A Detailed Comparison of the Collie and the Finnish Lapphund.

Collie versus Finnish Lapphund

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Collie Versus Finnish Lapphund: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Collie 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 Collie 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 more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Collie 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 Collie or the Finnish Lapphund

Collie versus Finnish Lapphund

Collie versus Finnish Lapphund: Overview

Both the Collie and the Finnish Lapphund are similar in size. The Collie and the Finnish Lapphund are both medium-sized dogs.

Furthermore, both the Collie and the Finnish Lapphund are Herding Dogs. This means both the Collie and the Finnish Lapphund 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.

Collie versus Finnish Lapphund: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Collie 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.

Factor Collie Finnish Lapphund
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 5/5 2/5
Life Span 10 to 14 years 12 to 15 years
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 2/5
Easy To Groom 2/5 4/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 4/5 1/5
Height 22 to 26 inches all at the shoulder 17 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 3/5 4/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 2/5
General Health 3/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 2/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 2/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 4/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 5/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 4/5
Easy To Train 4/5 5/5
Intelligence 4/5 5/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 2/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 3/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 5/5
Easygoing 1/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 1/5 3/5
Weight 50 to 70 pounds 33 to 53 pounds
Average Lifespan 12.0 years 13.5 years
Average Price $1480 No Data
Price Range $1000 – $1800 No Data
Temperament Score 80.8 percent 62.5 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Clear By Parentage
  • Dermatomyositis
  • Multiple Drug Sensitivity
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 37 168

    *Data from dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (the American Temperament Test Society)

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Collie 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 a Collie is 83 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Finnish Lapphund is 84 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Finnish Lapphund is a better pet than the Collie. 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 Collie 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 Collie and the Finnish Lapphund

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

  • Collies 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.
  • Collies 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 Collie and the Finnish Lapphund

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

  • Both the Collie and the Finnish Lapphund do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Collie and the Finnish Lapphund do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Collie and the Finnish Lapphund are good for new dog owners.
  • Both the Collie and the Finnish Lapphund can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Collie and the Finnish Lapphund get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Collie and the Finnish Lapphund are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Collie and the Finnish Lapphund are very easy to train.
  • Both the Collie and the Finnish Lapphund are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Collie and the Finnish Lapphund have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Collie and the Finnish Lapphund are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Collie and the Finnish Lapphund are very playful.
  • Both the Collie and the Finnish Lapphund are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Both the Collie and the Finnish Lapphund are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Collie and the Finnish Lapphund get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Collie versus Finnish Lapphund

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

    Collies weigh 50 to 70 pounds when fully grown. Collies are 22 to 26 inches all at the shoulder 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.

    Temperament of the Collie Versus the Finnish Lapphund

    The Collie has a better temperament than the Finnish Lapphund.

    This is because the temperament score for the Collie is 80.8 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 they 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 80.8 percent, the Collie has a below-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 Collie and the Finnish Lapphund by measuring the temperaments of 896 Collies and 8 Finnish Lapphunds.

    The Popularity of Collie versus Popularity of Finnish Lapphund

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Collie and the Finnish Lapphund over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Collie is more popular with dog owners than the Finnish Lapphund. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Collie is 37 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Finnish Lapphund is 168 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Collie

    Popularity of Collie

    Popularity of Finnish Lapphund

    Popularity of Finnish Lapphund

    Year Collie Popularity Rank Finnish Lapphund Popularity Rank
    2013 35 171
    2014 36 173
    2015 36 169
    2016 37 173
    2017 40 173
    2018 38 161
    2019 38 165
    2020 40 165

    Health Problems of Collie versus Health Problems of Finnish Lapphund

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. Therefore, there is nothing like a perfect puppy.

    Both the Collie and the Finnish Lapphund are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Finnish Lapphund is prone to more genetic health problems than the Collie.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Finnish Lapphund than for the Collie.

    4 health tests are recommended for Collie while 6 tests are recommended for the Finnish Lapphund.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Collies and in Finnish Lapphunds.

    Collie Health Problems

    Collies are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Collie puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Collie puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Collie breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Collies for:

  • Clear By Parentage
  • Dermatomyositis
  • Multiple Drug Sensitivity
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Collies here.

    Finnish Lapphund Health Problems

    Finnish Lapphunds are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Finnish Lapphund puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Finnish Lapphund puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Finnish Lapphund breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Finnish Lapphunds for:

  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Finnish Lapphunds here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Collies and Finnish Lapphunds

    Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Collie Breed is Collie Eye Anomaly problems.

    This is because the Collie ranks 1 out of 7 dog breeds for Collie Eye Anomaly problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 114 Collies, 16 of them had Collie Eye Anomaly problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Collies, and how common these diseases are in Collies relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Collie Eye Anomaly problems: Rank 1 out of 7 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 1 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Multiple Drug Resistance (Mdr1) problems: Rank 1 out of 7 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 13 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 16 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 65 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 107 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 182 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Finnish Lapphund Breed is Patella problems.

    This is because the Finnish Lapphund ranks 74 out of 145 dog breeds for Patella problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 160 Finnish Lapphunds, 3 of them had Patella problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Finnish Lapphunds, and how common these diseases are in Finnish Lapphunds relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Patella problems: Rank 74 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 86 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 90 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 119 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in Collie and in Finnish Lapphund and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Collie and the Finnish Lapphund:

    Disease Collie Rank Finnish Lapphund Rank
    Collie Eye Anomaly problems 1 out of 7 dog breeds Not Common
    Eyes problems 1 out of 182 dog breeds 90 out of 182 dog breeds
    Multiple Drug Resistance (Mdr1) problems 1 out of 7 dog breeds Not Common
    Dentition Database problems 13 out of 49 dog breeds Not Common
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems 16 out of 70 dog breeds Not Common
    Thyroid problems 65 out of 115 dog breeds Not Common
    Elbow problems 107 out of 144 dog breeds 86 out of 144 dog breeds
    Hips problems 182 out of 198 dog breeds 119 out of 198 dog breeds
    Patella problems Not Common 74 out of 145 dog breeds

    *To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.

    Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.

    Which one drools more, the Collie or the Finnish Lapphund

    Collies do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Finnish Lapphunds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Wanderlust Potential: Collie vs. Finnish Lapphund

    Collies 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.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Collie versus Finnish Lapphund

    Collies do not like to be left alone.

    Finnish Lapphunds do not like to be left alone.

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

    Collies require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Finnish Lapphunds are very easy to groom.

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

    Collies adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Finnish Lapphunds adapt very well to apartment living.

    Can Collies Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Finnish Lapphunds Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Collies can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

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

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

    Collies are very good for new dog owners.

    Finnish Lapphunds are very good for new dog owners.

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

    Collies can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Finnish Lapphunds can very well tolerate cold weather.

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

    Collies get along very well with other dogs.

    Finnish Lapphunds get along very well with other dogs.

    Is the Collie Easier to Train than the Finnish Lapphund?

    Collies are very easy to train.

    Finnish Lapphunds are very easy to train.

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

    Collies 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.

    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 Collies Bark and Howl? What about Finnish Lapphunds?

    Collies are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Finnish Lapphunds bark and howl, but not very much.

    Are Collies good family dogs? What about Finnish Lapphunds?

    Collies 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 Collies and Finnish Lapphunds?

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

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

    Do Collies shed more than Finnish Lapphunds?

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

    Finnish Lapphunds shed moderately.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Collie

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Collie that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Collie:

  • Keeshond (84 percent match with Collie). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Lapphund vs Keeshond.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Finnish Lapphund

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Finnish Lapphund that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Finnish Lapphund:

  • American Eskimo Dog (79 percent match with Finnish Lapphund). Here is our comparison of the Collie vs American Eskimo Dog.
  • Bearded Collie (80 percent match with Finnish Lapphund). Here is our comparison of the Collie vs Bearded Collie.
  • English Cocker Spaniel (79 percent match with Finnish Lapphund). Here is our comparison of the Collie vs English Cocker Spaniel.
  • Jack Russell Terrier (80 percent match with Finnish Lapphund). Here is our comparison of the Collie vs Jack Russell Terrier.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Collie and how the Finnish Lapphund compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Collie and of the Finnish Lapphund to other breeds:

    Collie Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Collie versus Australian Shepherd     Collie versus Cardigan Welsh Corgi     Collie versus Cocker Spaniel     Collie versus Pyrenean Mastiff     Collie versus Skye Terrier     Collie versus Alaskan Klee Kai     Collie versus Spanish Mastiff     Collie versus Saint Bernard     Collie versus Puggle     Collie versus Korean Jindo Dog     

    Finnish Lapphund Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Finnish Lapphund versus Standard Schnauzer     Finnish Lapphund versus Neapolitan Mastiff     Finnish Lapphund versus English Springer Spaniel     Finnish Lapphund versus Great Dane     Finnish Lapphund versus Chihuahua     Finnish Lapphund versus West Highland White Terrier     Finnish Lapphund versus Saint Berdoodle     Finnish Lapphund versus Bracco Italiano     Finnish Lapphund versus Xoloitzcuintli     Finnish Lapphund versus Boerboel     

    Conclusion: Collie 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 Collie and the Finnish Lapphund better suits you and your family.