Norwegian Lundehund
Modified: 30-11--0001 00:00:00
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. It can swivel each ear 360 degrees and close it to prevent the intrusion of dirt and moisture. The Norwegian Lundehund is polydactyl: it has an extra toe (at least 6 total) on each foot and double dew claws on the forepaws, which helps with climbing cliffs when hunting puffins. The neck is double-jointed and can be bent backwards until the forehead touches the back of the dog. The legs can be bent to sides at 90? angles because of moveable shoulder-joints and are also capable of 180? rotation. 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 5 dogs survived. 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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