Norwegian Lundehund

By Sophie Kininmonth · 30 Nov 2025 (updated 21 Jul 2026) ·7 min read

The Norwegian Lundehund is a small, athletic spitz from Norway's coastal islands, best known as the "puffin dog" that once scaled cliffs and squeezed into burrows to retrieve birds. It has anatomy no other breed can match: at least six toes on each foot, joints that bend and twist unusually far, and ears that fold shut on command. For an active owner who enjoys training and daily activity, it can be a bright, curious, steady companion. It also carries a serious breed-linked risk of chronic gut disease, so this is a dog to choose slowly and research carefully rather than on impulse.^{1, 2, 3}

History and Origin

The Lundehund was built for one job on some of Norway's least forgiving coastline. For centuries it retrieved puffins from narrow burrows and rocky ledges that people could not reach, working steep terrain and tight spaces that would stop most breeds cold.^{3, 4}

The breed nearly disappeared in the twentieth century, when distemper outbreaks and the decline of traditional puffin hunting collapsed its numbers. By the 1960s only a handful of dogs remained, and the modern population descends from that very small gene pool. It is one of the main reasons inherited health problems are still such a defining part of the breed's story.³

Appearance and Physical Characteristics

The Lundehund looks like a neat little spitz, but its body reads like a set of climbing tools.

Size: Small, 35 to 38 cm at the shoulder for males and 32 to 35 cm for females, weighing about 7 kg (male) and 6 kg (female).¹
Coat: A double coat with a dense, rough outer layer over a soft undercoat.^{1, 2}
Colours: Always combined with white. Red to fawn (often with black tips), black, grey, or white with dark patches.^{1, 2}
Extra toes: Each foot has at least six toes, with several bearing weight on flat ground, which improves grip on rock and uneven surfaces.^{1, 2}
Flexibility: The breed standard describes unusual joint and body flexibility, the ability to bend and twist in ways most dogs cannot, which supported its original work in burrows and on cliffs.²
Mobile ears: The erect ears can fold closed, helping to protect the ear canal when the dog pushes through tight spaces.²

These are real anatomical features, not party tricks. They are also why the breed needs careful handling: extreme flexibility is not the same as being indestructible, and rough play on slippery floors can still end in strains.

Temperament and Personality

Most Lundehunds are bright, busy little dogs that notice everything. They tend to learn quickly, but they are not automatic people-pleasers. Expect curiosity, selective hearing at times, and a strong urge to explore if given the chance.²

In a calm home with steady routines they often settle well. In a chaotic home with inconsistent rules they can become noisy, slippery around boundaries, and hard to recall off-lead.

Is a Norwegian Lundehund Right for You?

Two things should shape the decision. The first is lifestyle: this is an active, independent-minded dog that wants training, activity, and a household happy to keep it busy. The second, and the more important one, is health. With a rare breed it is tempting to take the first puppy offered, but the digestive disease that runs through this breed means you are not just buying a dog, you are inheriting a genetic history.^{3, 5}

Prioritise transparency over prestige: you want open discussion of digestive disease in the line, not minimising or "never heard of it".^{3, 5}
Ask for records (vet reports, diet notes, any gastrointestinal work-ups) and take the time to read them.
Meet adult dogs if you can to get a sense of temperament, noise levels, and how the dogs live day to day.

If you are adopting, ask the rescue about any history of chronic gastrointestinal signs and whether the dog is currently on a prescription diet or long-term medication.

Training and Exercise

Start early, keep sessions short, reward the behaviour you want, then stop before the dog gets bored and goes looking for its own project.

Focus on recall and loose-lead walking before fancy tricks. This is a breed that can find gaps, climb, and disappear.
Use positive reinforcement and make the right choice easy. Harsh corrections tend to create avoidance or stubborn resistance rather than reliable obedience.
Socialise steadily with people, dogs, surfaces, and handling of the feet, ears, and mouth. Those extra toes and flexible joints mean regular paw checks and gentle handling should feel normal from puppyhood.

On exercise, this is an active small dog. Many do well with a couple of brisk walks a day plus short training games, sniffing work, and safe chances to climb over varied terrain. Thirty minutes a day is enough for some individuals, but others need more, especially young dogs and those kept in smaller spaces. A Lundehund with nothing to do will usually invent something, and it is rarely the thing you would choose.²

The breed can also enjoy agility, obedience, and scent games, particularly when training stays upbeat and varied. Its small size and nimble movement suit obstacle work, but build conditioning gradually and avoid repetitive impact while the dog is still growing.

Health and Lifespan

This is the part you should not skim. The headline risk is a digestive disorder commonly called Lundehund syndrome, strongly linked to intestinal lymphangiectasia and protein-losing enteropathy (PLE). In plain terms, the gut can struggle to absorb nutrients and protein properly, leading to chronic or episodic diarrhoea, weight loss, vomiting, fluid build-up, and a dog that can become unwell despite eating.^{3, 5, 6}

Management is often possible but can be lifelong and expensive. Treatment commonly involves diet changes, often low fat and highly digestible, and in some cases medications prescribed by a veterinarian.⁵

Other problems can occur in any breed, including the ears, joints, and eyes, but the gut disease is the one that should shape your choice of breeder, your budget, and your expectations. Lundehunds commonly live around 12 to 15 years, though individuals vary and health issues can affect quality of life.²

Before you commit, put these questions to a breeder or rescue:

Have any dogs in this line had chronic diarrhoea, unexplained weight loss, low albumin or protein, or diagnosed intestinal lymphangiectasia or PLE?
What is the plan if symptoms appear (diet history, veterinary support, written records)?
Can you see veterinary documentation for the parents and close relatives?

Grooming and Care

The coat is double and weatherproof, so most of the year a weekly brush is fine, with more frequent brushing during heavy shedding periods. Pay close attention behind the ears, around the neck, and along the thighs, where the coat can pack down.⁷

Routine care is less about looking tidy and more about quiet prevention:

Nails: keep them short enough that they do not curl into the pads. Active dogs may wear them down naturally, but many still need trimming.⁸
Ears: check for smell, redness, or discharge, and seek veterinary advice if anything looks off.⁸
Teeth: regular home dental care helps avoid tartar build-up and gum disease.⁸
Paws: because of the extra toes, get used to inspecting the feet after walks for grass seeds, cracks, and foreign material.

The Bottom Line

The Norwegian Lundehund looks almost mythical on paper, with extra toes, folding ears, flexible joints, and a working history shaped by cliffs and narrow burrows. In a home that enjoys training, daily activity, and careful management, it can be a fascinating and steady companion. The deciding factor, again and again, is health, particularly the risk of serious gastrointestinal disease, so it pays to choose slowly and ask the uncomfortable questions early.^{3, 5, 6}

References

Sophie Kininmonth

Dog lover and writer at My Pets Australia, sharing practical breed guides and care advice for Australian pet owners.