Official ICCF Breed Description
Brief Historical Summary
The Norwegian Lundehund is an ancient breed originating from the northern islands of Norway. It was historically used for hunting puffins — seabirds that nested deep within rocky caves. Due to its unique anatomical features — extra toes, flexible joints, and highly mobile ears — the breed could easily climb rocks and enter narrow crevices to retrieve birds. When puffin hunting ceased, the breed nearly became extinct but was restored by dedicated enthusiasts in the 20th century. Today, the Lundehund is recognized as a national treasure of Norway, valued for its distinctive appearance, intelligence, and loyalty to humans.
General Appearance
The Norwegian Lundehund is a small, light, and flexible dog with a well-balanced and harmonious build. The body is slightly elongated, muscular but not coarse. The head is wedge-shaped; the ears are medium-sized and exceptionally mobile, able to fold backward or forward to protect the ear canal. The eyes are dark, expressive, with a lively, intelligent expression. The limbs are strong, featuring the breed’s characteristic six toes, which provide exceptional grip on uneven surfaces. The tail is of medium length, carried in a ring or half-ring. The gait is free, elastic, and light. Overall, the Lundehund reflects endurance, agility, and natural adaptation to the harsh Scandinavian environment.
Important Proportions
The Norwegian Lundehund has a slightly rectangular body format: the body length from shoulder to rump slightly exceeds the height at the withers. The chest depth is about half the dog’s height, ensuring lightness and agility. The head length is approximately 40% of the body length, with the muzzle slightly shorter than the skull. The limbs are proportionate to the body, the six-toed paws are well balanced, providing excellent stability. The neck is of medium length, flexible, and harmoniously connects the head with the body. All proportions emphasize the breed’s natural adaptation for climbing, endurance, and physical agility while maintaining compactness and elegance.
Behavior and Temperament
The Norwegian Lundehund has a lively, intelligent, and independent temperament. It is friendly, curious, and naturally cautious toward strangers but never aggressive. This breed is energetic, resilient, and loves activity while maintaining a gentle and loyal disposition within the family. The Lundehund has a strong sense of independence and hunting instinct, thus requiring consistent training and early socialization. Sensitive to its owner’s mood, it learns quickly but may prefer to act on its own initiative. Cheerful, devoted, and observant, the Norwegian Lundehund is a faithful companion with a strong personality and individuality.
Head
The head of the Norwegian Lundehund is wedge-shaped, dry, and proportionate to the body, with clean yet defined lines. The skull is moderately broad and slightly convex, with a noticeable but not abrupt stop. The muzzle is wedge-shaped, slightly shorter than the skull, with a straight nasal bridge. The nose is black and well developed. Lips are thin, dry, and tightly fitting. The jaws are strong, with a scissor or level bite. The cheekbones are smooth and not prominent. The overall expression of the head is intelligent, alert, and friendly, with the breed’s characteristic keen and observant gaze.
Facial Region
The facial region is dry, clean, and proportionate. The muzzle tapers slightly toward the nose but is not pointed. The nasal bridge is straight; the nose leather is black or dark brown with wide nostrils. Lips are thin, close-fitting, without looseness. Jaws are firm but not coarse, with a complete set of white teeth and a scissor or level bite. The cheeks are moderately developed, maintaining the wedge shape of the head. The expression is lively and observant, reflecting intelligence and self-confidence typical of northern breeds.
Eyes
The eyes are medium-sized, oval, and slightly slanted, giving an alert and intelligent expression. The iris ranges from yellowish-brown to amber, harmonizing with the coat color. Eyelids are dry, close-fitting, and darkly pigmented. The gaze is bright, intelligent, and curious without aggression. The breed has a unique ability to protect its eyes when working in narrow crevices — it can partially close or “squint” its eyes to prevent injury. The keen, attentive look is one of the most characteristic features of the Lundehund, reflecting its cleverness and natural hunting instinct.
Ears
The ears are medium-sized, triangular, broad at the base, and set high. Their distinctive feature is extreme mobility: the dog can fold them forward, backward, or close the ear canal completely to protect it from moisture and dirt during hunting. At rest, the ears are erect or slightly tilted sideways; when alert, they are directed forward. The inner surface is covered with short, soft hair. The ears harmonize with the shape of the head, accentuating the lively, alert expression. This anatomical feature distinguishes the Lundehund from all other breeds and underlines its unique evolutionary adaptation.
Neck
The neck is of medium length, dry, flexible, and muscular. Its exceptional mobility allows the dog to tilt its head backward and even touch the spine with the back of its head, an adaptation useful for maneuvering in tight caves. The neck blends smoothly into the withers, accentuating the breed’s graceful outline. The skin is tight without folds; the coat lies close to the body. The musculature is well developed but not coarse, maintaining the breed’s elegance and agility. The flexible neck is essential to the Lundehund’s natural working ability, providing freedom of movement and endurance in difficult terrain.
Body
The body is light, flexible, and slightly elongated, giving the dog agility and maneuverability. The back is straight and strong; the loin is short and muscular. The chest is deep but not broad, oval in shape, allowing free breathing during movement. The ribs are elastic, the abdomen moderately tucked up, emphasizing the breed’s athletic build. The croup is short, slightly sloping, providing balance when climbing. The withers are moderately pronounced, smoothly blending into the back. The body reflects natural adaptation to difficult terrain, combining strength, suppleness, and ease of movement.
Tail
The tail is of medium length, set high, and covered with dense hair. At rest, it may hang down or curve slightly; when alert, it is carried in a ring or half-ring over the back or side. The tail is flexible, not coarse, and indicates the dog’s mood — confidence, energy, or calmness. Its shape and carriage harmoniously complete the outline, highlighting the Lundehund’s lively temperament and natural grace.
Forequarters
The forelimbs are strong, dry, and straight, with well-developed muscles providing flexibility and stability on uneven ground. The shoulder blades are long and oblique, fitting closely to the body, forming an angle of about 100° with the upper arm. The shoulders are dry and muscular; elbows point straight back, neither turned in nor out. The forearms are straight and strong; the pasterns are firm, slightly sloping. The paws are oval, tightly knit, with six toes and double dewclaws, giving superior grip on rocky surfaces. Pads are elastic and durable. The front legs provide stability, agility, and sure-footedness.
Hindquarters
The hindquarters are strong, flexible, and well-balanced, providing a powerful drive and stability on slippery or rocky terrain. Thighs are of moderate length with well-developed muscles; lower thighs are dry and firm. The stifles are well-defined with moderate angulation; the hocks are strong, low-set, and parallel when viewed from behind. The metatarsi are short, vertical, and resilient. The feet are oval with six toes and additional pads, ensuring exceptional traction and maneuverability. The hind limbs contribute to the breed’s springy, powerful, and stable movement.
Gait and Movement
The gait of the Norwegian Lundehund is light, free, and springy, with good coordination and natural elasticity. Owing to its flexible joints and unique paws, the dog moves confidently even over rocky or uneven terrain. The forelegs reach forward freely, while the hindquarters provide a strong, elastic push, maintaining a smooth rhythm. The topline remains firm and steady in motion. The Lundehund’s movement is economical and enduring, reflecting its adaptation to long, demanding work in harsh northern landscapes.
Coat
The Norwegian Lundehund has a double coat, dense and weather-resistant. The outer coat is short, straight, and close-fitting, particularly on the head and front of the limbs. The undercoat is soft, dense, and insulating, providing protection from moisture and cold. On the neck, back, and thighs, the coat is slightly longer and thicker, forming a light covering effect. The tail is well feathered. The coat texture should be firm, not soft or wavy. The coat reflects the breed’s natural adaptation to northern conditions, combining functionality with rustic beauty.
Permissible Colors
Permissible colors include various warm natural shades: reddish-brown, tan, fawn, grayish-red, or brownish-gray with white markings of different intensity. Slight dark tipping on the outer hair is common, giving a “wild-type” appearance. White markings may appear on the chest, neck, legs, muzzle, tail tip, or as a collar, but the overall color should remain balanced. A dark mask or muzzle shading is acceptable. The undercoat is lighter than the outer coat. Artificial color alterations or excessively bright tones are unacceptable.
Size
The Norwegian Lundehund is a small, light, and compact breed. Males stand about 35–38 cm at the withers; females about 32–35 cm. Weight ranges from 6 to 8 kg, proportionate to height and body structure. The dog should appear strong yet agile, maintaining flexibility and lightness suited for climbing and maneuvering in confined spaces. The size is ideal for its historical purpose — hunting seabirds among cliffs and caves along the northern coasts.
Faults
Faults include any deviations from the standard that do not affect health but compromise breed type. These include overly light or coarse build, excessive length of body, weak musculature, narrow chest; short or thick neck; low-set or immobile ears; light or round eyes; weak bite, missing teeth; soft, wavy, or overly long coat; dull or uneven coloration; weak pigmentation of nose, lips, or eyelids; excessive shyness or nervousness. Each fault must be judged according to its severity and impact on the overall impression.
Disqualifications
Disqualifying faults include serious deviations that impair health, function, or breed type: aggression, shyness, unstable temperament; undershot or overshot bite, misaligned jaws; multiple missing teeth, especially canines or incisors; blue, yellow, or heterochromatic eyes; depigmentation of nose, lips, or eyelids; less than six toes or missing extra pads; immobile or deformed ears; curly, overly soft, or long coat; pure white or artificially altered color; any deformities, mixed-breed traits, or surgical alterations changing the natural appearance.
Important Notes
The Norwegian Lundehund is a unique breed with no true equivalent in the canine world. Its extraordinary traits — six toes, exceptional joint flexibility, and mobile ears — evolved naturally for survival and work in Norway’s harsh northern environment. When evaluating the breed, emphasis must be placed on functionality and natural purpose rather than decorative refinement. Minor variations in structure or color are acceptable if they do not impair performance or type. The main criteria for assessment are health, endurance, natural flexibility, and stable temperament.
Conclusion
The Norwegian Lundehund is a living legend of the North, preserving the unique traits of an ancient hunting breed. Its flexibility, agility, and anatomical peculiarities make it a truly exceptional dog. Intelligent, energetic, and independent, it is devoted to its family and thrives with active owners. The Lundehund requires patient, respectful training and understanding of its natural instincts. It combines ancient instinctive strength with modern charm, standing as a symbol of endurance, intelligence, and the harmony between humans and nature.
