult & the key is to look at the blunt cut end and stop as you start to see a central white dot appear. Take tiny amounts off each time and regularly check your progress. Use nail clippers designed for dogs, create a nice smooth cut or finish and, as mentioned, take extra care to avoid cutting into the quick, at all costs.
6. Ear Care
Check the ears for grass seeds or wax build-up. If you need to clean them gently with a vet-recommended ear cleaner. Finnish Lapphunds are a robust and healthy breed and we’ve never encountered any issues or wax build-up with their ears, other than grass seeds from long grass.
expert tips for a stress-free
groomING SESSION
- Start Young: If you have a puppy, introduce them to grooming early to make it a positive experience.
- Use Treats and Praise: Reward your Lappy during and after grooming to create positive associations.
- Pick the Right Time: Choose a time when your Lappy is tired after a walk or play session and not first thing in the morning when they’re full of beans!
- Given them Plenty of Cuddles: Turn your grooming session into a pampering session with plenty of cuddles as a reward for completing each step (especially nail trims on each paw!) You'll notice the difference and your Finnish Lapphund will adore their grooming sessions!
- Be Patient: Some dogs may not enjoy grooming initially. Take your time and remain calm to help ease their anxiety and familiarise them to grooming. Use peanut butter filled Lickimats as a fantastic distraction tool and to build positive associations with grooming.
- Regular Routine: Establish a consistent grooming routine to help your Lappy become accustomed to it.
CONCLUSION
Grooming your Finnish Lapphund is an enjoyable way to bond with and spend time with your Lappy. It’s a very relaxing activity to do together on a quiet afternoon – it becomes a soothing ritual, helping your Lappy feel pampered & cherished. With the right tools, techniques and knowledge, you can ensure your Finnish Lapphund’s coat remains healthy & vibrant. It’s a wonderful way to tell your Lappy you love them!
Regular grooming not only enhances your Lappy's appearance, but also promotes their overall well-being and strengthens the bond between you.
Regular grooming not only enhances your Lappy's appearance, but also promotes their overall well-being and strengthens the bond between you.
