Many years ago I adopted a dog from the shelter that looked to be partly yellow Labrador; the other parts were anybody’s guess. I always thought she had some type of Spitz breed in her because of her fluffy, high-set tail that arched over her back. She also had what I thought was a Spitz-like personality. One of the things that set her apart was her expressive ears, they could move in every possible direction. Friends and family loved this dog as much as I did… almost. I remember we were at a big outdoor, dog-friendly gathering once and the conversation drifted to favorite dog breeds. More than one person said they wished my dog was a specific breed because they wanted a dog just like her. She was my constant and cherished companion for 17 years.
During the time that precious pup was part of my life, I hadn’t heard of Norwegian Lundehund dogs. Since then, however, I’ve learned that the Lundehund is a small and active Spitz breed that has upright, triangular ears that move in every direction. Their ears can fold forward, backward, or shut at will, just like my dog’s ears. Furthermore, online images of the Norwegian Lundehund look very similar to the way she looked. There’s no way to confirm it (and it certainly doesn’t matter) but I’ve come to believe that my dog was part Lab, part Lundehund.
The Norwegian Lundehund has a distinctive combination of traits not found in any other dogs. The ear acrobatics are one of the special qualities. Another is that this dog breed has six toes on each foot. Additionally, they’re able to lift their head up and tip it backwards so far that it can touch their back bone. That’s a unique set of characteristics for this one-time Puffin hunting dog.
The history
As the name denotes, the Lundehund is from Norway, where their job was to locate and retrieve live Puffin birds from the fissures of sheer upright Norwegian cliffs. At that time, Puffins were a meat and feather crop for the farmers of Norway so the Lundehunds had an important role in the local economy. But in the 1800’s, Puffins became a protected species and Norwegian Lundehunds were no longer needed. The breed numbers sharply decreased and the Norwegian Lundehund dwindled down until the breed was close to extinction. Several concerned Norwegians joined together and established a plan to save the breed, and the plan is working, albeit slowly. There still are not many of these dogs in existence.
One thing that may help the growth of the breed is the fact that the American Kennel Club recently recognized the Norwegian Lundehund.
Appearance
The Norwegian Lundehund has a medium-sized, wedge-shaped head and prominent but not cartoon-like brows. Their nose is slightly arched, tapering into a medium-length muzzle. They have a black nose and black lips, almond-shaped brownish eyes that are rimmed (it looks like they’re wearing eyeliner), and those fantastically mobile, triangular ears. The neck is strong and medium length.
These dogs are relatively small. Average height is 12-15.5 inches with an average weight of 13-20 pounds. All of the dog’s features are in nice proportion to one another. The Norwegian Lundehund’s dense coat can range from pale brown to reddish brown to tan, with dark hair tips and light markings, or white with red or dark markings. Mature dogs generally have a more distinct dark coloration in their outer coats than younger dogs.
Temperament
This is a smart breed. Alert and energetic, the Lundehund can be trained for sports or agility. They are loyal and protective; these dogs are usually more comfortable with their own pack/family than with strangers. Even though they have a tendency to be shy and somewhat wary of strangers, these dogs are not aggressive towards people. With proper socialization, Lundies make a wonderful family pet.
Health Concerns
These dogs are prone to a myriad of digestive problems including Leaky Gut Syndrome and a problem that’s called Lundehund Syndrome. According to the Dog Breed Info Center, Lundehund Syndrome is the inability to digest grains. The site states that this dog breed thrives on a grain-free diet. A dog food from the CANIDAE Grain Free Pure line would be ideal.
Ownership Requirements
Norwegian Lundehunds do best living in a house with a yard. Additionally, the active Lundie needs daily exercise along with plenty of play time. These intelligent dogs require a strong, consistent pack leader or they may become difficult and somewhat obstinate.
The more I learn about the Norwegian Lundehund, the more convinced I am that my dog was part Lundie. Even though some websites say this dog is one the rarest breeds in the world, I wish I could meet one in person to make a real comparison… or maybe I’m just wishing I could see my old pup one more time.
Photos by Lundtola
Read more articles by Langley Cornwell
That is so interesting about that breed. The ear deal sounds really different. So they can shut their ears. Wonder how they do that. Hope you get to meet one of these dogs of this breed. Take care.
ReplyDeleteI think they are really cute!! Thanks for telling us all about them.
ReplyDeleteThey are super cute...Kind of looks like a fox.
ReplyDelete