Norwegian Lundehund
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Find Norwegian Lundehund BreedersGet to Know Norwegian Lundehunds
- Six Toes: Lundehunds have six fully functioning toes on each foot—unique among dog breeds—for gripping rocky cliff faces.
- Extreme Flexibility: They can bend their neck backward until it touches their spine, and their front legs extend straight out to the sides—like a human doing a push-up.
- Ear Flaps: They can fold their ears completely shut to protect against dirt, water, and debris while navigating narrow puffin nesting caves.
- Smallest Gene Pool: The modern breed descends from just five dogs that survived a distemper outbreak on the island of Værøy in the 1940s.
Breed History
The Norwegian Lundehund is one of the world's most unique dog breeds, developed on the remote islands of northern Norway for hunting Atlantic puffins (lunde in Norwegian) from cliff-side nests. The breed evolved remarkable physical adaptations for this task: six functioning toes on each foot for grip, extreme joint flexibility (they can bend their head backward to touch their spine), and the ability to fold their ears shut to protect from debris. The breed nearly went extinct multiple times, surviving a near-total loss from canine distemper in the 1940s.
Personality and Behaviour
- Alert & Curious: Lundehunds are bright, curious dogs that are always investigating their environment.
- Loyal & Protective: They bond closely with their families and can be protective and territorial.
- Independent & Stubborn: They are classic primitive-breed independent thinkers. They train on their own schedule and respond best to patient, positive methods.
- Cheerful & Playful: They are generally happy, cheerful dogs that enjoy play and interaction with their families.
Care
- Exercise: About 30 to 45 minutes of moderate daily exercise. They enjoy walks, play, and exploring outdoors.
- Grooming: Their dense double coat needs brushing two to three times weekly. Moderate shedding with seasonal increases.
- Diet: Feed a high-quality small-breed food. They are prone to a condition called Lundehund Syndrome that affects nutrient absorption—consult with a vet familiar with the breed.
- Health: The primary health concern is Lundehund Syndrome (intestinal lymphangiectasia), which causes poor nutrient absorption and protein loss. This condition is almost universal in the breed. Work with a vet experienced with the condition.
Norwegian Lundehund Summary
Weight
Lifespan
Exercise
Trainability
Temperament
GroomingWhat to ask your breeder?
Here's a short summary of what you should be asking your breeder:
Norwegian Lundehund Health Testing
| Screening | Considerations |
|---|---|
| ACVO Eye Exam | Eye Examination once 24 months old. Results registered with OFA |
| Patellar Luxation | Veterinary Evaluation of Patellar Luxation. Results registered with OFA. |
| DNA Repository | Participation in the OFA/CHIC DNA Repository (blood or swab based) |
How Much Does It Cost to Own a Norwegian Lundehund Per Year?
Determining the cost of owning a Norwegian Lundehund is essential for responsible dog ownership. Use our calculator to estimate expenses, including food, grooming, veterinary care, and more.
The Ultimate Dog Cost Calculator
Calculate NowFrequently Asked Questions About Norwegian Lundehund
When you talk to a breeder, you're not just asking “do you have available Norwegian Lundehund puppies?” You're looking for a match in the process of rehoming a dog. As a prospective dog owner, you are assessing how predictable the dog's health, temperament, and long-term welfare will be and whether the breeder's practices reduce avoidable risk.
You should engage in a conversation about the following topics:
- Which health tests and genetic screening do you do specifically for Norwegian Lundehund, and can I see the results?
- What do you do if a puppy develops a serious genetic condition? What contract, policies and support do you offer as a breeder?
- How are puppies raised from birth to 8+ weeks? Ask about socialization, philosophies on early neurological development, handling, and exposure.
The real cost of a dog isn't just the puppy price. After year one, the cost of a dog includes the predictable annual costs + the unpredictable “risk costs.” Your goal is to make the cost legible before you commit, as one of the top causes of surrendering a dog is not being able to afford the dog in later years.
To help you assess these costs, Paction has created the Ultimate Cost Calculator. You can also read an article written by a Paction breeder on why a prospective dog owner should focus on the ongoing costs of dog ownership and not “how much” the puppy costs.
Every dog breed has certain health issues that tend to occur more often, but what matters most is how predictable and preventable those risks are. For many breeds, common concerns include inherited conditions (such as orthopedic, eye, or cardiac issues) as well as lifestyle-related challenges like weight management, dental health, skin or ear problems, and anxiety.
Responsible breeders help reduce inherited risk through appropriate health testing, careful selection of breeding pairs, and transparency about family history. To understand more about responsible breeding programs that prioritize health and genetic screening of breeding pairs, check out Making Science Simple: Canine Genetics for Puppy Shoppers.
As an owner, you play an equally important role. Consistent preventive veterinary care, proper exercise and enrichment, healthy nutrition, and early screening can significantly improve long-term health outcomes.
Whether a Norwegian Lundehund is right for you depends less on the breed itself and more on how well its typical energy level, temperament, and care needs align with your daily life. Important factors include your schedule and activity level, living environment, household dynamics (such as children, other pets, or allergies), and tolerance for noise or independence. Long-term fit also comes down to maintenance like grooming, training needs, and how often you travel or rely on outside dog care.
Use Paction's Dog Breed Matchmaker and Pup Time Estimator to find out more about what dog is right for you.
