Norwegian Lundehund
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Find Norwegian Lundehund BreedersGet to Know Norwegian Lundehunds
- Six Toes on Each Foot: The Lundehund is polydactyl, typically having six fully formed, functional toes on each foot, but perfect for gripping slippery rocks.
- Incredible Flexibility: They can bend their head backward to touch their spine and stretch their front legs sideways to form almost a 90° angle. This is ideal for squeezing into narrow puffin burrows.
- Unique Ears: Their ears can close both forward and backward to keep out dirt, moisture, and debris while hunting.
- Rare Genetic Makeup: The breed has a very limited gene pool, which makes it genetically distinct from all other modern dogs.
- Vocal and Expressive: They communicate through a wide range of sounds — from howls to “yodel-like” noises often described as Lundehund chatter!
Breed History
The Norwegian Lundehund hails from the remote islands of northern Norway, where it was originally bred to hunt puffins (“lunde” in Norwegian) along steep coastal cliffs. These small, agile dogs were invaluable to coastal communities for centuries, climbing rocky terrain and retrieving live birds from burrows and crevices. Their remarkable flexibility and extra toes evolved specifically for this demanding job. With the decline of puffin hunting in the 1800s and 1900s, the breed nearly vanished — saved only by a handful of dedicated breeders after World War II. Today, it remains one of the world’s rarest breeds, celebrated as a living piece of Norwegian heritage.
Personality and Behaviour
- Inquisitive Adventurer: Lundehunds are naturally curious explorers. They love climbing, investigating new environments, and often find themselves in funny, precarious positions thanks to their flexibility.
- Independent but Loyal: While affectionate with their families, they retain a strong streak of independence and prefer to make their own decisions. This is a reminder of their days as self-reliant hunters.
- Playful & Alert: They are active, alert companions who thrive on mental stimulation and love to engage in games, puzzles, and interactive play.
Care
- Exercise: Lundehunds are energetic and enjoy regular outdoor activities but don’t require marathon runs. Daily walks, play sessions, and mental challenges like scent work or agility keep them content and balanced.
- Grooming: Their double coat is weather-resistant and fairly low-maintenance. Brushing once or twice a week helps control shedding, with more frequent grooming during seasonal coat changes. Baths are needed only occasionally.
- Training: They’re smart but often stubborn and independent thinkers. Positive reinforcement, consistency, and creative, short training sessions work best. Harsh methods can backfire — a patient, fun approach helps bring out their brilliance.
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.
