🐾 Small · Norway
An ancient Norwegian spitz breed with a unique anatomy, originally bred to climb into puffin burrows: six toes per paw, extremely flexible joints and a neck that bends backward.
Independent, playful and clownish within the family, yet reserved to aloof toward strangers. Highly agile and fond of climbing, so it easily escapes over fences or furniture.
Needs regular, varied exercise with opportunities to climb and mental engagement, since the breed bores quickly. Purely indoor living without enrichment does not suit the breed.
Dense, low-maintenance coat with a pronounced seasonal shed. Diet should be low-fat and given in small portions because of the breed-specific intestinal disorder.
Not suitable for beginners, as the breed's independence and the strict, consistent feeding regimen required for Lundehund gastroenteropathy demand experienced owners willing to monitor closely.
The breed-specific Lundehund gastroenteropathy, a protein-losing intestinal disease, is the central health risk and requires lifelong dietary management. The extreme joint flexibility also raises the risk of luxation.
← Back to the full dog-breed overview (281 breeds)
This information is for general guidance and does not replace veterinary or breeder advice. Temperament and health vary individually within every breed.
Souldog
