Breed Comparison: Akbash Versus Finnish Lapphund

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Akbash Versus Finnish Lapphund: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Akbash and the Finnish Lapphund? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Akbash and the Finnish Lapphund better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Akbash and the Finnish Lapphund.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Akbash and the Finnish Lapphund is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Akbash and for the Finnish Lapphund. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Akbash and the Finnish Lapphund.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Akbash or the Finnish Lapphund.

Akbash versus Finnish Lapphund: Overview

A very important difference between the Akbash and the Finnish Lapphund is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Akbash is a large-sized dog while the Finnish Lapphund is a medium-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Akbash belongs to the Working Dogs group. Working Dogs were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.

On the other hand, the Finnish Lapphund belongs to the Herding Dogs group. Herding Dogs were bred for moving livestock, including sheep, cattle, and even reindeer. Herding dogs work closely with their human shepherds, and their natural intelligence and responsiveness make them highly trainable. They have high levels of energy, which needs to be channeled properly to prevent destructive behavior. Herding breeds are protective of their people and property and make excellent watchdogs. Their intelligence, agility, and activity level make them well suited to dog sports.

Akbash versus Finnish Lapphund: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Akbash to the Finnish Lapphund based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Akbash and the Finnish Lapphund

Factor Akbash Finnish Lapphund
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 5/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 5/5 2/5
Life Span 10 to 12 years 12 to 15 years
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 4/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 2/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 4/5
Does NOT Drool 4/5 5/5
NOT Rambunctious 4/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 4/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 4/5 2/5
Height 27 to 34 inches 17 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder
Easygoing 3/5 2/5
Dog Friendly 3/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 4/5
Easy To Train 3/5 5/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 2/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 3/5
Potential For Playfulness 3/5 5/5
Tolerates Being Alone 4/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 4/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 2/5 3/5
General Health 4/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 2/5
Intelligence 4/5 5/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Weight 75 to 140 pounds 33 to 53 pounds
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 13.5 years
Average Price $610 No Data
Price Range $500 – $800 No Data
Temperament Score 87.5 percent 62.5 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests No Data
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
    		•

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Akbash in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Finnish Lapphund. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for the Akbash is 83 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Finnish Lapphund is 84 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Finnish Lapphund is a better pet than the Akbash. So, you should get the Finnish Lapphund!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Akbash and the Finnish Lapphund so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Akbash and the Finnish Lapphund

    Below is a list of where the Akbash and the Finnish Lapphund are most different:

    • Akbashs do not adapt well to apartment living. However, Finnish Lapphunds adapt well to apartment living.
    • Akbashs have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets. However, Finnish Lapphunds have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
    • Akbashs do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them. However, Finnish Lapphunds have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
    • Akbashs have low energy levels. They do not require a lot exercise time. However, Finnish Lapphunds have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
    • Akbashs do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful. However, Finnish Lapphunds do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.

    The Similarities Between the Akbash and the Finnish Lapphund

    The Akbash and the Finnish Lapphund are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Akbash and the Finnish Lapphund are most similar:

    • Both the Akbash and the Finnish Lapphund cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
    • Both the Akbash and the Finnish Lapphund do not have the tendency to drool.
    • Both the Akbash and the Finnish Lapphund can tolerate cold weather.
    • Both the Akbash and the Finnish Lapphund get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
    • Both the Akbash and the Finnish Lapphund shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
    • Both the Akbash and the Finnish Lapphund are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
    • Both the Akbash and the Finnish Lapphund gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
    • Both the Akbash and the Finnish Lapphund are highly intelligent.
    • Both the Akbash and the Finnish Lapphund are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Size Comparison of Akbash versus Finnish Lapphund

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Akbash and the Finnish Lapphund.

    Akbashs weigh 75 to 140 pounds when fully grown. Akbashs are 27 to 34 inches when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Finnish Lapphunds weigh 33 to 53 pounds when fully grown. Finnish Lapphunds are 17 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Akbash versus Finnish Lapphund

    The lifespan of Akbashs is between 10 to 12 years. The average lifespan of Akbashs is 11.0 years.

    The lifespan of Finnish Lapphunds is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Finnish Lapphunds is 13.5 years.

    Finnish Lapphunds live longer than Akbashs.

    Temperament of the Akbash Versus the Finnish Lapphund

    The Akbash has a better temperament than the Finnish Lapphund.

    This is because the temperament score for the Akbash is 87.5 percent while the temperament score for the Finnish Lapphund is 62.5 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 87.5 percent, the Akbash has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 62.5 percent, the Finnish Lapphund has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Akbash and the Finnish Lapphund by measuring the temperaments of 16 Akbashs and 8 Finnish Lapphunds.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Akbash versus Finnish Lapphund

    Akbashs can be left alone for some time without problems.

    Finnish Lapphunds do not like to be left alone.

    Do Akbashs shed more than Finnish Lapphunds?

    Akbashs shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Finnish Lapphunds shed moderately.

    Which one drools more, the Akbash or the Finnish Lapphund

    Akbashs do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Finnish Lapphunds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Akbash or the Finnish Lapphund?

    Akbashs are moderately easy to groom.

    Finnish Lapphunds are very easy to groom.

    Does the Akbash Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Finnish Lapphund?

    Akbashs have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Finnish Lapphunds have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Do Akbashs Bark and Howl? What about Finnish Lapphunds?

    Akbashs bark and howl, but not very much.

    Finnish Lapphunds bark and howl, but not very much.

    Can Akbashs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Finnish Lapphunds Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Akbashs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Finnish Lapphunds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Akbash vs. Finnish Lapphund

    Akbashs do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

    Finnish Lapphunds have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Akbashs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Finnish Lapphunds Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Akbashs cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Finnish Lapphunds cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Akbash or the Finnish Lapphund?

    Akbashs get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Finnish Lapphunds get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Akbashs good family dogs? What about Finnish Lapphunds?

    Akbashs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Finnish Lapphunds are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Akbashs and Finnish Lapphunds?

    Akbashs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Finnish Lapphunds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the Akbash Easier to Train than the Finnish Lapphund?

    Akbashs are fairly easy to train.

    Finnish Lapphunds are very easy to train.

    Is the Akbash Better for Apartment Owners than the Finnish Lapphund?

    Akbashs do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Finnish Lapphunds adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Akbash or the Finnish Lapphund?

    Akbashs are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Finnish Lapphunds are very good for new dog owners.

    Conclusion: Akbash versus Finnish Lapphund. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Akbash and the Finnish Lapphund better suits you and your family.