Differences and Similarities between the Finnish Lapphund and the Plott.

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Finnish Lapphund Versus Plott: Introduction

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

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

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 Plott

Finnish Lapphund versus Plott: Overview

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

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 Plott belongs to the Hound Dogs group. Hound Dogs were bred to pursue and hunt warm-blooded animals. Hounds hunt by using their good sight or their good sense of smell. Dogs that belong to the Hound Group have strong prey drives and often will stop at nothing to catch what they are pursuing.

Finnish Lapphund versus Plott: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Finnish Lapphund to the Plott 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 Plott
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 12 to 14 years
Height 17 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder 20 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 2/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 2/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 5/5
Weight 33 to 53 pounds 40 to 75 pounds
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 4/5 1/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 1/5
Easygoing 2/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 3/5
Easy To Groom 4/5 5/5
General Health 4/5 5/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 2/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 1/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 1/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 5/5
Easy To Train 5/5 4/5
Intelligence 5/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 1/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 3/5
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 13.0 years
Price Range No Data $480 – $700
Average Price No Data $600
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
    		•  No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 168 161

    *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 Plott. 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 Plott is 74 out of 125.

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

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

  • Finnish Lapphunds adapt well to apartment living. However, Plotts do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Finnish Lapphunds are good for new dog owners. However, Plotts are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Finnish Lapphunds can tolerate cold weather. However, Plotts cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    • The Similarities Between the Finnish Lapphund and the Plott

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

  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Plott do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Plott do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Plott 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 Plott are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Plott are very easy to groom.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Plott are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Plott gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Plott are prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Plott have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Plott have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Plott require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Plott are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Plott get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Plott are very easy to train.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Plott have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Plott do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.

    • Size (Weight and Height) of Finnish Lapphund versus Plott

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

    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, Plotts weigh 40 to 75 pounds when fully grown. Plotts are 20 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    The Popularity of Finnish Lapphund versus Popularity of Plott

    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 Plott over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Plott is more popular with dog owners than the Finnish Lapphund. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Plott is 161 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 Plott

    Popularity of Plott

    Year Finnish Lapphund Popularity Rank Plott Popularity Rank
    2013 171 149
    2014 173 154
    2015 169 149
    2016 173 158
    2017 173 166
    2018 161 171
    2019 165 177
    2020 165 167

    Which one drools more, the Finnish Lapphund or the Plott

    Finnish Lapphunds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Plotts do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Finnish Lapphund versus Plott

    Finnish Lapphunds do not like to be left alone.

    Plotts do not like to be left alone.

    Can Finnish Lapphunds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Plotts Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

    Plotts can tolerate hot weather.

    Do Finnish Lapphunds shed more than Plotts?

    Finnish Lapphunds shed moderately.

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

    Do Finnish Lapphunds Bark and Howl? What about Plotts?

    Finnish Lapphunds bark and howl, but not very much.

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

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

    Finnish Lapphunds adapt very well to apartment living.

    Plotts do not adapt well to apartment living.

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

    Finnish Lapphunds are very good for new dog owners.

    Plotts are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

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

    Finnish Lapphunds are very easy to groom.

    Plotts are very easy to groom.

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

    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.

    Plotts 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. Plott

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

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

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

    Finnish Lapphunds can very well tolerate cold weather.

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

    Are Finnish Lapphunds good family dogs? What about Plotts?

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

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

    How Kid-friendly are Finnish Lapphunds and Plotts?

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

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

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

    Finnish Lapphunds get along very well with other dogs.

    Plotts get along very well with other dogs.

    Is the Finnish Lapphund Easier to Train than the Plott?

    Finnish Lapphunds are very easy to train.

    Plotts 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 Plott vs American Eskimo Dog.
  • Bearded Collie (80 percent match with Finnish Lapphund). Here is our comparison of the Plott vs Bearded Collie.
  • English Cocker Spaniel (79 percent match with Finnish Lapphund). Here is our comparison of the Plott vs English Cocker Spaniel.
  • Jack Russell Terrier (80 percent match with Finnish Lapphund). Here is our comparison of the Plott vs Jack Russell Terrier.

    • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Plott

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

  • Patterdale Terrier (77 percent match with Plott). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Lapphund vs Patterdale Terrier.
  • Rhodesian Ridgeback (77 percent match with Plott). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Lapphund vs Rhodesian Ridgeback.

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Finnish Lapphund Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Finnish Lapphund versus German Pinscher     Finnish Lapphund versus Greater Swiss Mountain Dog     Finnish Lapphund versus Basset Fauve de Bretagne     Finnish Lapphund versus Australian Terrier     Finnish Lapphund versus Tibetan Spaniel     Finnish Lapphund versus Cockalier     Finnish Lapphund versus Morkie     Finnish Lapphund versus Miniature Poodle     Finnish Lapphund versus Estrela Mountain Dog     Finnish Lapphund versus Irish Wolfhound     

    Plott Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Plott versus Toy Fox Terrier     Plott versus Puli     Plott versus Irish Wolfhound     Plott versus Pyredoodle     Plott versus Australian Kelpie     Plott versus Rhodesian Ridgeback     Plott versus Dalmatian     Plott versus Basenji     Plott versus Frenchton     Plott versus Norwegian Buhund     

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