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| The Lundehund |
The Lundehund is a Norwegian breed also known as the "puffin dog," with descriptions dating back as far as the 1500s. They were used by poor farmers to collect the bright-beaked birds which provided them with vital meat, especially in years when crops failed. They can be termed unusual in many ways: both due to their obscurity and their unique features. They are known for having extra toes on their feet: six or more total per paw. This was to help them grip while they went collecting puffins on rocky cliffs. They are also unusually
flexible and their ears can close to protect them from dripping water.
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| Six toes on each paw: four + double dewclaws |
When the puffin became a protected species, the breed's popularity dropped. It became nearly extinct before some concerned Norwegians saved it after World War II. Only five dogs remained. Today, it is a companion and is loved by its native Norway, though numbers still remain rather low.
They are accepted by the
FCI,
UKC, and recently the
AKC. According to the AKC, the Lundehund is characterized as follows:
Size: 12-15 inches
Color: red sable and white or white and red sable, the red varying in shade
Temperament: protective, loyal, alert, energetic. Wary of strangers but not aggressive
Images are from Flickr.com on a Creative Commons license: one, two
