July 8, 2024 | Awake & Dreaming

One of the best things to enjoy during the summer is a pick-nick lunch. Nothing is as good as sitting in a park or a meadow, on the grass or a park bench and enjoying the weather with some cold ones and some good food. A picnic can be as simple or sophisticated as any other meal.

You can start with a wonderful old-fashioned picnic basket — or perhaps you’ll just go for some sturdy, flat-bottomed canvas bags and a cooler. It’s a good idea to have one container (or more if needed) that will keep things consistently chilled, preferably insulated, with the addition of some frozen ice packs. Plastic bins and boxes are also possible alternatives to sturdy bags. You can prepare for starters like crackers and cheese. If you are bringing delicate green lettuce salads, pack the dressing separately and toss the salads when you get there.

Ranch salad dressing, hard boiled eggs, Two-Bite Brownies, sliced melon, grilled vegetables, washed greens, iced tea, potato salad, cooked pasta, peach slab pie…all are stellar examples of picnic preparations. You can have fried chicken and sandwiches Also pack a lot of fruit – bigger fruit like watermelon or pineapple should be cut up and kept in containers. There’s something about eating in nature that stimulates the appetite.It’s important that the contents of the picnic basket be substantial, nourishing and most of all, plentiful.

1. They’re Beautiful Dogs

Although their voluminous coat makes them appear larger, Finnish Lapphunds are really medium-sized dogs, with males averaging 18-21 inches tall and females ranging from 16-19 inches. They have a straight or wavy coat with a soft, dense undercoat. They also have a sweet, soft expression that’s sure to win hearts.

2. This Is an Ancient Breed

The Finnish Lapphund originated with the Sami, a semi-nomadic people in Lapland who covered parts of Finland, Sweden, and Russia. Remains of Lapponian dogs date back to 7000 B.C.! As the Sami culture evolved into a less nomadic one, the dogs were used to herd reindeer.

3. Finnish Lapphunds Are Quick and Agile

Speaking of reindeer, those are tough animals with hooves that can be deadly. Although herding sheep or cows requires special skills, herding reindeer takes other distinct skills that are inherent in Lappies. The breed is quick, brave, and agile, with a strong startle reflex that served them well if a reindeer suddenly turned on them.

4. They Tend to Bark

4. Another trait crucial to this herding dog is a tendency to bark. Finnish Lapphunds used barking to control the herd, and they are still barkers today.

On the one hand, this makes them very good watchdogs that will let you know if someone’s coming. On the other hand, teaching your Lappie when it’s OK to bark and when it isn’t is an important part of training.

5. They’re Sometimes Called a “Thinking Breed”

The Finnish Lapphund is sometimes referred to as a “thinking breed.” Although, as with most herders, they can be strong-willed, Lappies take to training and do well in dog sports. They also perform well as tracking dogs, therapy dogs, and in search and rescue.

6. They Weren’t Bred to Be Guardian Dogs

The Lappie is not a guardian dog. They’ll alert you to the presence of strangers, but they are not aggressive. In fact, they’re a devoted, sociable, and good-natured breed.

7. They Are a Distinct Dog Breed

Despite similarities in appearance to the Australian Shepherd, Samoyed, and Siberian Husky, the Finnish Lapphund is their own breed. They are calm, friendly, and attached to their human pack, yet with the intelligence, quickness, and courage of a dog used to working in tough Northern conditions. It’s no wonder the breed is becoming such a favorite!