Is the Finnish Lapphund Better than the Papillon as a Pet? Answer…

Finnish Lapphund versus Papillon

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Finnish Lapphund Versus Papillon: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Finnish Lapphund and the Papillon? 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 Finnish Lapphund and the Papillon 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 Finnish Lapphund and the Papillon.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Finnish Lapphund and the Papillon 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 Finnish Lapphund and for the Papillon. 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 Finnish Lapphund and the Papillon.

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

Finnish Lapphund versus Papillon

Finnish Lapphund versus Papillon: Overview

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

Furthermore, 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.

On the other hand, the Papillon belongs to the Companion Dogs group. Companion Dogs were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.

Finnish Lapphund versus Papillon: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Finnish Lapphund to the Papillon 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 Finnish Lapphund Papillon
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 12 to 16 years
Height 17 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder 8 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 1/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 2/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 4/5
Weight 33 to 53 pounds 4 to 9 pounds
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 4/5 5/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 5/5
Easygoing 2/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 4/5 3/5
General Health 4/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 2/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 5/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 1/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 4/5
Easy To Train 5/5 5/5
Intelligence 5/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 1/5 3/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 14.0 years
Price Range No Data $1400 – $2000
Average Price No Data $1800
Temperament Score 62.5 percent 82.3 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • Eye Examination- recommend screening every 2 years
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 168 49

    *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 Finnish Lapphund 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 Papillon. 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 Finnish Lapphund is 84 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Papillon is 89 out of 125.

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

    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 Finnish Lapphund and the Papillon so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Finnish Lapphund and the Papillon

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

  • Finnish Lapphunds have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects. However, Papillons do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
  • Finnish Lapphunds can tolerate cold weather. However, Papillons cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
  • The Similarities Between the Finnish Lapphund and the Papillon

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

  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Papillon do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Papillon do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Papillon adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Papillon are good for new dog owners.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Papillon 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 Finnish Lapphund and the Papillon are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Papillon are very easy to groom.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Papillon are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Papillon gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Papillon are prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Papillon have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Papillon require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Papillon are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Papillon get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Papillon are very easy to train.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Papillon are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Papillon have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Papillon are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Finnish Lapphund versus Papillon

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

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

    On the other hand, Papillons weigh 4 to 9 pounds when fully grown. Papillons are 8 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Temperament of the Papillon Versus the Finnish Lapphund

    The Papillon has a better temperament than the Finnish Lapphund.

    This is because the temperament score for the Papillon is 82.3 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 62.5 percent, the Finnish Lapphund has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 82.3 percent, the Papillon has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Finnish Lapphund and the Papillon by measuring the temperaments of 8 Finnish Lapphunds and 96 Papillons.

    The Popularity of Finnish Lapphund versus Popularity of Papillon

    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 Finnish Lapphund and the Papillon over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Papillon is more popular with dog owners than the Finnish Lapphund. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Papillon is 49 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Finnish Lapphund is 168 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Finnish Lapphund

    Popularity of Finnish Lapphund

    Popularity of Papillon

    Popularity of Papillon

    Year Finnish Lapphund Popularity Rank Papillon Popularity Rank
    2013 171 38
    2014 173 43
    2015 169 48
    2016 173 53
    2017 173 53
    2018 161 54
    2019 165 53
    2020 165 53

    Health Problems of Finnish Lapphund versus Health Problems of Papillon

    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 Finnish Lapphund and the Papillon 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 Papillon.

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

    6 health tests are recommended for Finnish Lapphund while 2 tests are recommended for the Papillon.

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

    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.

    Papillon Health Problems

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

  • Eye Examination- recommend screening every 2 years
  • Patellar Luxation
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Papillons here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Finnish Lapphunds and Papillons

    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
  • 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 Papillon Breed is Patella problems.

    This is because the Papillon ranks 55 out of 145 dog breeds for Patella problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 2362 Papillons, 70 of them had Patella problems.

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

  • Patella problems: Rank 55 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 67 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 148 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in Finnish Lapphund and in Papillon and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Finnish Lapphund and the Papillon:

    Disease Finnish Lapphund Rank Papillon Rank
    Patella problems 74 out of 145 dog breeds 55 out of 145 dog breeds
    Elbow problems 86 out of 144 dog breeds Not Common
    Eyes problems 90 out of 182 dog breeds 148 out of 182 dog breeds
    Hips problems 119 out of 198 dog breeds Not Common
    Congenital Cardiac problems Not Common 67 out of 159 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 Finnish Lapphund or the Papillon

    Finnish Lapphunds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Papillons do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Finnish Lapphund versus Papillon

    Finnish Lapphunds do not like to be left alone.

    Papillons do not like to be left alone.

    Can Finnish Lapphunds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Papillons Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

    Papillons can tolerate hot weather.

    Do Finnish Lapphunds shed more than Papillons?

    Finnish Lapphunds shed moderately.

    Papillons do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Do Finnish Lapphunds Bark and Howl? What about Papillons?

    Finnish Lapphunds bark and howl, but not very much.

    Papillons are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

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

    Finnish Lapphunds adapt very well to apartment living.

    Papillons adapt very well to apartment living.

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

    Finnish Lapphunds are very good for new dog owners.

    Papillons are very good for new dog owners.

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

    Finnish Lapphunds are very easy to groom.

    Papillons are moderately easy to groom.

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

    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.

    Papillons 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.

    Wanderlust Potential: Finnish Lapphund vs. Papillon

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

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

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

    Finnish Lapphunds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Papillons cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Are Finnish Lapphunds good family dogs? What about Papillons?

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

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

    How Kid-friendly are Finnish Lapphunds and Papillons?

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

    Papillons get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.

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

    Finnish Lapphunds get along very well with other dogs.

    Papillons get along very well with other dogs.

    Is the Finnish Lapphund Easier to Train than the Papillon?

    Finnish Lapphunds are very easy to train.

    Papillons are very easy to train.

    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 Papillon vs American Eskimo Dog.
  • Bearded Collie (80 percent match with Finnish Lapphund). Here is our comparison of the Papillon vs Bearded Collie.
  • English Cocker Spaniel (79 percent match with Finnish Lapphund). Here is our comparison of the Papillon vs English Cocker Spaniel.
  • Jack Russell Terrier (80 percent match with Finnish Lapphund). Here is our comparison of the Papillon vs Jack Russell Terrier.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Papillon

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Papillon 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 Papillon:

  • Bichon Frise (78 percent match with Papillon). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Lapphund vs Bichon Frise.
  • Cavachon (78 percent match with Papillon). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Lapphund vs Cavachon.
  • Havanese (79 percent match with Papillon). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Lapphund vs Havanese.
  • Papipoo (86 percent match with Papillon). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Lapphund vs Papipoo.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Finnish Lapphund Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Finnish Lapphund versus Pyrenean Shepherd     Finnish Lapphund versus Toy Fox Terrier     Finnish Lapphund versus Chorkie     Finnish Lapphund versus Patterdale Terrier     Finnish Lapphund versus Silky Terrier     Finnish Lapphund versus Akita Chow     Finnish Lapphund versus Lhasapoo     Finnish Lapphund versus Appenzeller Sennenhunde     Finnish Lapphund versus Dalmatian     Finnish Lapphund versus Goldador     

    Papillon Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Papillon versus Sheepadoodle     Papillon versus Boerboel     Papillon versus Central Asian Shepherd Dog     Papillon versus Anatolian Shepherd Dog     Papillon versus Staffordshire Bull Terrier     Papillon versus Saluki     Papillon versus Yorkshire Terrier     Papillon versus Cocker Spaniel     Papillon versus Tibetan Terrier     Papillon versus Golden Cocker Retriever     

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