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The Norwegian Lundehund (Norwegian: Norsk Lundehund (from Norsk (Norwegian), lunde (puffin) and hund (dog)) is a small dog breed originating from Norway and originally bred for hunting puffins.
Appearance It is known for its great range of motion in its joints. His upright ears are placed so high and forward that, upon pricking them, they afford the added protection of almost closing to the front. This creates a shield from the constantly dripping water and dust in the caves. He is able to mold his body to fit in narrow passages because of the extraordinary range of motion in his joints. The head can be bent backwards, almost touching its back, and the forelegs can turn to the side at 90-degree angles. The Norwegian Lundehund is polydactyl: it has an extra toe (at least 6 total) on each foot, which helps with climbing cliffs when hunting puffins. The outercoat is dense and rough with a soft undercoat. History The breed has a long history. As far back as 1600 it was used for hunting puffins along the Norwegian coast. Interest for the breed declined when new methods for hunting puffins were invented. A dog tax also led to a decline in the dog population. Around 1900, they were only found in the isolated village of Mostad in Lofoten. The breed was nearly extinct around World War II—only 6 dogs survived (1 on Værøy & 5 in southern Norway Hamar). Due to careful breeding with strict guidelines, there are now around 1500-2000 dogs in the world, with around 1100 in Norway. Estimates show there are approx. 250 in the US. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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