Finnish Lapphund vs Keeshond

A Finnish Lapphund
Photo: Svenska Mässan from Sweden
A Keeshond
Photo: Svenska Mässan from Sweden

Side by side

Finnish Lapphund
Keeshond
Adult weight
Males 15–24 kg (33–53 lb); females 14–20 kg (31–44 lb) (breed club figure)1
16–20 kg (35–45 lb) (breed club figure)2
Height
No sourced figure
Males 43–55 cm; females 43–55 cm3
Lifespan
Median 13.8 years4
Median 12.3 years4
Fully grown
11 months, both sexes5
Group
Spitz & primitive6
Spitz & primitive3
Coat
Long coat6
Long coat3
Shedding
Moults most as the seasons change
Grooming
Daily brushing
Exercise
A moderate amount
Class
Family
Family

Which suits you

Lifespan
In UK vet records the Finnish Lapphund lives longer: a median of 13.8 years, against 12.3 for the Keeshond.
Temperament
They differ most on affection (Finnish Lapphund: affectionate on its own terms; Keeshond: a lap or leaning dog) and on independence (Finnish Lapphund: cooperative, with its own ideas; Keeshond: keen to work with you).
Alike
The Finnish Lapphund and the Keeshond are much the same size as adults, both about 18 kg (40 lb).
Alike
Both are rated the same on handler demand: suits a first-time owner.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Finnish Lapphund
Spitz & primitive · Medium

The Lapphund is friendly, calm and willing. It is alert enough to bark at anything new but is seldom sharp, generally gets on readily with people and other dogs, and keeps the stamina of a working breed.

Keeshond
Spitz & primitive · Medium

The Keeshond is friendly, lively and outgoing, and is closely attached to its household. It is quick to bark at visitors but is not aggressive.

The Finnish Lapphund page →The Keeshond page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Finnish Lapphund
Keeshond
Activity
A good daily walk and play
A good daily walk and play
Intelligence
Learns readily, likes games
Learns readily, likes games
Handler demand
Suits a first-time owner
Suits a first-time owner
With people
Finnish Lapphund
Keeshond
Affection
Differs
Affectionate on its own terms
A lap or leaning dog
Loyalty
Bonded to its family
Bonded to its family
Independence
Differs
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Keen to work with you
Around the home
Finnish Lapphund
Keeshond
Sensitivity
Average
Average
Voice
Very vocal
Very vocal
Prey drive
Differs
Chases; needs managing
Usually fine with small pets
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour7. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home8,9.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
Both grow to much the same adult weight, about 19 kg.
Finnish Lapphund
Keeshond
01020302m4m6m9m12m18m
01020302m3m4m6m9m12m18m

More comparisons

Compare the Finnish Lapphund with
Keeshond vs Norwegian ElkhoundFinnish Lapphund vs SamoyedFinnish Lapphund vs Icelandic SheepdogKeeshond vs SamoyedAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·