Health & Wellness

Let's Unleash the Lappy Love Together!

FINNISH LAPPHUNDS DESERVE THE BEST

Welcome to the Health & Wellness section of Lappies Unleashed!
​Here, we'll delve into essential care tips to ensure your Finnish Lapphund stays happy and healthy throughout their life. Known for their playful nature & affectionate spirit, lappies thrive with the proper attention to their preventative health. Lets explore the key aspects of keeping your Finnish Lapphund in tip top shape!

Nutrition: Fueling their Energy

A balanced diet is crucial for your Finnish Lapphund’s overall health. Look for high-quality dog food specifically formulated for their age, size, and activity level. Finnish Lapphunds are active dogs, so they require a diet rich in proteins, healthy fats, and essential nutrients.

TIPS FOR A HEALTHY FINNISH LAPPHUND DIET:
  • Choose Quality: Opt for brands that list a single protein meat as the first ingredient and avoid fillers like corn and soy.
  • Consider Supplements: Omega fats can be great for maintaining a healthy coat shine and keeping joints lubricated.
  • Probiotics: A good probiotic paste can help your pup to recover quickly if they have an upset stomach, often without the need for antibiotics or stronger medications, or as a regular preventative. Always follow the advice of your veterinarian with the use of probiotics.
  • Monitor Portions: Follow feeding guidelines for your lappy's age and adjust regularly based on your dog’s activity level & weight. Ensure plenty of nutrition for a growing puppy and good weight control for an adult to protect their joints.
  • Healthy Treats: Use fruits and vegetables like carrots or apple slices as dental treats, and high value treats like boiled chicken for training sessions!

Exercise: Keeping them Active

Finnish Lapphunds are energetic and intelligent, requiring regular exercise to stay healthy and happy. Aim for at least 45 minutes of physical activity each day for adults, combining walks, playtime, and enrichment (mental stimulation).

GREAT EXERCISE IDEAS:
  • Daily Walks: Take them on varied routes to keep things interesting and mix this up with a combination of time spent on leash, free running off leash and socialising with plenty of other dogs.
  • Agility Training: Set up a mini agility course in your yard for added fun and training, or join a local agility club.
  • Interactive Toys: Use puzzle toys that challenge their minds and keep them engaged. Fill a cardboard box with their favourite treats and toys. Freeze a kong with a mix of tasty morsels for them to snack on & work to get out during the day. Give your lappy a snuffle mat to hone their scent skills and occupy themselves in a positive way while you're busy!

Grooming: Caring for Your Lappy's Coat

Finnish Lapphunds have a beautiful double coat that requires regular grooming to keep it healthy and reduce shedding. Their coat is highly water-resistant, but it also needs care to avoid tangling and to keep it in tip-top shape.
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GROOMING TIPS:
  • Brushing: Brush your Lappy at least once a fortnight, or more during shedding seasons, to keep their coat in top condition. A slicker brush is a great tool as it gets down to the undercoat without removing any of the guard hairs (unfortunately they don't grow back!). There's no need to shave or clip this gorgeous breed, they're naturally and effortlessly beautiful. Take extra care with the fine hair behind the ears as this is a very common place to get tangles after lots of play.
  • Bathing: Bathe them every few months or as needed, using a gentle dog shampoo. Try not to bathe too frequently as the coat will be stripped of the natural and protective oils needed for a shiny coat. Using a bright white shampoo can really make the coat shine and look brand new after a groom.
  • Nail Trimming: Keep your lappy's nails trimmed to prevent discomfort; aim for every 3-4 weeks and be careful not to cut the quick - look for the central white dot on a black nail (that's the sign you're ready to stop).
Check out our in-depth article on How to Groom Your Finnish Lapphund in the Wellness Tips below!

Regular Health Preventative Care

Routine veterinary visits are essential for maintaining your Lappy’s health. Schedule check-ups at least once a year, and keep vaccinations and preventative treatments up to date.

IMPORTANT HEALTH CHECKS:
  • Dental Care: regularly provide dental chews like raw bones to promote oral health, use a dental additive in food or water and even brush your dog’s teeth as part of a great routine to prevent dental disease.
  • Parasite Prevention: always ensure the regular monthly doses of flea, tick, and heartworm prevention are up to date and discuss the most appropriate option with your vet.
  • Body Condition Management: regularly feel your Finnish Lapphund's skin to make sure there are no hidden ticks during summer, as this will prevent against the deadly paralysis ticks. Doing this regularly can also help you to monitor their weight to prevent obesity-related issues & other lumps or bumps, especially as your lappy gets older.

Mental Wellness: Enrichment

Finnish Lapphunds are intelligent dogs that thrive on mental stimulation and enrichment. Engaging their minds can prevent boredom, reduce behavioral issues and promote a well rounded lappy who's a pleasure to hang out with.

ACTVITIES FOR MENTAL STIMULATION:
  • Training Sessions: Teach new commands or tricks regularly to keep their minds sharp and engaged. Keep these sessions brief (10 minutes) but regular to keep reinforcing their good behaviour. Always get in touch with a trainer who is familiar with the breed, if you need additional support, and remember early prevention is much better that re-training an already learnt behaviour!
  • Calm dog or puppy: Just as physical activity is vital to a dog's health, appropriate rest and relaxation is equally important and often overlooked. An overtired & overstimulated puppy is a very common cause for a whole host of behaviours (think chewing your shoes, digging and being otherwise destructive!?). Get into the regular routine of calm puppy time when you can both relax, cuddle and settle your dog down for a relaxing nap while stroking their whole body.
  • Socialisation: Arrange playdates with other friendly dogs and take them to dog parks to encourage social interaction. Socialisation is one of the most important investments you'll make for your Lappy. Read our detailed Socialisation guide for Finnish Lapphunds in our Training Hub to learn more.
  • Interactive Play: Play games like hide-and-seek, tug or fetch to combine physical and mental exercise.
  • Enrichment Activities: These activities play on your Lappy's natural instincts, skills and strengths to ensure they're mentally stimulated. A good enrichment activity can tire out your Finnish Lapphund as much as a 40 minute walk! Lappies don't just need physical activity, they also need enrichment through mentally stimulating activities, such as scent work, puzzle toys, kongs, snuffle mats and more!

For more in-depth puppy care tips, read this new owner's care guide from Diamontali Finnish Lapphunds.
Caring for a Finnish Lapphund involves a holistic approach that includes nutrition, exercise, grooming, regular vet visits, and mental engagement. By focusing on these aspects, you’ll ensure that your Lappy lives a long, happy and healthy life.

Check out lots more topics & insights below at our dedicated Health & Wellness Hub!

Finnish Lapphund expert health and wellness advice and grooming tips