Is the Curly-Coated Retriever Better than the Finnish Lapphund as a Pet? Answer…

Curly-Coated Retriever versus Finnish Lapphund

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Curly-Coated Retriever Versus Finnish Lapphund: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Curly-Coated Retriever 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 Curly-Coated Retriever 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 Curly-Coated Retriever and the Finnish Lapphund.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Curly-Coated Retriever 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 Curly-Coated Retriever 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 Curly-Coated Retriever 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 Curly-Coated Retriever or the Finnish Lapphund

Curly-Coated Retriever versus Finnish Lapphund: Overview

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

Furthermore, the Curly-Coated Retriever belongs to the Sporting Dogs group. Sporting Dogs were bred to help hunters catch and retrieve feathered game. Some sporting dog breeds such as Retrievers, which were built for swimming, were bred to hunt waterfowl in water. Whereas sporting dog breeds like setters, spaniels, and pointing breeds were bred to hunt quail, pheasant, and other game birds nest on grasslands. Many Sporting Group breeds have thick, water-repellent coats that protect them from harsh hunting conditions.

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.

Curly-Coated Retriever versus Finnish Lapphund: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Curly-Coated Retriever 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 Curly-Coated Retriever Finnish Lapphund
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 4/5
Height 1 foot, 11 inches to 2 feet, 3 inches tall at the 17 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder
Does NOT Drool 4/5 5/5
General Health 2/5 4/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 4/5
Easygoing 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 3/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 2/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 1/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 5/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 2/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 5/5
Easy To Train 4/5 5/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Intelligence 5/5 5/5
Does NOT chew on things 1/5 2/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Weight 65 to 100 pounds 33 to 53 pounds
Life Span 9 to 12 years 12 to 15 years
Average Lifespan 10.5 years 13.5 years
Price Range No Data No Data
Average Price No Data No Data
Temperament Score 91.7 percent 62.5 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Cord-1 PRA
  • EIC (Exercise Induced Collapse)
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • GSD IIIa
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 162 168

    *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 Curly-Coated Retriever 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 Curly-Coated Retriever is 77 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 Curly-Coated Retriever. 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 Curly-Coated Retriever 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 Curly-Coated Retriever and the Finnish Lapphund

    Below is a list of where the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Finnish Lapphund are most different:

  • Curly-Coated Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living. However, Finnish Lapphunds adapt well to apartment living.
  • The Similarities Between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Finnish Lapphund

    The Curly-Coated Retriever and the Finnish Lapphund are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Finnish Lapphund are most similar:

  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Finnish Lapphund do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Finnish Lapphund can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Finnish Lapphund get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Finnish Lapphund are very easy to train.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Finnish Lapphund have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Finnish Lapphund require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Finnish Lapphund are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Finnish Lapphund get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Finnish Lapphund are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Finnish Lapphund are prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Finnish Lapphund have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Finnish Lapphund have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Finnish Lapphund are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Curly-Coated Retriever versus Finnish Lapphund

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Finnish Lapphund.

    Curly-Coated Retrievers weigh 65 to 100 pounds when fully grown. Curly-Coated Retrievers are 1 foot, 11 inches to 2 feet, 3 inches tall at the 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 Finnish Lapphund Versus the Curly-Coated Retriever

    The Curly-Coated Retriever has a better temperament than the Finnish Lapphund.

    This is because the temperament score for the Curly-Coated Retriever is 91.7 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 91.7 percent, the Curly-Coated Retriever 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 Curly-Coated Retriever and the Finnish Lapphund by measuring the temperaments of 181 Curly-Coated Retrievers and 8 Finnish Lapphunds.

    The Popularity of Curly-Coated Retriever 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 Curly-Coated Retriever and the Finnish Lapphund over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Curly-Coated Retriever is more popular with dog owners than the Finnish Lapphund. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Curly-Coated Retriever is 162 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Finnish Lapphund is 168 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Curly-Coated Retriever

    Popularity of Curly-Coated Retriever

    Popularity of Finnish Lapphund

    Popularity of Finnish Lapphund

    Year Curly-Coated Retriever Popularity Rank Finnish Lapphund Popularity Rank
    2013 163 171
    2014 163 173
    2015 151 169
    2016 164 173
    2017 171 173
    2018 162 161
    2019 163 165
    2020 159 165

    Health Problems of Curly-Coated Retriever 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 Curly-Coated Retriever 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 Curly-Coated Retriever is prone to more genetic health problems than the Finnish Lapphund.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Curly-Coated Retriever than for the Finnish Lapphund.

    7 health tests are recommended for Curly-Coated Retriever while 6 tests are recommended for the Finnish Lapphund.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Curly-Coated Retrievers and in Finnish Lapphunds.

    Curly-Coated Retriever Health Problems

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Curly-Coated Retriever 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 Curly-Coated Retriever puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Curly-Coated Retriever 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 Curly-Coated Retrievers for:

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Cord-1 PRA
  • EIC (Exercise Induced Collapse)
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • GSD IIIa
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Curly-Coated Retrievers 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 Curly-Coated Retrievers 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 Curly-Coated Retriever Breed is Exercise Induced Collapse problems.

    This is because the Curly-Coated Retriever ranks 1 out of 6 dog breeds for Exercise Induced Collapse problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 145 Curly-Coated Retrievers, 12 of them had Exercise Induced Collapse problems.

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

  • Exercise Induced Collapse problems: Rank 1 out of 6 Dog Breeds
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems: Rank 10 out of 32 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 24 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 73 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 84 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 136 out of 144 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 Curly-Coated Retriever and in Finnish Lapphund and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Finnish Lapphund:

    Disease Curly-Coated Retriever Rank Finnish Lapphund Rank
    Exercise Induced Collapse problems 1 out of 6 dog breeds Not Common
    Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems 10 out of 32 dog breeds Not Common
    Congenital Cardiac problems 24 out of 159 dog breeds Not Common
    Hips problems 73 out of 198 dog breeds 119 out of 198 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 84 out of 182 dog breeds 90 out of 182 dog breeds
    Elbow problems 136 out of 144 dog breeds 86 out of 144 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.

    Is the Curly-Coated Retriever Better for Apartment Owners than the Finnish Lapphund?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Finnish Lapphunds adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which one drools more, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Finnish Lapphund

    Curly-Coated Retrievers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Finnish Lapphunds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Finnish Lapphund?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are OK for new dog owners.

    Finnish Lapphunds are very good for new dog owners.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Curly-Coated Retriever versus Finnish Lapphund

    Curly-Coated Retrievers can be left alone only for a short time.

    Finnish Lapphunds do not like to be left alone.

    Do Curly-Coated Retrievers shed more than Finnish Lapphunds?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers shed moderately.

    Finnish Lapphunds shed moderately.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Finnish Lapphund?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are moderately easy to groom.

    Finnish Lapphunds are very easy to groom.

    Do Curly-Coated Retrievers Bark and Howl? What about Finnish Lapphunds?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers bark and howl, but not very much.

    Finnish Lapphunds bark and howl, but not very much.

    Can Curly-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Finnish Lapphunds Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Finnish Lapphunds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Can Curly-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Finnish Lapphunds Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers can tolerate hot weather.

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

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Finnish Lapphund?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers get along very well with other dogs.

    Finnish Lapphunds get along very well with other dogs.

    Is the Curly-Coated Retriever Easier to Train than the Finnish Lapphund?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are very easy to train.

    Finnish Lapphunds are very easy to train.

    Wanderlust Potential: Curly-Coated Retriever vs. Finnish Lapphund

    Curly-Coated Retrievers have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

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

    Are Curly-Coated Retrievers good family dogs? What about Finnish Lapphunds?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers 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 Curly-Coated Retrievers and Finnish Lapphunds?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

    Does the Curly-Coated Retriever Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Finnish Lapphund?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers 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.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Curly-Coated Retriever

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Curly-Coated Retriever 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 Curly-Coated Retriever:

  • Airedale Terrier (82 percent match with Curly-Coated Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Lapphund vs Airedale Terrier.
  • English Springer Spaniel (79 percent match with Curly-Coated Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Lapphund vs English Springer Spaniel.
  • Irish Setter (82 percent match with Curly-Coated Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Lapphund vs Irish Setter.
  • 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 Curly-Coated Retriever vs American Eskimo Dog.
  • Bearded Collie (80 percent match with Finnish Lapphund). Here is our comparison of the Curly-Coated Retriever vs Bearded Collie.
  • English Cocker Spaniel (79 percent match with Finnish Lapphund). Here is our comparison of the Curly-Coated Retriever vs English Cocker Spaniel.
  • Jack Russell Terrier (80 percent match with Finnish Lapphund). Here is our comparison of the Curly-Coated Retriever vs Jack Russell Terrier.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Curly-Coated Retriever Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Curly-Coated Retriever versus Clumber Spaniel     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Icelandic Sheepdog     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Alaskan Malamute     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Brussels Griffon     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Shih Tzu     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Beaglier     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Boston Terrier     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Weimaraner     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Irish Wolfhound     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Lhasa Apso     

    Finnish Lapphund Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Finnish Lapphund versus Kishu Ken     Finnish Lapphund versus Chinese Crested     Finnish Lapphund versus Canaan Dog     Finnish Lapphund versus Mastiff     Finnish Lapphund versus Norwegian Buhund     Finnish Lapphund versus Silky Terrier     Finnish Lapphund versus Bloodhound     Finnish Lapphund versus Bolognese     Finnish Lapphund versus Bergamasco Sheepdog     Finnish Lapphund versus Affenhuahua     

    Conclusion: Curly-Coated Retriever 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 Curly-Coated Retriever and the Finnish Lapphund better suits you and your family.