Norwegian Lundehund
AlertLoyalEnergetic
Norway · 12–15 years
About the Norwegian Lundehund
The Norwegian Lundehund is one of the world's most unique and ancient dog breeds, developed on remote islands off the coast of northern Norway to hunt puffins (lunde in Norwegian) from narrow cliff-side nesting caves. They possess extraordinary physical adaptations found in no other breed: six toes on each foot (most dogs have four), extreme joint flexibility allowing their head to bend backward to touch their spine, and the ability to fold their ears completely shut. These adaptations allowed them to navigate narrow cave passages and climb steep cliffs. The breed nearly went extinct twice in the 20th century.
Breed stats
- Height
- 12–15 in
- Weight
- 13–15 lbs
- Lifespan
- 12–15 years
- Group
- Non-Sporting
- Coat
- Dense, rough outer coat with soft undercoat
- Origin
- Norway
Coat colors
- Reddish-Brown
- Tan
- White with Red Markings
- Sable and White
Temperament & ratings
Compatibility
Exercise & feeding
Daily exercise
30–45 min
per day recommended
Daily food
0.5–1 cups
high-quality dry food
Common health issues
- Lundehund syndrome (intestinal lymphangiectasia)
- Protein-losing enteropathy
- Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
- Gastric issues
- Eye problems
Not every Norwegian Lundehund will develop these conditions, but awareness helps with early detection. Regular veterinary checkups and choosing a responsible breeder who health-tests their dogs are the best preventive measures.
Can Norwegian Lundehunds eat...
- Can dogs eat blueberries?Safe
- Can dogs eat grapes?Toxic
- Can dogs eat bananas?Safe
- Can dogs eat chocolate?Toxic
- Can dogs eat watermelon?Safe
- Can dogs eat cheese?Caution
- Can dogs eat almonds?Caution
- Can dogs eat apples?Safe
Frequently Asked Questions
- Norwegian Lundehunds are the only breed with six fully formed, functional toes on each foot — most dogs have four main toes plus one dewclaw. These extra toes provide significantly improved grip and traction on the steep, slippery cliff faces where they hunted puffins. The additional toes act like natural crampons, allowing the dogs to navigate narrow rock ledges and vertical surfaces that would be impossible for other breeds. The extra toes are fully jointed and muscled, not merely extra dewclaws. This is one of several unique physical adaptations that make the Lundehund unlike any other dog breed.
- Lundehund syndrome is a group of gastrointestinal conditions that predominantly affects the Norwegian Lundehund breed. It includes intestinal lymphangiectasia, protein-losing enteropathy, and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. These conditions impair the dog's ability to absorb nutrients from food, leading to chronic digestive issues, protein loss, weight loss, and potentially serious complications. The syndrome is believed to be genetic, and unfortunately, a large percentage of Lundehunds are affected to some degree. Management involves specialized diets (often low-fat, high-protein), supplements, and regular veterinary monitoring. There is no cure.
- Yes, Norwegian Lundehunds can completely fold their ear flaps forward or backward to close off the ear canal. This unique ability — not found in any other dog breed — developed as protection when crawling through narrow, debris-filled puffin nesting caves. Closing the ears prevented dirt, water, and debris from entering the ear canal during the tight, cramped crawling required to reach puffins in their cliff-side nests. They can also bend their head backward along their spine until it touches their back, and spread their front legs out flat to the sides. These extraordinary flexibility traits are unique in the canine world.
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