Norwegian Lundehund Breed Guide

What is the history & origin of the Norwegian Lundehund?

One of the rarest dogs in the world is the Norwegian Lundehund. It was bread for puffin hunting. It would scale cliffs to get to puffin nests and bring back live puffins for their masters.

Written records of this dog have been around since the 1400s but it is still not known how long they have been around. They are originally from a very remote area on the Norwegian coast.

Those who had Norwegian Lundehunds often had up to or more than a dozen at a time and were considered to be more valuable than cows.

By the 1930s this breed was almost extinct due to they no longer needed to hunt puffins. A breeder from England founded the Lexor Kennel and had about 60 of them.

During World War II the breed contracted a sickness called distemper that wiped out all of them in Norway. After which the English breeder sent them dogs, only for her dogs to get the sickness too.

By the 1960s there were only four dogs left in the world from which every descendant today comes.

Who are Norwegian Lundehund dogs best for?

This breed is best suited to be a family dog and will get along well with all family members. It is important to know that this breed is naturally primitive, making them very stubborn and hard to train. Bred-to-be climbers, this breed is extremely nimble and can get into any kind of space with ease.

They are friendly dogs and can be in a household with older children. They need owners who will take the time to housetrain as they are a very independent, stubborn breed.

Active owners will also best suit this breed. They are agile and love physical activities. They love to climb and are very flexible. They can bend their head backwards and splat their front legs so taking them out on your adventures will make them very happy.

They are suitable for apartment living provided that they get enough exercise.

How much grooming does a Norwegian Lundehund need?

The Norwegian Lundehund has a dense double coat. A rough outer coat and a soft undercoat that is very insulated. Their coat is reddish-brown with black hair tips. They have triangular ears and do not require a rigorous grooming routine.

They can also be black or grey dog hair with white markings or white with dark markings.

This breed should be brushed once a week to get rid of any loose hair as well as to prevent matting. Their heavy shedding seasons are normally Spring and Fall. This is when they will get rid of their undercoat.

It is recommended to bathe them at least once a month. This is dependent on how dirty they get over time.

When grooming is sure to check their ears and trim their nails.

Do Norwegian Lundehund bark much?

The Norwegian Lundehund does tend to bark. They are very wary of meeting new people or strangers. They can be very standoffish which may cause them to bark as well.

Do Norwegian Lundehund bite?

This breed is not known to be overly aggressive and therefore is not prone to biting. As a puppy, they may nibble and chew on things due to teething or curiosity this can be solved by giving them chew toys or other things to distract them.

Training them from a very young age about what is acceptable behaviour will help to avoid this kind of behaviour when they get older.

What is the temperament & personality of a Norwegian Lundehund?

These dogs are quite active and need a ton of mental stimulation as they are a very intelligent breed. They are not the type to cuddle up with you on the couch with you.

They prefer to be outside, run around, climb things, dig, and occasionally bark. They are friendly but are very wary of strangers and maybe quite standoffish with other dogs and people.

This does not take away from the fact that they are courageous and fun-loving dogs that will do well in dog sports.

What is the weight & size of a Norwegian Lundehund?

• They have a wither height of 30 cm to 38 cm.

• Weight of 6 kg to 9 kg.

• An overall body length is between 46 cm to 56 cm.

• A standing height between 38 cm to 46 cm.

How much training does a Norwegian Lundehund need?

Training a Norwegian Lundehund will not be easy. They are independent and stubborn. It is always best to train your dog from an early age so that they become accustomed to what is right from wrong before they develop bad habits.

This breed does not do well with harsh types of training. They do not respond well to harsh corrections and will shut down to refuse to learn.

They are an intelligent breed and need a lot of mental stimulation. This means that training sessions with them should be varied and more fun.

What are some of the most common health issues for a Norwegian Lundehund?

The Norwegian Lundehund is generally a very healthy breed despite having some genetic issues. This is what you need to know about their health conditions.

• Patella Luxation - This is when the kneecap slips out of the groove it is supposed to be in. The kneecap is meant to fit into the groove of the femur bone. This may be because the groove is shallower. This can be evident when they are puppies already.

• Eye Problems

• Intestinal Orders - They are prone to a disorder called lymphangiectasia. This intestinal disorder inhibits their ability to take in nutrients from food.

What is the lifespan of a Norwegian Lundehund?

The Norwegian Lundehund has a life span of 10 to 12 years. This is also not guaranteed as they are prone to intestinal disorders and other health problems.

How much should you feed a Norwegian Lundehund?

Always provide your dog with fresh water, an active dog like the Norwegian Lundehund will need lots of water after running around or climbing.

It is best to feed them a quality dog diet that will not trigger their intestinal issues. It is recommended to feed them twice a day.

They are prone to picking up weight and should therefore be fed a healthy balanced diet. They should be on a high-protein, low-fat diet.

What is the price of a Norwegian Lundehund in Australia?

The average cost of a Norwegian Lundehund in Australia is $2 000 and can go as high as $3 000.

Its price will be dependent on which breeder you get them from, their pedigree, and the lineage of their parents.

You want to make sure that you get them from a reputable breeder and make sure that the puppies and parents were screened for any health problems.

They are the rarest breed in the world so you should expect them to be expensive.