Norwegian Lundehund

 

Briefly about the Norwegian Lundehund

• The Lund dog has a big personality in a small dog, and it can be a bit headstrong.
• Friendly and curious – the puffin dog is an excellent family dog and walking companion.
• This is an easy-care dog that requires moderate amounts of exercise.
• The breed should increase in number to ensure a safe and viable future.

History

The Norwegian puffin dog is an ancient breed of dog that was used to hunt puffins along the coast of Norway. The origin of the breed is not entirely known, but documentation of puffin hunting with dogs stretches back over 400 years. The lapdog had an important role in Coastal Norway’s trade route, where it helped retrieve live baby birds from inaccessible rock formations. The meat from the puffins was used as human food, while feathers and down were used for bedding or exported south. In the 1850s, catching puffins with nets became more popular, and the need for puffin dogs decreased.However, on the island of Måstad on Værøy, where contact with the outside world was limited, the local tribe of puffin dogs and the traditions associated with the breed were preserved. A married couple named Christie in Hamar received some dogs from there in the 1920s and 1930s and built up a herd of 60-70 dogs. During the Second World War, distemper almost wiped out all the dogs in Måstad, and the Christie family received new dogs from there.Later, distemper also hit Eastern Norway, and towards the end of the 1950s the puffin dog population was again very small. Eleanor Christie made a great effort to save the breed by having five dogs sent from Måstad, which together with a sixth dog formed the basis for the breeding work. She collaborated with several breeders, and the breed was saved.Today there are approximately 650 puffin dogs in Norway. In 2016, 84 puppies were registered with the Norwegian Kennel Club. The Lundehunden is now considered saved, but it is still necessary to increase the number to ensure a safe and sustainable future for the breed.

Characteristics and Mentality

The Lund dog is friendly, curious and attentive. It is an ideal family dog and walking companion. The size is perfect for long trips and cozying up at home. The Lundehunden has a big personality in a small body, and can be a bit headstrong, but it is also willing to learn.

Size and Appearance

The Lundehunden is a small spitz dog with a shoulder height of 32-38 centimeters and a weight of 6-7 kg. The male dogs are slightly stronger than the bitches. The body shape is rectangular, so that the dog is longer than it is tall. The coat is usually reddish-brown with white markings. On the puffin, the coat is of medium length, and the cover coat is smooth and dark.

Anatomical features

The puffin dog’s anatomical features make it extra interesting in conservation work. The special thing about the puffin dog is the extra toes. On the front paw it has five three-jointed toes and one that has two joints, while on the hind paw it has four three-jointed and two two-jointed toes.The extra toes have well-developed muscles, so they have a practical function. The outer ear can be folded, so that the inner ear is protected from dirt when the dog works in narrow mountain passages. The dog’s shoulder joint is designed so that the front legs can be brought straight out to the side, and the flexibility of the neck joint means that the dog can bend its head behind its back.

Want to learn more about the breed?

The Norwegian Kennel Club recommends that everyone contact the breed club to get more information about the breeds they are interested in. RAS stands for Breed-specific breeding strategies and provides a good overview of the breed’s current status and the club’s focus for future breeding.The breed standard describes the physical and mental characteristics of the breed and is also recommended reading for anyone considering buying a puppy of this breed.Good luck!