1 of 1

Write now Article Tools

The Norwegian Lundehund, also known as the Norwegian Puffin Dog, the Norsk Lundehund, or simply as the Lundehund, is a small spitz-type of dog that is one of the rarest breeds in the world. These dogs originated in the northern portion of Norway. They were originally bred to hunt puffins prior to the 1800s.

In 1943, they were recognized as a true breed. Today, this breed is accepted for registry in the NKC, the FCI, the AKC, the CKC, the ACR, and the DRA. In all of these organizations, they are classified under the "spitz" dog category. Although having a registered dog may not mean that much to the average pet owner who is only looking for a loving companion, it does increase the monetary value of the dog for those who want to breed the animal or compete with him or her.

The Norwegian Lundehund is a dog that has some very interesting characteristics that set it apart from other, more common, breeds. First, the Lundehund has six toes on each foot. They also have joints in the neck and shoulderbones that are amazingly flexible. According to breed standards, the dogs should be between 12 and 15.5 inches tall, when measured from the ground to the withers. Their weight can vary a bit, but they should be between 13 and 20 pounds, with males typically being slightly larger than females of the breed. The ears are very flexible and are held in the upright position, hanging down the side of the head. The brown eyes are set deep in the head. The muzzle is rather long. The nose and lips are black. The tail is carried either hanging downwards or curled up slightly over the back.

The coat of the Norwegian Lundehund is short and rough, straight and flat to the skin. The acceptable coat colors are reddish brown to fallow with black tips on the hairs, black with white markings, gray with white markings, or white with dark markings. Often, the dogs will become darker as they age than they are when they are pups. Their grooming is quite easy. A weekly thorough brushing with a stiff bristled brush and a shampoo when needed will suffice. The breed are heavy shedders.

They are highly intelligent dogs and can be trained quickly, especially in areas such as agility that are similar to one big game. Training must be consistent, with the human establishing his or her position as "pack leader" from the start. If you are patient, consistent and calm, the dog will respond well to training and learn quickly. Potty training should be done with crating, or there will almost always be problems in this area.

They are affectionate and loving with their families, both the humans and the other animals in the home. These are very social dogs and love even newcomers as long as there is no danger to their families. This little dog loves to play! They are very active and need to have room to run, having some time to play off the leash. They should also have a brisk walk daily. They have active minds, as well, and should have mental stimulation to prevent them from becoming bored and developing some undesirable behaviors, such as obsessive barking and destructiveness. The average life expectancy of the Norwegian Lundehund is twelve years.

Learn more about this author, Victoria Tiegert.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Dog breed facts: Norwegian Lundehund?
We want to hear your view. Write now!