Norwegian Lundehund

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. more...

Appearance

It is known for its great range of motion in its joints. It also has at least one extra toe on each foot.

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. 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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