History
The Swedish Lapphund is an ancient Nordic breed with records dating back thousands of years. Their history is rich and fascinating.
Creation & Subclade D1
At some point thousands of years ago a wolf and dog crossbreed in what is know modern day Finland, Sweden, and Norway. The descendants of this event eventually split off into various breeds based on region and skill set. However, they all belong to a very small genetic group called Haplogroup D. The Swedish Lapphund is therefore not a breed created by other breeds, but a breed descendent from a landrace dog commonly called the "lappish" dog. It is possible to test haplogroup for dogs. (Source https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3040290/)
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Sami Origin Story
In Sami mythology, it is said that the dog sought out the nomadic people of the Sami with a deal: in exchange for being well treated - namely with good food and to not be scolded when they are unable to work anymore - they would help the herdsman and protect them and their stock. Through this mythology we understand that to the Sami people the dog was and still is treated as a valuable co-worker, companion, and member of the family with incredible respect. To not honor the contract is to invite "bad dog luck" or "heikko koiraonni."
(Source: "Stories of the Sami People" by Johan Turi)
From hunting to herding
In the Middle Ages reindeer domestication began to dominate the Sami life. The dogs that were traditionally used for hunting wild reindeer and other forest game, were switched to herding domesticated reindeer. A good dog was easily able to keep up to 1,000 of the semi-domesticated reindeer together in high snow. These dogs were highly respected by the nomadic herdsman. They were well-fed and slept in the tents with the herdsman as a good dog was more valuable than one man, and was never to be sold.
Recognition
It would not be until the foundation of the Swedish Kennel Club in 1893 that the breed began to be recognized as a breed and not just a dog belonging to nomadic people. In fact, it was a "long haired lapphund" born in 1884 that was the first dog ever to be recorded in the SKK. It would not be until the 50s and 60s that the breed became recognized as the Swedish Lapphund. Today the breed is recognized by FCI, ANKC, KC (United Kingdom), UKC, and is the the Foundation Stock Service of the American Kennel Club.
North America
Swedish Lapphunds would not journey across the Atlantic until 2004 when a female named Cahppes Barbmoloddi “Loddi”, was imported by Patricia Arfsten with Claryhill Kennel. The breed would not enter AKC's FSS program until 2012 and the first litter born on North American soil to any Swedish Lapphund would not be produced until 2015.
