Norwegian Lundehund might look like it is a rather ordinary dog of the Spitz family. It is not! The Lundehund is a pretty unique and an incredible dog breed.
The Norwegian Lundehund was bred to climb cliffs on the Arctic islands off the Norwegian coast to search the rocky crevices and caves for puffins, which were popular for eating as well as for their down and feathers.
Puffins
Norwegian Lundehund is extremely flexible
To accomplish these challenging tasks, this dog breed is incredibly flexible. It can stretch its head back until its skull touches its spine and flex its forelegs out 90 degrees from its body. Most astounding of all, the Norwegian Lundehund has at least six toes on each foot, some double or triple-jointed, giving the dog unbelievable grasping ability. And when you’re climbing cliffs, that comes in pretty handy.
Norwegian Lundehund Temperament
Alert, energetic and lively are adjectives used to describe the Norwegian Lundehund.
Norwegian Lundehund
General Appearance: The Norwegian Lundehund is a rectangular spitz dog, small, comparatively light, with distinct secondary sex characters. Strong legs with at least 6 toes on all feet, of which at least 5 toes on the forefoot and 4 on the hindfoot should take part in supporting the dog. The tail is carried ring-shaped or slightly rolled over the top line, or hanging. Alert, energetic and lively of temperament.
Norwegian Lundehund Size
Height: Dog: 35 – 38 cms. Bitch: 32 – 35 cms. Weight: Dog: approx. 7 kgs. Bitch: approx. 6 kgs.
A dog measuring the stated maximum should not be preferred to a smaller, otherwise equally good dog.
Head: Clean, of medium width, wedge-shaped. Skull roof slightly domed, protruding supra-orbital ridges. Pronounced, but not sharp stop. A wedge-shaped muzzle of medium length, the ridge of nose slightly convex. Scissors bite preferable. A level bite and a moderate undershot bite should not be penalized. Lack of premolars on both sides in both jaws is quite common. Eyes: Slightly slanted eye openings, eyes not protruding, iris yellowish brown with a broader or narrower dark brown circle around the pupil of the eye. Ears: Triangular ears of medium size, broad at base, carried erect, very mobile. They have the specific quality that the cartilage around the ear opening is able to contract, and the external ear leather is folded and turned up in a peculiar way – backward or at right angles upwards so that the ear opening is shut.
Neck: Clean cut, of medium length, rather strong with a rich collar.
Lundehund in action
Body: Rectangular. Strong, straight back, rather slightly descending croup. Long chest of medium width, relatively deep and spacious, not barrel shaped. Belly slightly tucked up.
Tail: Set on high, medium-short with a dense coat but no “flag”. Carried ring-shaped or slightly rolled over the top line, or hanging. Should not be rolled like the ones of the Norwegian Buhund or the Norwegian Elkhound. The tip of the tail should not be too much over to the side or down the flank. When, for instance, smell or sound catches attention, the tail is hanging slightly bent backward.
Forelegs: Not markedly angulated. Straight under arms. Oval, slightly outward turned paws with at least 6 toes of which 5 should take part in the support of the dog. Eight pads on each paw. The inside plexus of the toe consisting of one three-joint and one two-joint toe with the corresponding tendon and muscle apparatus gives the paw a strong appearance.
Hindlegs: Moderately angulated, strong with muscular upper and lower thighs. Oval, outward turned paws with at least 6 toes of which 4 take part in supporting the dog. Seven pads because the center big one and the one between toe number 0 and 1 have grown into one, the center pad thereby seeming to be prolonged backward. When the dog is standing normally on level ground, the toe pads usually carry the weight. The position of hind legs is somewhat narrow.
Norwegian Lundehund puppies
Gait: Easy and springy. Movement of front legs with a characteristic rotary action. Parallel hind leg movement.
Coat: Soft undercoat. Dense, rough outer coat. Short on head and front of the legs. Richer around the neck and the back of the thighs. Dense coat on the tail, but no “flag”.
Color: Reddish brown with more or less black hair tips, or black or gray, all with white markings, or white with dark markings. The full grown dog usually has got more distinct black in the outer coat than the young dog.
Link: Norwegian Lundehund club USA