Finnish Lapphund Size, Weight & Growth: How Big Do They Get?

When Timber came home, every single person asked me the question I had already typed into Google a hundred times. How big is that going to get? The honest answer is that a Finnish Lapphund looks a great deal bigger than it is. All that floof hides a compact, sturdy dog. Here in Castlegar I field "is that a small bear?" comments all winter, and every time I get to explain that no, this is a medium breed wearing an enormous coat.

How big do Finnish Lapphunds get?

Finnish Lapphunds are medium dogs that sit on the smaller end of medium. The breed standards measure them by height at the withers, which is the ridge between the shoulder blades, and none of them measures by weight. The FCI puts the ideal male at 49 cm and the ideal female at 44 cm, with a tolerance of about 3 cm either way. That works out to roughly 46 to 52 cm (18 to 20.5 in) for males and 41 to 47 cm (16 to 18.5 in) for females (FCI Standard No. 189).

The AKC describes much the same dog in inches, giving males around 18 to 21 inches and females around 16 to 19 inches (AKC standard). The UK Kennel Club lists the same ideal heights of 49 cm for dogs and 44 cm for bitches (The Kennel Club, UK). Three standards, one dog.

Here is the part that trips everyone up. The FCI standard says outright that "the type is more important than the size". Breeders aim for the right build and outline, and a tape measure comes second. A well-made 47 cm female and a 51 cm male are both entirely correct.

One thing to hold on to. That profuse double coat adds visual size and no actual size. A Lappy in full winter coat can look a full grade larger than the same dog three weeks into a spring blow. The dog underneath has not changed at all.

How much should a Finnish Lapphund weigh?

Most adult Finnish Lapphunds weigh somewhere between 15 and 24 kg (33 to 53 lb). The caveat matters more than the number. No breed standard lists an official weight. The FCI, the AKC and the UK Kennel Club all describe height and build, and none of them names a weight at all. Any weight figure you see, including mine, is an informal reference rather than a rule.

As a rough guide, a typical 49 cm male often lands around 17 to 19 kg (37 to 42 lb), and bigger boys reach the low 50s in pounds. Females usually sit a little lighter. The vet-reviewed reference at PetMD gives a broad working range of about 33 to 53 lb across the breed, which matches what I see in the Lappy Pack.

How do you measure a Finnish Lapphund properly?

Measuring a fluffy dog is where most owners go wrong. Height is taken at the withers, standing square on a flat floor, from the ground to the top of the shoulder blades. It is never measured to the top of the head, and it is never measured to the tip of the coat. Press gently through the fur until you feel bone.

A doorway trick makes it easy on your own. Stand your dog beside a wall, lay a book flat across the withers so it touches the wall, mark the underside of the book, then measure the mark to the floor. Body length runs from the point of the shoulder to the point of the buttock, and in this breed it is slightly longer than the height. Those two numbers between them size a crate, a car barrier and a coat.

Finnish Lapphund size: male vs female

Males are noticeably bigger and heavier than females, and they carry a much fuller coat. A male Lappy grows an abundant mane around the neck and shoulders that females do not, which makes the gap look wider than it reads on paper. The real difference is usually a few centimetres in height and several pounds in weight.

Beyond size, the coat is the giveaway. Timber has the classic lion ruff, and it doubles in apparent width every time he shakes off. Tundra is his nephew and a couple of years younger, so he is still filling out through the chest, and he looks sleeker beside his uncle even though they measure closer than visitors expect. If size matters for your home, this is worth thinking about. The gap between an average male and an average female is small enough that temperament and lifestyle should still come first.

Finnish Lapphund growth chart by age

Finnish Lapphund puppies do most of their growing in the first year. They reach close to adult height by about 12 months, then keep filling out in weight and chest depth for a while after that. The table below is an owner's approximate month-by-month guide, interpolated from the breed's adult weight range and the ordinary pattern of puppy growth. Read it as a ballpark, not a target.

If your puppy is tracking a little under or over these numbers, do not panic. Timber was a chunky pup who slimmed right out into a lean adult. Tundra was the opposite, a tiny scrap who caught up later than I expected. Healthy growth is steady rather than fast, and a lean puppy is far kinder to growing joints than a heavy one.

When do Finnish Lapphunds stop growing?

Most Finnish Lapphunds reach full adult height by about 12 to 14 months, then keep filling out in body afterwards. The long bones are basically done lengthening near the one-year mark, which is why height changes very little after that. Weight and muscle keep settling for a few more months.

The coat and the chest are the slow parts. A Lappy is usually not fully mature, with a proper adult coat and a deep, broad chest, until around two years of age. Your dog can hit full height long before it looks like a finished adult. That gangly, leggy phase between roughly eight and fourteen months is completely normal, and the floof catches up later.

Because the joints are still maturing through the first year, go easy on hard, repetitive, high-impact exercise while your puppy is young. Long forced runs and repeated jumping are the two to hold back on. Free play at their own pace is kinder to those joints. This is general information, not veterinary advice, so ask your vet what is right for your individual dog. My exercise needs guide covers the age-by-age version.

Are Finnish Lapphunds a small or medium breed?

Medium, on the smaller side. The FCI standard describes the breed as "smaller than medium-sized" and yet "strongly built" for its size, which captures the dog exactly. Compact and sturdy rather than big. The body is slightly longer than the dog is tall, and the chest reaches down to about half the height at the withers.

So when someone asks whether they are a small dog or a big dog, the answer is neither. They are a solid medium wearing a large-looking coat. A Lappy is too substantial to be a lap breed, and a long way from the giant working dogs people mistake them for. For most homes with a securely fenced yard, that manageable size is one of the breed's quiet selling points. It is also why the pocket pup tee makes owners laugh. The whole package is covered in my Finnish Lapphund breed guide.

What size crate, car space and gear does a Finnish Lapphund need?

Size questions are usually shopping questions underneath. A crate should let an adult stand up, turn around and lie flat out on its side. Measure your dog's length from nose to the base of the tail, add a few inches, and buy to that number. Most adult Lappies here land on a 36 inch (91 cm) crate, and a 42 inch is only worth it for a very large male.

For the car, measure the height at the withers and add clearance for the head when the dog sits up. A medium-to-large boot barrier or a large travel crate suits the breed. Bowls are simpler. A 32 oz bowl covers a full adult meal with room to spare, and the wide base matters more than the volume on a dog that buries its whole face in dinner. Mine eat from the Finnish Lapphund dog bowls, which are stainless and wrap-printed in each coat colour.

Is my Finnish Lapphund a healthy weight?

Chase the shape rather than the number on the scale. Under all that coat, you should be able to feel your Lappy's ribs easily with flat hands without seeing them, and there should be a visible waist when you look down from above. From the side, the belly should tuck up rather than run straight back.

The most useful tool is a body condition score, a nine-point scale vets use to judge condition by feel and outline. The free WSAVA body condition score chart for dogs shows exactly what each score looks like, and a 4 or 5 out of 9 is the target. A double coat hides a lot, so put your hands on your dog every week rather than trusting your eyes. If you are unsure, your vet will score your dog in thirty seconds. Day-to-day portions are covered in my Finnish Lapphund feeding guide.

What factors affect a Finnish Lapphund's size?

Several things decide where your individual Lappy lands in the range, and most are out of your hands. Genetics is the biggest one. The size of the parents and the line they come from is the strongest predictor of adult size, so meeting the parents tells you a great deal. Sex matters too, with males running larger.

Nutrition and growth rate play a part as well. A puppy fed a good-quality, balanced diet at a steady pace tends to reach a healthy adult size with better joints than one pushed to grow fast. The timing of spay or neuter surgery can have a small effect on final height in some dogs. For anything diet-related, talk to your vet.

How can I tell how big my Finnish Lapphund will get?

The best single clue is the parents. A reputable breeder can show you the sire and dam and tell you the typical adult size of their line, which beats any online calculator. Beyond that, your puppy's paws and frame give hints. Big-boned, large-pawed pups often finish toward the top of the range, though not always.

By around six months your puppy is usually about two-thirds of its adult weight and closing in on adult height, which makes a decent checkpoint for a rough estimate. Remember the coat is still coming, so a near-adult-height youngster keeps looking fuller for another year. If your dog came from a shelter as a Lapphund cross, the range widens a lot, and my Finnish Lapphund mix guide explains why. Still deciding? My puppy guide and my honest is a Finnish Lapphund right for you post walk through the rest.

From my home to yours, give your Lappy a scratch behind those busy little ears for me. Whatever size your floof turns out to be, we draw designs that celebrate them at every stage, from the leggy teenager to the full winter lion. Have a look at the Finnish Lapphund t-shirts and mugs and find the coat that matches the dog measuring you from the doorway right now.

For a sense of scale against a breed of almost identical height, see how a Lappy compares with an Icelandic Sheepdog, which stands only a few centimetres shorter but weighs considerably less.

Related Finnish Lapphund guides

• how a Lappy compares with an Icelandic Sheepdog
• Finnish Lapphund puppy guide
• Finnish Lapphund diet and feeding guide
• How to groom a Finnish Lapphund
• Finnish Lapphund vs Swedish Lapphund
• Finnish Lapphund exercise needs
• The complete Finnish Lapphund breed guide

Finnish Lapphund size: quick answers

How big do Finnish Lapphunds get?

They are a medium breed on the smaller side. Males stand about 46 to 52 cm (18 to 20.5 in) at the withers and females about 41 to 47 cm (16 to 18.5 in), usually weighing roughly 15 to 24 kg (33 to 53 lb).

How much does a Finnish Lapphund weigh?

Most weigh between 15 and 24 kg (33 to 53 lb), with males heavier than females. There is no official weight in any breed standard, so treat every figure as an informal range and ask your vet about your own dog.

Are Finnish Lapphunds a small or medium dog?

Medium, on the smaller side. The breed standard calls them "smaller than medium-sized" and strongly built. The double coat makes them look a size larger than they measure.

When do Finnish Lapphunds stop growing?

They reach full height by about 12 to 14 months, then keep filling out. The coat and chest are not fully mature until around two years of age.

Are male Finnish Lapphunds bigger than females?

Yes. Males are a few centimetres taller, several pounds heavier, and they carry a much fuller mane around the neck and shoulders that females do not grow.

What size crate does a Finnish Lapphund need?

Most adults suit a 36 inch (91 cm) crate. Measure your dog from nose to the base of the tail, add a few inches, and check it can stand up, turn around and lie flat on its side inside.

Sources

• FCI Standard No. 189, Finnish Lapphund (Suomenlapinkoira)
• AKC breed standard, hosted by the Finnish Lapphund Club of America
• The Royal Kennel Club (UK), Finnish Lapphund breed standard
• PetMD, Finnish Lapphund breed health and care (vet-reviewed)
• American Kennel Club, Finnish Lapphund breed page
• WSAVA, Body Condition Score chart for dogs

Written by Jill, co-founder of Lapphund Designs. Jill lives in Castlegar, BC with her husband and their two Finnish Lapphunds, Timber and Tundra. She started Lapphund Designs after struggling to find products that celebrated the breed she loves.