Norwegian Lundehund

The Norwegian Lundehund is a small spitz built for one extraordinary job — scaling sea cliffs to hunt puffins — and it carries a set of anatomical oddities found in no other breed.

History

It was used for centuries on the islands of northern Norway to climb sheer cliffs and pull puffins from deep crevices, work that shaped a uniquely flexible dog. When puffin hunting ended the breed nearly vanished, and every Lundehund today descends from a tiny handful of survivors.

Temperament

The breed is known for being alert, energetic and quirky, affectionate with its people while often wary of strangers. It is intelligent but independent, and house-training can take patience.

Care and training

It has at least six toes on each foot for grip, joints that let it bend its head back to its spine and fold its ears shut, and it needs regular exercise and gentle, patient training. The double coat sheds and needs routine brushing.

Health

The breed's tiny gene pool brings a serious, common digestive disorder — Lundehund syndrome — in which the gut struggles to absorb protein and nutrients. This is a defining health concern for the breed and a matter for careful management with a vet; the measured facts are in the panel.