Owning dogs, in particular providing care for the finnish lapphund, is a specialty of humans. Experts speculate that dogs were first domesticated between 12,000 and 25,000 years ago—and that canines evolved from the wolf. Since those days, people have selectively bred more than 400 different breeds, ranging in size from 4-pound teacup poodles all the way up to Irish wolfhounds, whose three-foot stature has earned them the title of tallest dog. But the most widespread pooches are the non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mixed-breeds. The finnish lapphund is another popular pick with canine owners. Some owners are unaware, however, of some of the most important finnish lapphund care tips.
General cost of care for the finnish lapphund
The yearly budget for caring for the finnish lapphund—to include food and treats, veterinary care, toys and license—can vary between four hundred twenty and $780. This figure doesn’t include capital expenses for spay/neuter procedures, a collar and a leash, dog carrier and a crate. Tip: Be sure you have all of the required supplies before you bring your finnish lapphund home for the 1st time.
Basic finnish lapphund Care
finnish lapphund Feeding Schedule
- finnish lapphund puppies between eight and 12 weeks old need four meals in a twenty-four hour period.
- Feed finnish lapphund puppies three to 6 months old three meals daily.
- Feed puppies 6 months old to one year two bowls of food daily.
- By the time your finnish lapphund reaches his first birthday, 1 meal in a 24 hour period is usually sufficient.
- Some adult finnish lapphunds, however, do better with two lighter helpings. It’s your duty to learn your finnish lapphund’s eating tendencies.
High-quality dry dogfood provides balanced nutrition to grown finnish lapphunds and can mix with water, canned food, or broth. Your finnish lapphund may like fruits and vegetables, cottage cheese, and cooked eggs, but these dishes should be less than 10 pct of his or her daily food allowance. finnish lapphund pups must be fed high-quality, name brand puppy food. Please limit “table food”, though, since it can cause vitamin and mineral deficiencies, bone and teeth issues, and may create some extremely finicky eating habits as well as obesity. Give fresh, potable water always, and be sure to wash water and food bowls very regularly.
finnish lapphund Care Tips: Make sure your finnish lapphund does plenty of daily exercise
finnish lapphunds need some daily physical activity so they can stay healthy, stimulate their minds, and maintain good health. Daily exercise also really helps finnish lapphunds fight boredom, which often has the potential to lead to to naughty behavior. Getting out of the house can cure many of your finnish lapphund’s desires to chase, retrieve, chew, dig and herd. Exercise needs can depend on your finnish lapphund’s age and her level of health—but 10 minutes in back of the house and a couple of walks around the block every day probably won’t be enough. If your finnish lapphund is a 6 to 18 month adolescent, her requirements will probably be relatively more.
finnish lapphund Grooming
You can help keep your finnish lapphund clean and reduce shedding with frequent brushing. Check for fleas and ticks every day during the summer or other warm weather. Sometimes finnish lapphunds don’t need to be bathed more than a few times a year. Prior to a bath, cut out or comb all mats from the finnish lapphund’s coat. Rinse all soap from the coat, or dirt will stick to the soap residue.
Handling Your finnish lapphund
Pups, as opposed to adults, are obviously easier to manage. To carry the finnish lapphund pup, take one of your hands and put it under your dog’s chest, with either the forearm or your other hand supporting his or her back legs and rear. Never attempt to grab or lift your puppy by his or her forelegs, tail or nape. When you have to pick up a larger, adult finnish lapphund, lift from underneath, bracing his chest with 1 of your arms and rear end with the other.
How to House the finnish lapphund
Your finnish lapphund needs a comfortable peaceful place to sleep apart from all the drafts and off the ground. You might wish to think about buying a dog bed, or make one from a wood box. Place a clean sheet, comforter, blanket, or pillow inside the bed as cushioning. Wash your finnish lapphund’s bed covering often. If your finnish lapphund will be outdoors frequently, be certain he has access to plenty of cool water and shade in hot weather, and a covered, warm, dry area when it’s cold.
finnish lapphund Identification
There are licensing rules to follow in your city. Be sure to affix the license to your finnish lapphund’s collar. This, along with an ID tag or tattoo, can help you recover your finnish lapphund if he happens to go missing.
Facts on finnish lapphund Behavior
Training the finnish lapphund
A well-behaved, companion finnish lapphund is truly a joy to own. However, when left untrained, your dog can be a big pain. Training your finnish lapphund on the basics—”Heel”, “Off”, “Sit”, “Stay”, “Come”, “Down”, and “Leave it”—strengthens the relationship with both the dog and your friends. If you own a puppy, start training him on manners as soon as possible! Use treats as recognition and incentive. Puppies can commence obedience courses when they are adequately vaccinated. Call the local humane society or SPCA for information about obedience class recommendations. Always walk your finnish lapphund on a leash when, even as a puppy. Just be certain your finnish lapphund will come back to you when you tell him to. An aggressive or disobedient finnish lapphund shouldn’t play with children.
Knowing Your finnish lapphund’s Health
Your finnish lapphund should see the veterinarian for a thorough screening, innoculations and heartworm test annualy, and immediately when he is hurt or ill.
finnish lapphund Dental Health
While many of us may simply dislike our finnish lapphund’s foul breath, we must be aware of what it may be a symptom of. Halitosis usually means that your finnish lapphund is in need of a dental examination. Dental plaque brought on by germs creates a terrible smell that can only be eliminated by professional treatment. After you give your finnish lapphund a professional oral cleaning, her gums and teeth can be maintained in a healthy state by brushing the teeth regularly, feeding a specially formulated dental diet and treats, and avoiding table scraps. Your vet can supply you with more data on eradicating periodontal disease as well as bad breath. You can easily brush your finnish lapphund’s teeth using a doggie paste or a baking-soda-and-water paste twice weekly. Use a child’s soft toothbrush, a gauze pad or a piece of nylon stocking stretched over your finger. Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, often affects finnish lapphunds. Often, tooth loss occurs due to gum disease. Disease can possibly also propagate to other areas of your finnish lapphund’s body. The doctor will usually brush your finnish lapphund’s teeth during the regular health examination.
finnish lapphund Breath Gone Wild!
Although dental disease in and of itself is not critical if found early, halitosis may also be indicative of fairly serious, persistent causes for concern. A sweet, even pleasant smell may sometimes be indicative of diabetes, while diseases of the intestines or liver may cause foul breath. When your finnish lapphund’s breath smells of ammonia or urine, kidney disease may be the cause. When you determine your finnish lapphund has halitosis in conjunction with other symptoms of ill health, such as diminished appetite, vomiting, weight loss, depression, too much drinking or urinating, set up an examination with her veterinarian.
finnish lapphund Flea and Tick Issues
Daily checks of your finnish lapphund for ticks and fleas in the summer are of utmost importance. You can remove fleas with a flea comb. There are several new methods of flea and tick control. Speak to your vet about his options.
Heartworm problems in finnish lapphunds
Your finnish lapphund is at risk of contracting heartworms if he is exposed to mosquitoes often. Mosquitoes carry heartworms from dog to dog. Heartworm infections are known to be deadly. It’s very critical that you ensure your finnish lapphund has a blood test for this parasite each spring. A monthly tablet taken throughout mosquito season can help to protect your finnish lapphund. If ever you travel south with your finnish lapphund in the winter, he must be on the preventive medicine during the trip. There are some places, usually the regions with more moderate temperatures, where the vets advise heartworm tablets be consumed all throughout the year.
Medicines and Toxins
If you’re thinking about giving your finnish lapphund medication that was not prescribed for her by his doctor, forget about it. As little as one ibuprofen tablet can possibly create stomach ulcers in finnish lapphunds. Make sure your finnish lapphund is never exposed to rat poison and other rodenticides. When you believe that your dog has ingested a poison, immediately call the vet or the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for 24-hr. animal poison information.
finnish lapphund Sterilization Operations
Female finnish lapphunds should be spayed—the extraction of the ovaries and uterus—and males neutered—removal of the testicles—by 6 months old. You will usually significantly reduce your female’s breast cancer risk by spaying prior to maturity. Spaying also eradicates the risk of an infected uterus, a traumatic problem in older females that can only be treated with intensive medical care and surgery. Neutering male finnish lapphunds prevents prostate and testicular diseases, some hernias and certain aggressive behavior.
finnish lapphund Innoculations
- finnish lapphund puppies should be innoculated with a combo shot (called a “5-in-one”) at two, three and four months of age, and then once per year. This immunization protects your puppy from hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, parainfluenza, and distemper. The finnish lapphund must be immunized for at least the first four months of his life.
- If your finnish lapphund has not been vaccinated and is older than 4 months, he will need to be given two immunizations immediately, 2 to 3 weeks apart. After that you must vaccinate every year.
- Your finnish lapphund puppy’s socialization should coincide with the immunization program. Many doctors recommend that new owners bring their finnish lapphund puppies to socialization courses, beginning at 8 to nine weeks old. At this age, they should have received at least their first vaccinations.
Because rules vary around the country, call your community doctor to get info about rabies vaccination. For instance, in NYC, the rule states that all pets older than 3 months must be vaccinated for rabies. After the initial vaccination, he must have a second vaccination the next year, and then every 3 years after that. There are many immunizations, many of which are effective for your finnish lapphund. There are others that are not, however. Ask your finnish lapphund’s vet for his recommendation. Please note, if your finnish lapphund happens to get sick because she is not vaccinated, the shots must be taken once your companion animal has recovered.
Worms in finnish lapphunds
finnish lapphunds are commonly exposed to worms and possible infestation—even in urban areas. Eggs that carry roundworms and hookworms are transmitted through a dog’s feces. Even the healthiest of finnish lapphund puppies carry intestinal worms. An accurate, early detection is the key to treatment. This will maximize the possibility that the medication is effective against the parasite your finnish lapphund has. A dewormer that eliminates roundworms, for example, will not kill tapeworms. Your vet can best define the culprit—and assign the right treatment.
Miscellaneous finnish lapphund Care Tips
Checklist of finnish lapphund Supplies
- Premium-quality dog food and snacks specifically for finnish lapphunds and similarly-sized dogs
- Food bowl
- Water dish
- Toys, toys and more toys, including safe chew toys
- Comb & brush for grooming, including a flea comb
- Collar with ID tag and license
- Leash
- Carrier (for puppies)
- Training crate
- Box or dog bed with blanket or towel
- Doggie or child’s toothbrush
The no-no list
Never feed your finnish lapphund the following:
- Alcohol, beer, wine or liquor
- Caffeinated foods, like coffee, tea or chocolate
- Grapes and raisins
- Spoiled or moldy food of any kind
- Onions, garlic and chives
- Bones of chicken, turkey, or any other animal (choking hazard)
- Salt or salty foods
- Tomato leaves, stems and unripe fruit
- Dough
The “Bottom” Line
Keep your finnish lapphund on a leash whenever you are outside, unless you are in a fenced-in, secured spot. And please, when your finnish lapphund defecates on your neighbor’s grass, remove and dispose of it! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about finnish lapphunds
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