Discover the Unique Norwegian Dog Breeds

Norwegian Lundehund

You’ll hardly ever discover a Norwegian lundehund outdoors of its native nation or the canine present circuit. Even in Norway, a lundehund is tough to come back by. This distinctive, little spitz-type canine hunted puffins (“lunde” in Norwegian) and their eggs on the distant Islands off Norway’s coast. They’re high-energy, prolific diggers with a eager searching sense and prey drive.

The lunde has two fewer enamel than your common canine, which means it seemingly has an historic heritage. It’s just like the 5,000-year-old fossil of the primitive Russian Varanger canine discovered with the identical dental construction. The breed is extremely versatile; its neck can tip again to the touch its again, serving to it squeeze into small areas to seek out puffins and their nests on rugged cliffs. Lundes may also manipulate their shoulder joints to a ninety-degree angle. This flexibility helps them get traction on slippery and steep surfaces.

Norwegian Elkhound

Of the Norwegian breeds, the elkhound is essentially the most well-known and acquainted. The breed has an historic historical past and might even be discovered referenced in Norse historical past and mythology. They traveled on Viking ships and acted as herders and protectors of livestock on distant farms in rural, harsh-climate Norway, protected by their thick double-coat.

Elkhounds are finest fitted to an lively residence setting the place they will expend important quantities of vitality. An elkhound is not a velcro canine. They’re steadfastly loyal to their household however are impartial and aloof with strangers. Early and acceptable socialization is important to forestall them from changing into too reserved. This breed is a big-time shedder, dropping its winter coat (in every single place) twice a 12 months.

Hygen Hound

The Hygen hound was developed within the Thirties by Hans Fredrik Hygen as a high-energy searching canine that might face up to a harsh arctic terrain’s rigors with out tiring too shortly. Due to their searching background, monitoring abilities, and powerful sense of odor, this breed likes to roam and should require plenty of work to get a dependable recall. Sporting a excessive prey drive, this breed could not dwell nicely alongside small furry pets. Hygens are usually amiable and pleasant with their household however can generally exhibit territorial guarding traits. Nip early indicators of useful resource guarding within the bud with optimistic coaching strategies.

Even in Norway, the breed is scarce, so it might be uncommon to seek out one among these canine in North America. For those who’re interested in the breed’s traits, it mirrors different hounds like foxhounds with comparable traits.

Norwegian Buhund

The Norwegian buhund seems to be a bit like a barely smaller lundehund, however they’ve a denser coat and a curly tail that provides them a extra conventional spitz look. They’re additionally a bit extra frequent than lundehunds and could also be out there by North American breeders.

Just like the elkhound, the buhund traveled on Viking ships and developed into small, adaptable farm canine that guarded and herded livestock. These clever, high-energy, high-stamina canine want greater than a stroll round a park for day by day train and psychological stimulation. Buhunds will be strong-minded and impartial. They’re loyal, pleasant, and playful however are headstrong and generally cussed.

Halden Hound

The Halden hound is one other Norwegian scent canine just like the Hygen hound. They’re comparable in dimension and look and recognized for being even-tempered, assured, and desirous to please. Like different scenthounds, you could have to work exhausting on attaining a dependable recall. Haldens have a robust searching intuition, a eager sense of odor, and infrequently wander away. In contrast to spitz-type Norwegian canine, the Halden’s quick, easy coat doesn’t require a lot grooming.

The Halden is the rarest of all of the Norwegian breeds and is called for a southeastern Norway city. Even in Norway, their numbers are extremely low, making them a susceptible breed liable to extinction.

Dunker (Norwegian Hound)

A Dunker, or just the Norwegian hound, is a medium-sized scenthound bred by Wilhelm Dunker at first of the nineteenth century for rabbit searching. It was developed as a scenthound by crossing a Russian harlequin hound with reliable Norwegian scenthounds. It’s an unusual breed outdoors of Norway.